China’s capital is positioning itself as one of the world’s easiest megacities for foreign visitors, according to Waad Melliti, senior manager at the World Tourism Cities Federation, in an interview with Xinhua published late on 11 January.
Melliti credited a string of national and city-level facilitation measures—most notably 30-day visa-free entry for travellers from 45 countries and the 240-hour transit-visa waiver—as key drivers behind the 20 million inbound and outbound passenger movements recorded at Beijing’s ports in 2025. Foreign nationals accounted for 30 percent of that figure, an all-time high since 2020.
To make the most of these relaxed entry rules, travellers can lean on VisaHQ for hassle-free visa assistance and real-time guidance. The platform’s China portal (https://www.visahq.com/china/) walks visitors through eligibility for the 30-day visa-free stay, the 240-hour transit waiver, or a full business visa, offering online applications, status tracking, and expert support—all of which can save precious time upon arrival in Beijing.
![Beijing touts foreign-friendly upgrades as inbound arrivals top 20 million in 2025]()
Practical upgrades now greet business travellers minutes after touchdown: SIM-card vending, acceptance of overseas credit cards in ride-hailing apps, and English-language QR code payment interfaces. Beijing Daxing International Airport has integrated customs, quarantine and baggage claim into a single smart-channel that can clear a planeload in under 25 minutes, officials say.
For corporates relocating staff, the improvements reduce first-day friction—from buying a metro ticket to opening a bank account. Industry observers note that multimodal payment acceptance, long a sticking-point for expatriates, removes one of the last “pain points” cited by HR mobility surveys.
The interview comes as the city readies a global campaign around the Beijing Central Axis’ expected UNESCO World Heritage inscription. Travel authorities hope cultural cachet, coupled with seamless entry procedures, will boost inbound MICE events after a record 1,200 international conferences were hosted in 2025.
Melliti credited a string of national and city-level facilitation measures—most notably 30-day visa-free entry for travellers from 45 countries and the 240-hour transit-visa waiver—as key drivers behind the 20 million inbound and outbound passenger movements recorded at Beijing’s ports in 2025. Foreign nationals accounted for 30 percent of that figure, an all-time high since 2020.
To make the most of these relaxed entry rules, travellers can lean on VisaHQ for hassle-free visa assistance and real-time guidance. The platform’s China portal (https://www.visahq.com/china/) walks visitors through eligibility for the 30-day visa-free stay, the 240-hour transit waiver, or a full business visa, offering online applications, status tracking, and expert support—all of which can save precious time upon arrival in Beijing.
Practical upgrades now greet business travellers minutes after touchdown: SIM-card vending, acceptance of overseas credit cards in ride-hailing apps, and English-language QR code payment interfaces. Beijing Daxing International Airport has integrated customs, quarantine and baggage claim into a single smart-channel that can clear a planeload in under 25 minutes, officials say.
For corporates relocating staff, the improvements reduce first-day friction—from buying a metro ticket to opening a bank account. Industry observers note that multimodal payment acceptance, long a sticking-point for expatriates, removes one of the last “pain points” cited by HR mobility surveys.
The interview comes as the city readies a global campaign around the Beijing Central Axis’ expected UNESCO World Heritage inscription. Travel authorities hope cultural cachet, coupled with seamless entry procedures, will boost inbound MICE events after a record 1,200 international conferences were hosted in 2025.
