Holiday flight chaos strands thousands at China’s busiest airports
China’s visa-free push fuels inbound boom during Christmas–New Year window
China waives fingerprints for short-stay visas in Finland, cutting red tape for business travellers
Latest News
‘High-quality’ tourism era: China’s 2025 visa-free expansion reshapes regional mobility
China’s year-end policy package combines wider visa-free access, cross-border high-speed rail links and strict sustainability goals, signalling a pivot toward ‘high-quality’ inbound growth that will influence how corporates plan travel and events in 2026.
Christmas gridlock: tens of thousands queue at Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge
Overflow crowds at the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge left travellers queuing for up to 1.5 hours on Christmas Day, as outbound traffic from Hong Kong jumped 16 percent versus 2024 and alternative checkpoints also reported heavy congestion.
Hong Kong keeps Lo Wu and Shenzhen Bay checkpoints open into early hours for New Year rush
To manage anticipated New Year’s Eve crowds, Hong Kong will keep Lo Wu open until 2 a.m. and operate Shenzhen Bay overnight, alongside special bus services—providing relief for cross-border commuters and tourists.
Hong Kong Projects 11.5 Million Cross-Border Trips During Christmas–New Year Peak
Hong Kong forecasts 11.52 million inbound and outbound trips over the Christmas and New Year holidays, with nearly 10 million passengers using land checkpoints. Extra counters, 700+ automated e-Channels and a joint command centre have been deployed to ease congestion. The measures will affect business travellers shuttling between Hong Kong and the Mainland and signal a strong rebound in cross-border mobility.
Christmas Weekend Transport Plan Boosts Capacity at Hong Kong–Mainland Checkpoints
Hong Kong will run one-minute shuttle-bus intervals on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and boost rail and coach services to manage Christmas cross-border crowds. Real-time traffic data and the ‘Easy Boundary’ platform will help travellers avoid peak-hour queues, offering practical benefits for business commuters and holidaymakers alike.
UnionPay Debuts ‘Nihao China’ Super-App to Simplify Payments for Foreign Visitors
UnionPay’s new ‘Nihao China’ app enables foreign visitors to pay with overseas Visa, Mastercard and UnionPay cards, offers instant language translation and promises future virtual-SIM connectivity. The platform tackles long-standing payment friction for business and leisure travellers, supporting China’s broader push to revive inbound tourism.
Hainan Airlines Announces Global Route Expansion from Haikou for 2026
Hainan Airlines will operate new international routes from Haikou to London, Brussels, Jeddah, Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City and Kuala Lumpur throughout 2026, capitalising on visa-free policies and rising post-pandemic demand. The additions boost China’s southern free-trade hub and offer corporates more direct links into Europe, the Middle East and ASEAN.
Addis Ababa Chinese Visa Centre to Launch Paid VIP Services on 29 December
China’s visa centre in Addis Ababa will roll out optional VIP packages on 29 December, offering queue-free submission, later hours and a staffed lounge for US$30. The paid service targets business travellers needing faster, more comfortable processing and comes amid a sharp rise in Ethiopia–China traffic.
Chinese Consulate in Kota Kinabalu Publishes 2026 Holiday Closure Schedule
China’s Kota Kinabalu consulate has released its 2026 public-holiday closure calendar, alerting visa and passport applicants to plan submissions around major shutdowns such as Spring Festival and National Day. Early booking is recommended to avoid processing backlogs.