China Opens 30-Day Visa-Free Entry to Canada and UK, Signalling Warmer Ties
Spring Festival Return Peak Pushes China’s Cross-Border Passenger Flows to Record High
China’s Belfast Consulate Confirms Visa-Free Access for UK Travellers in Op-Ed
Latest News
Transport Ministry Warns of Highway Gridlock as 22-23 Feb Return Wave Builds
China’s Traffic Management Bureau forecasts the year’s worst highway congestion on 22-23 February and rolls out extra border-inspection booths and AI traffic-prediction tools. Cross-border drivers should expect delays and ensure correct vehicle permits are on hand.
China Adds Canada and UK to 30-Day Visa-Free Entry Scheme
Effective 17 February 2026, citizens of Canada and the UK can now enter China visa-free for stays of up to 30 days. Announced on 21 February, the policy slashes lead-times and costs for short business and family trips, and has already prompted airlines to add capacity. Paid work remains barred, so companies must still secure work visas for longer or productive assignments.
Spring-Festival Travel Rush Sets New Daily Record
The Ministry of Transport said on 21 February that the 2026 Spring-Festival travel season set a new high, with almost 353 million passenger trips recorded on 20 February alone. Rail and air capacity expansions, together with streamlined border-control procedures, enabled the surge but also drove up costs for businesses scheduling travel around the holiday.
Visa-Free Shoppers Flock to China as Agencies Pledge Fully Digital Entry Services by 2027
A Xinhua report on 21 February highlights a boom in foreign tourist spending over Spring Festival, crediting expanded visa-free access and newly interoperable mobile-payment platforms. An inter-agency circular promises to make all key entry and payment processes fully digital and multilingual by 2027—good news for companies sending short-term assignees and visitors to China.
Reminder on China’s 24-Hour Temporary-Residence Registration Rule for Foreigners
An updated legal briefing issued on 21 February emphasises that foreign nationals in China must complete PSB temporary-residence registration within 24 hours of arrival at any new address. Tighter electronic cross-checks mean lapses can now delay residence-permit renewals, so companies are urged to reinforce compliance procedures.
Direct Quanzhou–Cebu Flights to Resume as Visa Easing Spurs Demand
Xiamen Airlines will restart Quanzhou–Cebu flights from 29 March 2026, according to a 21 February *Philstar* report. The move, enabled by relaxed Philippine entry rules for Chinese visitors, will shorten travel times for Fujian businesses with operations in Cebu and is expected to boost two-way tourism and trade.