China to Ease Border Entry Rules for Foreign Tourists

The government of China issued draft rules aimed at making it easier for some foreigners to enter China for visits to the tourist sites along the Chinese border. China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, said travel groups that are organized by tour agencies in border areas in China can choose their port of entry and exit more flexibly, without giving any specific dates and locations.

China has closed its borders to foreign tourists since the outbreak of the new COVID-19 cirus in 2020, with only specific groups of foreign citizens allowed to enter the country, such as those holding certain work visas.

In recent months, rules have gradually relaxed, allowing everything from resuming more direct flights between China and several other countries to allow foreign student with valid residence permits to enter the country. The quarantine period for foreign arrivals has also been decreased. China shares a border with more than 10 countries, including Mongolia, Russia, Laos, Vietnam, and Myanmar.

The cities of China along the border are often affected by imported cases of the COVID-19 pandemic linked to the overland crossings of both foreign and Chinese citizens. Yang Jinsong, head of the international tourism institute at China Tourism Academy, said that it depends on the COVID-19 situation and the effects of COVID-19 virus control measures that the tourism department cannot decide.