China waives visas for foreign cruise groups to coastal regions

(ECNS) -- China has introduced a visa-free policy for foreign tour groups arriving by cruise ship in its coastal regions, the National Immigration Administration announced on Wednesday. 

Starting from the date of the announcement, foreign tour groups (of 2 or more people) organized and received by domestic travel agencies traveling on cruise ships can enter the country visa-free as a group at cruise ports in 13 cities, including Tianjin, Shanghai, Dalian in Liaoning Province, Lianyungang in Jiangsu, Wenzhou and Zhoushan in Zhejiang, Xiamen in Fujian, Qingdao in Shandong, Guangzhou and Shenzhen in Guangdong, Beihai in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and Haikou and Sanya in Hainan.

The tour groups must proceed to the next port on the same cruise ship and exit the country on the same cruise, with a maximum stay of no more than 15 days within China. Their activities are restricted to coastal provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government) and Beijing.

The National Immigration Administration has decided to add seven cruise ports in Dalian, Lianyungang, Wenzhou, Zhoushan, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Beihai to the list of ports eligible for China's transit visa waiver policy, to facilitate foreign passengers traveling on cruise ships to transit through China.