China has unveiled a new visa relaxation policy on Monday, allowing tour groups from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to visit Xishuangbanna, a renowned tourist destination in Yunnan Province, without a visa for up to six days.
This initiative is part of China's efforts to boost tourism in the southwest region, expand its opening up, promote personnel exchanges, and deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and ASEAN, according to a statement from the National Immigration Administration (NIA).
The NIA further explained that ASEAN tour groups organized by Chinese travel agencies can enter Xishuangbanna via the Xishuangbanna Gasa International Airport, the Mohan railway port, and the Mohan highway port. The participating ASEAN countries include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
China continues to ease its visa policies to encourage more foreign travelers and businesspeople to visit. To date, China has established comprehensive mutual visa exemptions with 25 countries, implemented unilateral visa-free policies for 38 countries, and introduced transit visa-free policies for 54 countries.
The impact of these visa-free policies was evident during the 2025 Spring Festival holiday, which took place from January 28 to February 4. The NIA reported that China recorded 958,000 cross-border trips made by foreigners during the holiday, marking a 22.9 percent increase compared to the previous year.
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China grants visa-free entry to ASEAN tour groups to Xishuangbanna
cgtn.com
