China announced on Dec 17 a significant relaxation of its visa-free transit policy, extending the period of stay for foreign travelers and expanding the list of accessible ports and provincial-level regions.

The visa-free transit policy now includes six ports in Zhejiang province, allowing eligible travelers to stay in the region for up to 240 hours without a visa.

The newly added ports are Wenzhou Longwan International Airport and Yiwu Airport.

To accommodate the policy expansion, Wenzhou and Yiwu have introduced dedicated lanes and designated areas for processing temporary entry permits.

Border control authorities in Zhejiang have also updated signage, distributed 240-hour transit guidelines, and collaborated with airlines to promote the policy.

Between Jan 1 and Dec 16, 2024, Zhejiang's airports processed 740,000 foreign arrivals and departures, with nearly 2,000 travelers utilizing the previous 144-hour visa-free option.