China opens doors to more Europeans with visa-free access: Travel Weekly Asia

China is making it easier for European travellers to visit, with a growing list of countries now eligible for visa-free entry. Norway recently became the first Nordic country to be included in the initiative, as China seeks to boost tourism and business exchanges.

Since the beginning of 2024, the visa-free regime has been gradually rolled out, with 11 European countries, in addition to Malaysia, initially granted access. In June, Poland, Australia and New Zealand joined the list, with unlimited access until the end of 2025. Norwegian citizens are also eligible for up to 15 days of visa-free travel, although the implementation date has not yet been confirmed.

According to Mao Ning, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the program is designed to “facilitate the high-quality development of Chinese-foreign personnel exchanges and open the country to the outside world at a high level.”

European countries benefiting from the scheme include Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland. Poland was added to the list on 1 July.

China is still working to rebuild its tourism industry, which was hit hard by the pandemic. Strict travel restrictions, including mandatory quarantines, were lifted last year, but international travel remains lower than before the pandemic. In 2023, China recorded 35.5 million foreign entries and exits, down significantly from 97.7 million in 2019.

To further attract foreign visitors, China is investing in tourism infrastructure, technology and cultural promotion. Popular destinations for European travellers include Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, and newer hotspots such as Sanya and Chengdu.