Sherpa's Blog

China Removes PCR Tests for All Arrivals

Wednesday

Apr

26

By:David A.Howard

Tuesday, April 25, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) announced at a regular press conference that it will abolish the PCR testing requirement for all international arrivals to China from April 29.

As an alternative to the PCR test results, passengers can present a negative rapid antigen test (RAT) issued 48 hours prior to check-in. This result can be confirmed upon arrival in the chinese mainland.

A reminder for anyone traveling abroad from the Chinese mainland – while many countries have scrapped COVID testing requirements, you may still need to prove your vaccination status. Make sure to double check the rules before you travel.

Locations: Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou

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It’s Happening! Visas For China Are Back!

Thursday

Mar

16

By:David A.Howard

We’re saying goodbye to the last vestiges of ‘Dynamic Zero COVID’! For the first time since the start of 2020, all visa types for foreigners are back to normal. This isn’t a rumor. The news comes directly from China’s Embassy in the United States and was later reported on by major media outlets like CGTN and Reuters.

This is fantastic news, as countless people have been separated from family members, delayed their studies, halted business travel, and put their dream travels on hold.

Here are five important details from the announcement:

1. Valid Visas Issued Prior to March 28, 2020 Can Be Used To Enter China

Holders of those 10 year tourist visas, rejoice! You won’t have to go through the process again. Any valid visa (not expired or cancelled) can be used to enter China. Regardless of whether it was issued before China imposed COVID restrictions on March 28, 2020 or after, all valid visas are good to use.

2. ALL Visa Types Will Be Issued Again

All means all! Tourist L Visas are on the table once again. Definitely check with the nearest Chinese embassy or consulate to see the specific application requirements before you go ahead and buy that plane ticket though.

3. Port Visas are Back

The port visa aka visa-on-arrival program is back again. Travelers from certain countries can secure visas on arrival for quick visits to certain cities. These are the locations that offered port visas before COVID restrictons started:

Beijing
Chengdu
Chongqing
Dalian
Fuzhou
Guangzhou
Guilin
Haikou
Hangzhou
Heihe, Heilongjiang province (bordering Russia)
Jinan
Kunming
Nanjing
Qingdao
Sanya
Shanghai
Shenyang
Suifenhe, Heilongjiang province (bordering Russia)
Tianjin
Wuhan
Xiamen
Xi’an
Weihai
Yantai
Zhuhai

Port visas are usually for quick visits – valid for anywhere between 48 to 144 hours. Make sure to check if your nationality is eligible for a port visa before hopping on a plane without a visa already secured.

4. Visa-Free Travel Resumes

We didn’t even realize this was a thing before, but visa-free travel for the following types of arrivals will resume:

Hainan Island tourism.

Entering Shanghai via cruise ship

Foreigners residing in Hong Kong or Macao Special Administrative Regions who travel to the Chinese mainland in a tour group

Those in ASEAN tour groups who visit Guilin in Guangxi Province.

5. Pre Arrival COVID Testing Update

Starting on March 1, 2023, a 48-hour negative PCR test is no longer required for those traveling to China. The PCR test can be replaced with a rapid antigen test (RAT) that allows for self-testing and isn’t even checked by the airlines at departure. However, travelers to the mainland are still required to fill out China’s Customs Declaration which asks for a negative rapid antigen test from 48 hours before arrival. Fingers crossed that testing requirements go away too!

So glad for another step towards full normalcy. Happy travels!

Locations: Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou

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Weekly News Update

Saturday

Mar

11

By:David A.Howard

Australia’s pre-departure COVID-19 testing requirements for passengers arrivingfrom the People’s Republic of China, including the Special Administrative Reaionsof Hong Kong and Macau, will cease applying to flights that land in Australia at12.01am on 11 March 2023.

The measure commenced on 5 January 2023 and was initiated out of an abublance of caution in response to a significant wave of COVID 19 infections in China and the risk of potential new emerging variants.

The Australia Government has been monitoring the situation in China and reviewing epidemiological data as it becomes available.

materials from https://www.health.gov.au/

Metro lines to link Suzhou with Shanghai

Line 11 of Suzhou Metro,connecting with Shanghai’s MetroLine 11 at Huaqiao Station, started trial operation without passengers on Wednesday. The 41.27-kilometer line has 28stops between Weiting in Suzhou Industrial Park and Huaqiao inKunshan, a county-level city near Shanghai.

Materials from en.shhqcbd.gov.cn

Duo Exhibitions celebrate museum’s

10th birthday

2023-03-01 to 2023-05-03

As a series of events and exhibitions marking the 10th anniversary of the Long Museum in Shanghai, two new exhibiions were unveiled at the West Bund venue, through April 18.

“Untitled (We are the World)” by Joel Mesler, pigment on linen

Materials from service.shanghai.gov.cn

Locations: Shanghai

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6 Countries Scrap PCR Test for Returnees to China

Friday

Mar

03

By:David A.Howard

Big, big news, people – more and more Chinese embassies around the world are announcing that, starting from tomorrow, March 1, passengers taking a flight to China will no longer need to do a mandatory PCR test.

The PCR test can be replaced with a rapid antigen test (RAT), which not only allows for self-testing, but won’t even be checked by the airline at the point of departure.

The six countries (we know of) that have so far announced the new measures are:

Cambodia
Hungary
Malaysia
New Zealand
South Africa
Sri Lanka

We can only assume (hope… pray… beg!) that more and more embassies will be announcing the same.

Please do note, however, that anyone traveling to the mainland still needs to fill out China’s Customs Declaration, which requires a negative RAT 48 hours before arriving.

Interestingly, the Customs Declaration now only “suggests” that people traveling by plane wear a mask. This was previously mandatory.

Speaking of mask mandates…

Hong Kong & Macao Ditch Mask Mandate

From Wednesday, March 1, facemasks will no longer be mandatory in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), as the city ditches its sole remaining COVID-19 restriction.

The announcement was made by Chief Executive John Lee at an Executive Council news briefing on Monday. He quoted the move as another step toward “returning to normalcy.”

Facemasks will no longer be mandatory in most indoor and outdoor venues as well as on public transport.

On Sunday, February 26, the Macao Special Administrative Government also announced that people in the city would no longer be required to wear masks outside from Monday.

However, masks still need to be worn in Macao by patients, staff and visitors in medical institutions, visitors of elderly people in rehabilitation centers or care homes and drivers and passengers on public transport (except taxis).

Macao’s Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Center said that mask-wearing requirements could be adjusted in the future according to “the actual development of the COVID-19 situation.”

The mask mandate was enacted in Hong Kong on July 15, 2020, following an outbreak of COVID-19 in the city, although most people were already voluntarily wearing face coverings.

Hong Kong was one of the world’s last remaining cities to still impose a mask mandate. Several other countries and regions in Asia, including Japan and South Korea, have already abandoned similar measures.

The move leaves the Chinese mainland as one of the few places on earth still requiring people to wear a mask when taking public transport.

Will the Chinese mainland follow suit and ditch the mask mandate? Surely a positive sign that they could.