A border inspection officer assists a foreign tourist at Beijing Capital International Airport's Terminal 3 on Dec 4. Xinhua

China announced Tuesday morning a significant relaxation of its visa-free transit policy, extending the permitted stay for eligible foreign travelers from the original 72 and 144 hours to 240 hours, or 10 days. 

The National Immigration Administration also revealed the addition of 21 new entry points for visa-free travelers. According to People's Daily, citizens of 54 countries, including Russia, Brazil, the UK, the US and Canada, who are passing through China en route to a third country or region, can now enter China without a visa. These travelers can pass through any of 60 open ports across 24 provinces, regions and municipalities, and stay within designated areas for up to 240 hours.

A notable feature of the policy adjustment is the introduction of cross-regional travel that allows foreign visitors to move freely across the 24 specified provincial-level regions during their 10-day stay.

China recorded nearly 29.22 million inbound foreign visits between January and November 2024, up 86.2% year on year. Of these, 17.45 million entered the country visa-free, marking a significant 123.3% year-on-year growth.