Speaking to 2,500 guests at a “Nihao China” tourism promotion and Lunar New Year concert in Philadelphia on 28 January, Chinese Ambassador to the US Xie Feng said that China’s door “is always open” and reminded Americans that they are eligible for a 240-hour visa-free transit when connecting through 55 Chinese ports.(us.china-embassy.gov.cn)
The roadshow, co-hosted with the Philadelphia Orchestra, is the latest overseas campaign aimed at reviving inbound tourism and student exchanges. Embassy officials distributed brochures detailing simplified mobile-payment options, customs e-declaration apps and hotel check-in upgrades now available to foreign travellers.
![‘Nihao China’ Roadshow in Philadelphia Highlights 240-Hour Transit Waiver for 55 Countries]()
For travellers seeking personalised assistance with Chinese entry formalities, VisaHQ offers a one-stop online platform that breaks down the latest requirements and automates paperwork. Through its China hub (https://www.visahq.com/china/), users can verify eligibility for the 240-hour visa-free transit, generate application kits for tourist or business visas and give corporate travel teams real-time visibility over every submission.
US tour operators attending the event told Global Mobility News that enquiries for China packages have doubled since Beijing slashed visa fees in late 2025 and extended its unilateral visa-reduction policy to 2026. Universities are also examining how the transit waiver can facilitate field trips and academic conferences that hub through Shanghai or Beijing en route to third countries.
Corporate travel managers should note that the 240-hour transit exemption requires an onward ticket to a non-Chinese destination and does not permit domestic connecting flights beyond the first arrival city unless specifically listed. Firms leveraging the waiver should update duty-of-care procedures to include local health-code registration, which remains mandatory in some provinces.
The roadshow, co-hosted with the Philadelphia Orchestra, is the latest overseas campaign aimed at reviving inbound tourism and student exchanges. Embassy officials distributed brochures detailing simplified mobile-payment options, customs e-declaration apps and hotel check-in upgrades now available to foreign travellers.
For travellers seeking personalised assistance with Chinese entry formalities, VisaHQ offers a one-stop online platform that breaks down the latest requirements and automates paperwork. Through its China hub (https://www.visahq.com/china/), users can verify eligibility for the 240-hour visa-free transit, generate application kits for tourist or business visas and give corporate travel teams real-time visibility over every submission.
US tour operators attending the event told Global Mobility News that enquiries for China packages have doubled since Beijing slashed visa fees in late 2025 and extended its unilateral visa-reduction policy to 2026. Universities are also examining how the transit waiver can facilitate field trips and academic conferences that hub through Shanghai or Beijing en route to third countries.
Corporate travel managers should note that the 240-hour transit exemption requires an onward ticket to a non-Chinese destination and does not permit domestic connecting flights beyond the first arrival city unless specifically listed. Firms leveraging the waiver should update duty-of-care procedures to include local health-code registration, which remains mandatory in some provinces.
