China resumes visa-exemptions for short-term Japanese travelers

The Chinese government has reinstated visa-free visits by Japanese nationals on short-term trips. Japanese people landing at a Shanghai airport on Saturday said they welcomed the return of visa-free entry, which took effect on the day.

China had previously allowed visa-free visits for up to 15 days, before suspending the policy in March 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic. Beijing says it has doubled the eligible length of stay to 30 days for the convenience of travelers, and that the measure will remain in effect until the end of 2025. It remains unclear how much the measure will help raise the number of Japanese visitors to China.