China has reopened its borders to tourists and will resume issuing all visas on Wednesday, March 15, 2023.

China and Hong Kong change entry rules, what to expect for Russian tourists

It is one of the last major countries to reopen its borders to tourists after three years of restrictions due to COVID-19. The announcement was made on Tuesday. Earlier, in February, a “decisive victory” was announced; over the virus. AllDaily writes about this.

The country will resume issuing all types of visas from Wednesday. Visa-free entry will also return to destinations such as Hainan Island and for cruise ships calling at Shanghai that did not require a visa before the pandemic.

Are pre-pandemic Chinese visas still valid?

< p>If you were issued a valid visa before March 28, 2020, you will be allowed to enter China.

“As of March 15, the visas we issued before the pandemic are still valid and will be renewed,” — Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told reporters on Tuesday.

The processing and issuance of tourist visas and other types of visas are being resumed, and visa-free entry for a number of places is being resumed.

Those who travel from Hong Kong and Macau will be allowed to enter Guangdong in southern China without a visa.

Hong Kong is also gradually lifting restrictions and is now fully open to tourists.

The city lifted mandatory quarantine in hotels in September 2022 of the year. In December, authorities lifted travel restrictions and mandatory PCR tests on arrival, which had previously been applied to international arrivals. Restrictions on live music and the number of people at the table in restaurants have also been lifted.

In January 2023, the mandatory quarantine was lifted for those who test positive for COVID-19.