Current Regular Commercial Flights

Direct flights between the UK and China are primarily operated by Chinese carriers due to their ability to use Russian airspace, which shortens flight times and reduces costs compared to European airlines. Key airlines include:

• Air China: Operates daily direct flights from London Heathrow (LHR) to Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK). Flight time averages 10 hours 59 minutes.
• China Southern: Runs daily direct flights from LHR to Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) with an average duration of 14 hours 25 minutes, and four weekly flights to Beijing.
• China Eastern: Offers daily direct flights from LHR to Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG), with an average flight time of 11 hours 23 minutes.
• British Airways: Continues daily LHR–PVG flights but suspended its Beijing route in October 2024 due to longer flight times (avoiding Russian airspace adds up to 2.5 hours) and low demand.
• Hainan Airlines: Provides occasional direct flights from London to smaller hubs like Chongqing or Xi’an, though schedules vary.

Indirect flights are available through hubs like Dubai (Emirates), Doha (Qatar Airways), or Helsinki (Finnair), often at lower costs but with longer total travel times (15–20 hours). Popular routes include Manchester (MAN) to Shanghai via Abu Dhabi with Etihad or LHR to Beijing via Paris with Air France.

Flight Frequency

• Daily: Air China (LHR–PEK), China Southern (LHR–CAN), China Eastern (LHR–PVG), and British Airways (LHR–PVG).
• 4–5 times weekly: China Southern (LHR–Beijing), Hainan Airlines (LHR–Chongqing/Xi’an).
• Indirect flights: Multiple daily options via Middle Eastern or European hubs, with Emirates and Qatar Airways offering the most frequent connections.

Sunday has the highest number of direct flights from London (averaging six), while Monday sees the fewest (around four).

Costs and Deals

Flight prices fluctuate based on season, booking time and demand.

• Cheapest months: October and November, with return economy flights starting at £324 (e.g., LHR–PEK with China Southern). Booking two months in advance on Tuesdays or Wednesdays often yields the lowest fares.
• Most expensive months: April and January (around Chinese New Year), with return flights exceeding £458.
• Average costs: Economy return tickets range from £324 (Beijing) to £460 (Shanghai or Guangzhou). Indirect flights can start at £237 (Saudi via Jeddah), though direct flights with Chinese carriers are often better value for time saved.

Deals:

• Skyscanner and KAYAK offer real-time comparisons, with deals like £254 return from LHR to Beijing on Air China.
• StudentUniverse provides student discounts, with return fares to Shanghai or Beijing from £300.
• Booking.com and Expedia.co.uk highlight flexible tickets with no change fees, ideal for uncertain travel plans.

Reliability and Delays

Chinese carriers (Air China, China Southern, China Eastern) are generally reliable due to shorter routes over Russia, reducing weather-related disruptions and fuel costs. Data from OAG indicates these airlines have fewer delays compared to European carriers like Lufthansa or Air France, which face longer routes and higher operational costs. Air China’s LHR–PEK route is among the least delayed, with an on-time performance of around 80%. Indirect flights via busy hubs like Dubai or Doha are more prone to delays, especially during peak seasons.

Best Value and Chinese Cities Served

For best value, direct flights with Chinese carriers to major hubs offer the optimal balance of cost, time, and reliability:

• Beijing (PEK): Air China’s daily LHR–PEK flights (£324–£400 return) are ideal for access to the capital.
• Shanghai (PVG): China Eastern and British Airways’ daily flights (£400–£460 return) serve China’s economic powerhouse.
• Guangzhou (CAN): China Southern’s daily LHR–CAN route (£350–£450 return) connects to southern China’s trade hub.

For secondary cities, indirect flights or domestic connections from Beijing, Shanghai, or Guangzhou are cost-effective.

Tips for Travellers

• Book early: Secure flights 2–3 months ahead for the best deals.
• Check visas: UK passport holders need a visa, obtainable via Chinese visa application centres.
• Avoid peak seasons: Steer clear of Chinese New Year (January–February) and summer (June–August) for lower costs and fewer crowds.
• Consider indirect routes: For budget travellers, transiting via Seoul or Hong Kong can save up to 30% compared to direct flights.

Despite post-Covid and Ukraine-related challenges, direct flights with Air China, China Southern, and China Eastern from London to Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou offer the best value and reliability in 2025. With return fares starting at £324 and daily frequencies, these routes cater to diverse travel needs. For the budget-conscious, indirect flights via Middle Eastern hubs provide cheaper alternatives, though at the cost of longer travel times. Always compare deals on platforms like Skyscanner and book early to maximise savings.

The post The Best Flight Options from the UK to China in 2025 appeared first on Focus - China Britain Business Council.

Why Get a Local SIM Card?

A local SIM card is a game-changer for visitors to China. The primary advantage is cost. International roaming charges from UK providers can quickly spiral, with data rates often exceeding £5 per gigabyte. In contrast, a Chinese SIM card offers generous data plans (20GB for around £10) making it a budget-friendly option for staying connected. A local number also opens doors to essential services. Booking a taxi, ordering food via apps like Meituan, or making hotel reservations often requires a Chinese phone number, as many businesses prioritise local contacts or may not respond to foreign numbers. Moreover, a local SIM provides access to China’s 4G and 5G networks, ensuring fast, reliable connectivity, even in rural areas with providers like China Mobile.

However, there are challenges to consider. China’s real-name registration policy requires foreigners to present a passport, which can complicate the process, especially in smaller stores where staff may lack experience with international IDs. Language barriers can also make purchasing and activating a SIM tricky, particularly if you don’t speak Mandarin. Compatibility is another hurdle, your phone must be unlocked and support China’s network bands, as some providers, like China Telecom, may not work with all foreign devices. For short trips, the effort of navigating these hurdles might feel excessive, especially if Wi-Fi hotspots are readily available. Additionally, while a local SIM grants access to Chinese apps, a VPN is still needed to bypass the Great Firewall and access blocked sites like Google or Facebook.

Despite these drawbacks, the benefits of affordability, local integration, and reliable connectivity make a local SIM a worthwhile investment for most UK travellers, particularly for stays longer than a week. For those seeking convenience, eSIMs offer a digital alternative, but they require a compatible device and often focus on data-only plans.

Step-by-Step Guide to Getting a Chinese SIM Card

Step 1: Check Your Phone’s Compatibility

Before purchasing a SIM, ensure your phone is unlocked and compatible with China’s mobile networks. China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom dominate the market, but China Unicom is often the best choice for foreigners due to its compatibility with most international phones, supporting both 3G and 4G/5G networks. Check your phone’s specifications for compatibility with China’s frequency bands (4G bands B1, B3, B5). If in doubt, contact your UK provider to confirm your phone is unlocked, as locked devices won’t work with a Chinese SIM. For eSIM users, verify that your device supports this technology, most modern smartphones, like recent iPhones or Samsung models, do.

Step 2: Choose Your Provider and Plan

China’s three major telecom providers, China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom, offer prepaid plans tailored for tourists. China Unicom is recommended for its foreign phone compatibility and robust urban coverage, with plans like 10GB of data and 500 minutes of calls for around 69 RMB (£7) for 30 days. China Mobile boasts the widest coverage, ideal for rural travel, but its 3G network may not work with foreign phones, limiting you to 4G or slower 2G in some areas. China Telecom’s CDMA network is less compatible with international devices, so it’s best avoided unless your phone supports LTE. Compare plans based on data needs, call allowances, and validity (typically 7–30 days). For short trips, eSIM providers like Airalo or Holafly offer data-only plans starting at £4 for 1GB over 7 days, activated online for convenience.

Step 3: Gather Required Documents

China’s real-name registration policy mandates that all SIM cards be linked to a valid ID. As a foreigner, you’ll need your passport (original or photocopy) and, in some cases, a selfie or proof of your Chinese address, such as a hotel booking. If you’re staying long-term, a residence permit may also work. Have these documents ready to streamline the registration process, as smaller shops may struggle to process foreign IDs without clear guidance.

Step 4: Decide Where to Purchase

You can buy a SIM card at international airports, telecom stores or online. Airports like Beijing (PEK) or Shanghai (PVG) have China Mobile and China Unicom kiosks, but prices are higher, expect to pay 200 RMB (£20) for a 20GB plan. For better value, visit a flagship store in city centres, where staff are more likely to speak English and handle foreign registrations. Alternatively, online platforms like China Adventure or Nihao Mobile allow you to order a SIM for delivery to your hotel, requiring only a passport photo and selfie for activation. eSIMs from providers like Saily or Holafly can be purchased online before travel, offering instant activation upon arrival.

Step 5: Visit the Store or Activate Online

If buying in person, head to a major China Unicom or China Mobile store, ideally in a city centre or “VIP” branch, as smaller outlets may not process foreign passports. Use a translation app like Pleco to communicate your needs. Present your passport, choose a plan, and sign any required forms; expect the process to take 30-60 minutes. For online purchases, follow the provider’s instructions to upload your passport and selfie via their website or apps like WeChat. eSIMs are simpler: purchase online, scan a QR code, and enable data roaming in your phone settings to activate.

Step 6: Insert and Activate the SIM

For physical SIMs, insert the card (nano, micro, or standard size) into your phone and restart it. The SIM should connect automatically, but you may need to enter the provider’s Access Point Name (APN) settings (‘cmnet’ for China Mobile). Check your phone’s settings under “Cellular” or “Mobile Network” to ensure data is enabled. For eSIMs, follow the provider’s activation steps, typically involving a QR code scan. Test the connection by accessing a Chinese app like Baidu. If issues arise, restart your phone or manually select the network operator.

Step 7: Top Up as Needed

To extend your plan or add data, top up via WeChat Pay or Alipay mini-apps by searching “手机充值” (phone recharge) and entering your number. Alternatively, visit telecom stores or convenience shops for scratch cards, or pay cash at post offices. Check your balance by texting provider-specific codes (10086 for China Mobile). For eSIMs, top-ups are managed online through the provider’s app or website, often supporting UK payment methods like Visa or PayPal.

The post A Guide to Getting a Mobile Phone SIM in China appeared first on Focus - China Britain Business Council.

Secure the right visa in advance

Obtaining a visa for China requires careful preparation, as the process varies depending on the purpose of travel. Business visitors typically need an M visa, which requires an invitation letter from a Chinese company or partner, along with standard documents such as a valid passport, a completed application form, and a recent photo.

Applications must be submitted through the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre (CVASC), which has locations in London, Manchester, Belfast and Edinburgh. Fees vary based on visa type, nationality, and processing speed. Travellers should apply well in advance and double-check requirements, as policies can change. For frequent business travelers, multi-entry visas with longer validity may be an option, simplifying future trips. Ensuring all documents are accurate and complete is essential to avoid delays in the approval process.

Stay connected: SIM cards and VPNs

China’s internet restrictions mean many Western platforms – Google, WhatsApp, Facebook, and even some email services – are blocked. Here’s how to stay connected:

If you want to keep using them, then you’ll need a virtual private network (VPN). VPNs are a bit of a legal grey area in China, but the major illegality tends to relate to selling VPN access rather than using one. Just be sure to get everything installed and ready to go before you get to China. In our experience, the most reliable VPN for use in China is Astrill, although NordVPN and ExpressVPN are also popular.

If you have a good international roaming package, you should also be able to access Google and others on mobile data. If you’d prefer to get a local Chinese phone number for the duration of your trip, China’s three mobile providers – China Unicom, China Mobile, and China Telecom – offer SIM-only plans that you can buy by going into one of their stores. Again, you will need to register with your passport.

Must-Have Apps for Business Travel

China’s digital ecosystem is dominated by local apps. Download these before you go:

Communication and networking

• WeChat (微信) – The all-in-one app for messaging, payments, and business networking.
• DingTalk (钉钉) – Popular for corporate communication.

Payments and transport

• Alipay (支付宝) / WeChat Pay – Cashless payments are king; set these up with a foreign card.
• Didi (滴滴) – China’s Uber alternative (link to Alipay/WeChat Pay).

Translation and navigation

• Pleco (offline Chinese-English dictionary).
• Baidu Maps (Google Maps doesn’t work well in China).

Pro Tip: Test your apps before departure – some require a Chinese phone number for registration.

Managing money and payments

Over the past few years, China has fully embraced mobile payments, becoming an almost cashless society. While this makes life very convenient for people living in China, it can create problems for people who are just visiting.

Thankfully, China has introduced several measures to make payments easier for international visitors. Foreign tourists can now connect their overseas bank cards (including Visa, Mastercard and Diners Club) to popular Chinese payment platforms such as Alipay and WeChat Pay without needing a local bank account.

Following the release of the latest guidelines, the transaction limits for foreign nationals using mobile payment services have also been increased from US$1,000 (approx. RMB 7,233 or £790) to US$5,000 (approx. RMB 36,166 or £3,945) for single transactions, with the annual transaction limit increasing from $10,000 to $50,000.

Foreign users can complete the initial activation of WeChat Pay without a Chinese SIM card and make payments up to a cumulative limit of RMB 15,000 for a certain amount of time without verification.

Read our guide on the set-up process for WeChat here.

Major banks like Bank of China and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) have also improved access, allowing foreign cards to be used at more ATMs nationwide. Some hotels, shops and tourist attractions, especially in bigger cities, do accept international credit cards, including Visa and Mastercard.

Navigating transport

Booking internal flights and train journeys should be one of the easier aspects of your travel to China. You can search and book both through travel giant Trip.com’s app or website, which have English interfaces and accept international payment methods.

You will need to enter your passport details when booking either trains or flights (which may come as a surprise for those used to flying domestic in the UK/US), and in the case of the train, your passport is actually your ticket – either scan it when passing through the security gates (in newer stations like Beijing South) or present it at the staffed security gate when boarding the train.

Regarding trains, it is worth familiarising yourself with the codes used for the different types of trains in China so you can find the best routes; G are the quickest and newest, for example. China Highlights has a detailed guide.

Taxis in China are abundant, especially in major cities. Most people use a ride-hailing app like Didi, which can be used to book everything from taxis to luxury limos. Unfortunately, the Didi app is not currently available to download from UK app stores, but it can be used as a mini-program on WeChat and Alipay if you have either of these set up.

Most major cities in China – including Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Wuhan, and Nanjing – have subway lines linking key business districts and tourist attractions. All the subway networks are easy to navigate thanks to signage and announcements in English.

The post Business travel to China: Five essential considerations appeared first on Focus - China Britain Business Council.

Who needs a visa for China?

UK citizens must obtain a visa before travelling to mainland China. This requirement applies to various purposes, including business activities, tourism, and visiting family or friends. It’s important to note that visa requirements for Hong Kong and Macao differ from those of mainland China.

Where and how to get a visa for China

Visa for China are applied for via the Chinese Visa Application Service Centres (CVASCs). All applicants should prepare any supporting documents (e.g. passport, photograph) and fill in a visa application form online, before proceeding to an application centre (located in London, Manchester, Edinburgh and Belfast) to submit the application, pay any fees and provide biometric data (fingerprints) if required.​

The types of supporting documents vary depending on the type of visa. For example, applicants for a tourist or ‘L’ visa will need to provide a travel itinerary, while applications for a business or ‘M’ visa will need to provide an invitation letter from with a business entity in China. See here for more information about the types of visas and supporting documents.

Fees vary depending on the type and duration of the visa. For UK citizens, a standard single-entry visa costs £130, while multiple-entry visas valid for five and 10 years are also available (see here for a full breakdown of fees). Express and urgent processing services are available at higher fees.​

Does everyone need a visa for China?

While most travellers require a visa, China has implemented certain visa-free policies that may benefit UK business professionals:​

144-hour visa-free transit: As of December 2024, China expanded its visa-free transit policy, allowing citizens from 54 countries, including the UK, to stay in select regions for up to 10 days without a visa when transiting to a third country. This policy applies to entry through 60 designated ports across 24 provinces. To qualify, travellers must have a confirmed onward ticket to a third country and meet other specific criteria.​

Hainan province: Since May 2018, Hainan Island offers 30-day visa-free entry for citizens from 59 countries, including the UK, for purposes such as business, family visits, medical treatment, and tourism. Travellers can enter via direct flights or through Hong Kong or Macao.​

Hong Kong and Macao: UK passport holders can enter Hong Kong and Macao visa-free for stays of up to 90 days. However, if you plan to travel from these regions into mainland China, a separate visa is required.​

It’s advisable to consult the latest information from official sources or your travel provider before planning your trip, as visa policies can change.​

Additional considerations

Passport validity: Ensure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay and contains sufficient blank pages for visas and entry stamps.​

Registration upon arrival: Foreigners staying in private accommodations must register with the local Public Security Bureau within 24 hours of arrival. Hotels typically handle this registration for their guests.​

Compliance with visa conditions: Adhere strictly to the conditions of your visa. Overstaying or violating visa terms can result in fines, detention, or deportation.​

For the most up-to-date information, always check the website of the Chinese Visa Application Service Center or the UK government travel advice before making travel plans.

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On the same day, the visa-free stay was extended from 15 to 30 days, with entry allowed for business, tourism, visits to family and friends and exchanges.

This means the list of countries with visa-free entry to China now includes:

• Switzerland
• Ireland
• Hungary
• Austria
• Belgium
• Luxembourg
• Singapore
• Thailand
• France
• Germany
• Italy
• Netherlands
• Spain
• Malaysia
• Bulgaria
• Romania
• Croatia
• Montenegro
• North Macedonia
• Malta
• Estonia
• Latvia
• Japan

Most of these visa-free arrangements are unilateral (i.e. Chinese tourists do not have the same visa-free rights in the countries listed above), but Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand have reciprocal visa-free agreements in place for Chinese visitors.

The move is part of a wider push to encourage foreign visitors to return to China in the post-pandemic era. And there is some indication that the policies are starting to work. According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, an estimated 95 million inbound tourists arrived in China in the first nine months of 2024, a 55.4% increase year-on-year.

China resumed its pre-Covid visa and entry policies in March 2023, including the 144-hour visa-free transit policy, which allows foreign travellers transiting through the country to enjoy a six-day stay in certain Chinese cities without a visa. Since then, the country has rolled out a series of measures to make it easier for foreign visitors to enter the country, including simplified application forms and relaxed requirements for visas on arrival.

There has been no indication of if or when UK visitors can expect to enjoy a similar visa-free entry policy, and the British government has made no specific comment on the announcement. As the South China Morning Post reported, China “remains mindful of geopolitical considerations” and is almost certainly taking this into account when considering which countries to explore visa-free policies with.

The Labour government has been taking steps to establish a more consistent, strategic and pragmatic relationship with China, which has so far included a visit to China by Foreign Secretary David Lammy and a meeting between Prime Minister Kier Starmer and President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 – the latter being the first meeting between the heads of state of the two countries in six years.

During this brief but significant engagement, Prime Minister Starmer emphasised the importance of a “strong UK-China relationship” for the benefit of both nations and the broader international community, calling for relations to be “consistent, durable, and respectful”.

In conclusion, while the UK is not included in China’s current visa-free policy, the situation remains dynamic, with the list of visa-free countries updated on a fairly regular basis.

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It’s an inconvenience that many foreigners in China have faced: booking a hotel only to find that the hotel can’t (or won’t) accommodate foreign guests. Usually the reasons given, as the Global Times puts it, are that the hotel “doesn’t have qualifications for receiving foreign guests”, or the staff “don’t know how to input information into the systems”.

The Chinese government seems to have taken note of this, as on 24 May, three ministries – the Ministry of Public Security (MPS), the Ministry of Commerce (MOCFOM), and the National Immigration Administration – released an official reply to online complaints about the issue.

The reply states that the ministries will work together to make targeted efforts to deal with the situation. For example, MOFCOM is already working with the China Hospitality Association on an initiative to make accommodation in China more convenient for foreign visitors, including expanding booking channels, training English-speaking staff, and offering telecommunications and catering services aimed at international audiences.

All guests, Chinese or foreign, must be registered when they check in at a hotel in China. Accommodation registration information for foreigners must be submitted by the hotel to the local public security organs within 24 hours of them arriving at the property. Regardless of the different types of business license required to run certain types of company in China, a refusal to accept foreigners has often just been down to a lack of information or (as is the case in more remote areas) a lack of any sort of valid business license in the first place.

In 2022 American translator Marian Rosenberg, who lives in Hainan, went viral with a WeChat post detailing her experiences travelling around the country during the height of the zero Covid policy, which famously made the situation worse for non Chinese travellers who were regularly arbitrarily turned away in fear.

The move is just the latest in a series of measures aimed at tempting both leisure and business travellers back to China post-Covid, including visa-free entry for a growing list of countries, relaxed requirements for visas on arrival, and easier payment options for foreign visitors.

Photo by Dave Photoz on Unsplash

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China is currently in the middle of a public holiday to mark Labor Day on 1 May. It’s a five-day break from work for many Chinese people – or is it? Two days of the holiday fall on Saturday and Sunday, while the other two days must be made up by working weekend days on either side of the holiday.

This practice of compensatory working days, known as 调休 tiaoxiu in Chinese, allows for longer blocks of time off: seven days for Spring Festival, five for Labor Day and seven for National Day in October. China has 11 official public holidays, but this year’s public holiday calendar has a bumper 28 days of holiday, including weekends, balanced with eight weekend working days.

Private companies in China have the right to set their own schedules, i.e., to ignore compensatory working days, as long as the official holiday calendar is maintained. Many companies will allow employees to work from home on these days or just be available by phone/email to outside clients.

The system dates back to 1999 when it was brought in to stimulate consumption in the wake of the 1997 Asian financial crisis. Certainly, the longer holidays are consumption hotspots; the 2023 National Day Holiday generated RMB 753.43 billion (£83.36 billion) in tourism revenue. Moreover, they offer valuable time off for Chinese employees with minimal statutory annual leave – just five days for employees that have been working for less than 10 years (compared to 28 days for full-time employees in the UK).

However, the compensatory working days have attracted criticism in recent years. Reporting on the Labor Day holiday, CNN noted that the Weibo hashtags “you should not pretend not to hear voices opposing the tiaoxiu policy” and “tiaoxiu policy for May Day” attracted more than 560 million views online.

Many feel cheated by the system, arguing that a holiday isn’t a holiday if you have to earn it back by working on a Saturday or Sunday. Others point out that the six-day work weeks created by the system are physically and mentally demanding, making people less productive. People have also complained that the spikes in transport and hotel prices caused by the compressed holiday schedules make travel unappealing, and that making the holiday system more flexible would spread spending across the year, benefitting the economy.

The criticism of the compensatory working days system reflects a wider pushback against China’s fast-paced job market, in which working long hours and taking few holidays were traditionally seen as ways to get ahead. Some younger Chinese people are swapping high-pressure white-collar jobs for self-employment or even jobs like farming, while others are simply ‘quiet quitting’.

While some Chinese media outlets have reported that various government departments have met to discuss China’s current public holiday system in recent years, any change would require massive cross-governmental coordination and is unlikely to happen quickly.

Photo by K Hsu on Unsplash

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Thankfully, the Chinese authorities have recognised this and have launched a new push to optimise payment services for use by foreign nationals. This comes as part of a raft of measures to encourage people to visit China and make life easier for them when they do (which includes waiving visa requirements for citizens of a growing number of countries).

In mid-March this year, the State Council and the People’s Bank of China released the ‘Guide to Payment Services in China’, which details a number of payment options for foreign nationals.

WeChat Pay/Alipay

As of the end of July 2023, both WeChat Pay and Alipay allow users to link an international bank card, including Mastercard, Visa, JCB, and Diners Club (read our guide on the set-up process for WeChat here). This can then be used to pay for things via online platforms or by scanning a QR code in stores and restaurants. It should be noted that foreign nationals can only use WeChat Pay and Alipay to pay companies or merchants i.e. you cannot send money to or accept money from individual users.

Following the release of the latest guidelines, the transaction limits for foreign nationals using mobile payment services have also been increased from US$1,000 (approx. RMB 7,233 or £790) to US$5,000 (approx. RMB 36,166 or £3,945) for single transactions, with the annual transaction limit increasing from $10,000 to $50,000.

Foreign users can now complete the initial activation of WeChat Pay without a Chinese SIM card and make payments up to a cumulative limit of RMB 15,000 for a certain amount of time (as yet unspecified) without verification.

e-CNY

China has been pushing the use of the e-CNY (the digital form of the Renminbi – also known as China’s Central Bank Digital Currency) for both locals and foreign visitors in recent years, with the long-term goal of fully replacing the physical CNY.

The e-CNY is accessible to foreign visitors through the e-CNY app. Users can register with a foreign phone number (no Chinese SIM card required) and then link an international card, including Visa and Mastercard. The wallet can then be topped up and used to make transactions in a similar way to WeChat Pay or Alipay.

Bank cards

Of course, many visitors would prefer to just use their bank card rather than setting up a new mobile payment service.

China says that it is encouraging merchants to accept international bank cards and that they should be accepted anywhere that displays the logo of an international card issuer. And it is certainly true that many hotels, larger restaurants and international chain stores, especially in cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, do accept international bank cards. However, smaller merchants or merchants in more remote areas often won’t have the facilities to accept international cards (or simply may not be willing to accept them due to high fees).

Cash

Cash may not be the preferred payment method anymore, but it remains widely accepted. In fact, the authorities have recently strengthened legislation defining the rejection of RMB cash as unlawful.

Foreign visitors can withdraw cash with a wide range of foreign bank cards at designated ATMs.

While these measures are a step in the right direction, their implementation and enforcement can be patchy. It is worth making sure you always have a range of payment options available during your travel to China – for example, cash, WeChat Pay or Alipay and a foreign bank card (as well as a Chinese contact who can pay for you if all else fails).

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Chunyun (literally “Spring transport”) refers to the 40-day peak travel period around Spring Festival (aka Lunar New Year), which this year falls on 10 February. Millions of people take advantage of the extended time off from work and study to travel back to their home regions and spend the important festival with family. As a result, train stations and airports are packed, and tickets are expensive and hard to come by.

How big will chunyun 2024 be?

One year on from the lifting of China’s Covid restrictions, this year’s chunyun is expected to return to pre-pandemic levels, with Ministry of Transport officials predicting more than 9 billion passenger trips. Between 26 January and 1 February alone – the first week of the peak travel period – the country’s railway network handled 81.55 million journeys, or over 11 million a day.

Many hope that the Spring Festival period will inject some much-needed vitality into the economy after the catering and travel industries contributed significantly to China’s GDP in 2023. Nevertheless, pent-up demand is waning, and some consumers will be spooked by risks such as the continued troubles in the property sector.

New Spring Festival travel trends

As China Briefing notes, in recent years, there has been a growing trend of people combining their Spring Festival celebrations with tourism and celebrating with their family in a new destination. This is especially true among urban Millennials and Gen Z, many of whom find the pressure of returning home and spending time with more traditionally-minded relatives overwhelming.

Within China, the most popular destinations for Spring Festival travel are either warmer locations such as Yunnan and Guangdong, or winter destinations like Harbin and Beijing.

International travel is also popular with people from first and second-tier cities. Now that China’s Covid restrictions are practically a distant memory, and with several new mutual visa exemptions (including Thailand and Singapore) in place, international journeys are set to boom. The National Immigration Administration has predicted that the daily average number of international border clearances will reach 1.8 million people – more than three times higher than 2023 and almost equalling 2019’s figures.

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1. Relaxed requirements for port visas (aka visa on arrival)

This measure will primarily help people who need to urgently travel to China for non-diplomatic reasons such as business, investment, family visits, or personal matters. Eligible individuals can now obtain a port visa directly from the visa authorities at ports of entry (which include both actual ports, airports and train stations) by presenting an invitation letter and other necessary documents. More details about documentation and post visa authorities can be found here.

2. Border inspection exemption for 24-hour visa-free transit

Entry and exit passengers who are transiting to a third country or region through any of the following nine airports with an international connecting ticket within 24 hours can directly transit without a visa and bypass border inspection procedures: Beijing Capital International Airport, Beijing Daxing International Airport, Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport, Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, Shenzhen Baoan International Airport, Chengdu Tianfu International Airport, and Xi’an Xianyang International Airport.

3. Easier visa extension and renewal

For those already in China, visa extension and renewal has been made more accessible. If you are in the country for a short-term visit related to business, tourism, or family matters and have a valid reason to extend your stay, you may now apply for a visa extension at the nearest local Public Security Bureau (PSB) Exit and Entry Administration, rather than the one where the company or person who invited you is located. For example, if your visa was issued in Shanghai but you are attending meetings in Beijing, you can apply for a visa extension in Beijing.

4. Multiple entry visas for foreigners already in China

Foreign nationals requiring multiple entries and exits from China for valid reasons (e.g., frequent international business meetings) can apply for a multiple-entry visa from the PSB in China.

5. Simplified documentation

Foreigners applying for visas to China will benefit from an eased documentation process. Those with records and data accessible through official information sharing mechanisms (e.g., business licenses, temporary residence registration) will no longer need to submit physical copies of these documents during the application process. China also recently simplified its visa application forms.

This follows a major announcement on 24 November 2023 that China would allow visa-free entry for ordinary passport holders from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia for business and tourism for up to 15 days per entry, effective from 1 December 2023 to 30 November 2024. Following Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s visit to Davos, China also announced a visa-free entry policy for Irish and Swiss nationals, although a date for implementation has not been given. China and Singapore also recently signed an agreement on 30-day mutual visa-free entry for their citizens, which will come into effect on 9 February – Chinese New Year’s Eve.

There has been no indication of if or when UK visitors can expect some kind of visa-free entry, and the British government has made no specific comment on the announcement.

The ongoing developments in international relations and China’s broader strategy of economic integration and facilitation of global travel could potentially lead to future changes in visa policies for UK travellers. For now, business and other travellers from the UK must adhere to the existing visa application procedures.

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