China’s National Immigration Administration has announced a new visa-free policy for tourist groups from all ten ASEAN countries visiting Xishuangbanna in Yunnan Province. Groups of two or more ordinary passport holders, organized by Chinese travel agencies, can enter visa-free for up to six days via Xishuangbanna Gasa International Airport, Mohan Railway Port, or Mohan Highway Port, with travel limited to the prefecture.
The policy aims to strengthen tourism in southwest China, deepen people-to-people exchanges, and further enhance the China–ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership, while supporting Yunnan’s role as a key gateway to South and Southeast Asia.
According to an NIA official, this policy marks a significant step towards enhancing autonomous opening-up and supporting Yunnan’s development as the Chinese pivot of opening-up to south and southeast Asia. It is of great importance to advancing the tourism industry in southwest China, promoting people-to-people exchanges between China and foreign countries, and deepening the China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership. In the next phase, the NIA will enhance institutional opening-up in immigration management to attract more foreign nationals travelling and doing business in China, continuously infusing new vitality into the inbound tourism market and contributing to China’s high-level opening-up and high-quality development.
Source: chiangmai.china-consulate.gov.cn
