By Lu Xinyan

China will extend its unilateral visa-exemption policy for more than 40 countries through Dec. 31, 2026, Xinhua News Agency reported on Nov. 3. Ordinary passport holders from nations including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Ireland, and Hungary can enter China without a visa for business, tourism, family visits, or transit stays of up to 30 days.

At Ningbo Lishe International Airport, travelers welcomed the move. "It was a great surprise. I come to China often for business, and visa-free entry means I can just book a ticket and go," said József from Hungary. He recalled that obtaining a visa previously involved extensive paperwork and multiple embassy visits. "Since the visa-free policy began last year, my trips have been much easier," he added.

Catrin Rowlands from the United Kingdom said the extension could influence her future travel plans. "If the UK is included, it would make a big difference. With a long layover, I could visit more Chinese cities," she said. This is her second trip to China, and she hopes the UK will eventually join the 30-day visa-free list.

Airport authorities said the benefits of China's transit and visa-free measures have become increasingly evident this year. Ningbo Airport's border inspection checkpoint processed roughly 974,000 inbound and outbound passengers, including 33,000 inbound foreign travelers. Of these, 19,000 entered visa-free, accounting for 57.6 percent. The number of foreign visitors arriving for short-term tourism and business negotiations has risen sharply.

"Extending visa-free entry adds new momentum to China's inbound tourism," said Li Huamin, executive dean of the Ningbo Institute for All-Region Tourism and professor at NingboTech University. He noted that the policy will attract more international business travelers and further raise Ningbo's global profile.