Shanghai sees surge in foreign arrivals amid expanded visa-free policies
Shanghai has witnessed a significant rise in foreign arrivals this year, fueled by the country’s expanded visa-free policies and an increase in international flights.
In the first 11 months of the year, the number of foreign visitors arriving at Shanghai’s ports exceeded 4 million, double the number from the same period last year. Of these, over 1.37 million were visa-free arrivals, a remarkable 3.8 times increase compared to the previous year.
Starting on Saturday, China extended its visa-free policy to include nine additional countries, including Bulgaria and Japan. With this expansion, the country now offers unilateral visa-free entry to nationals from 38 countries. The maximum visa-free stay has also been extended from 15 to 30 days, further enhancing the appeal of Shanghai as a gateway to China.
One clear example of this growing trend was seen on Saturday when Japan Airlines flight JL891 from Tokyo landed at the Shanghai Pudong International Airport. Of the 152 passengers on board, 26 Japanese travelers took advantage of the new visa-free policy. All passengers completed their immigration procedures within just 30 minutes, underscoring the efficiency of Shanghai’s border control.
“I hope for stronger friendship between Japan and China. It’s becoming easier for Japanese people to visit China and for Chinese people to visit Japan,” said a Japanese traveler.
On the same day, a total of 8,427 passengers from countries including Germany, Australia, and Malaysia took advantage of the visa-free entry policy at the Pudong Airport. A Danish visitor praised the swift and seamless immigration process.
“Through the visa, now it went incredibly fast. And this time, unfortunately, it will be a bit short vacation for me. But next time, I’ll be sure to use the full 30 days,” he said.
With the continuous growth in international arrivals, Shanghai is solidifying its position as one of the most popular entry points for global travelers to China.
