Is China open to international tourists? Everything you need to know about the country’s reopening plans

There’s some promising news for travelers looking to visit China in 2023.

After almost three years of limited access, Chinese authorities have announced the removal of several major Covid-related entry restrictions, effective January 8.

The most significant change is the end of quarantine for all international arrivals, marking a shift away from the country’s strict zero-Covid approach. But who is eligible to visit now?

In this guide, we answer some of the key questions that travelers may have as they begin planning trips to China in 2023.

Are foreigners allowed to visit China for leisure tourism at the moment?

China has yet to fully welcome international tourists for leisure travel, and the country’s top attractions remain off-limits for now.

The country’s borders are mostly closed to foreign visitors, with exceptions made for business or family-related travel. However, the government has indicated it may ease these restrictions in the future, although no specific timeline has been given.

At this time, the focus of the government appears to be on processing visa applications for foreigners coming to China for business, work, study, or family reunions.

George Cao, CEO of Dragon Trail International, a marketing and research firm specializing in China, shared with Dinogo Travel via email that several key developments need to take place before China fully reopens to leisure tourism after lifting quarantine measures.

"The next step is for China to resume issuing tourist visas. While this is part of the announced reopening plan, there is no official date set yet," he explains.

"A key factor will be the expansion of international flight schedules, which will make travel to China more accessible and help reduce flight costs, which remain significantly higher than pre-pandemic rates. Some routes have already seen an increase in flights, such as those between China and South Korea, or China and Singapore," he adds.

However, he notes that it’s still unclear how quickly flights will be restored for other international routes.

What are the new regulations?

As of January 8, quarantine requirements have been lifted. Before this date, incoming travelers had to undergo five days of hotel quarantine, followed by three days of self-isolation at home upon arrival.

Now, travelers to China must only present a negative nucleic acid test taken within 48 hours of departure. Those with a negative result no longer need to apply for a green health code from Chinese embassies or consulates before entering the country.

However, travelers must still report their test results on their customs health declaration forms. If a traveler tests positive, they will be prohibited from traveling to China until they test negative.

While foreign leisure tourists remain excluded for now, these updates are especially welcomed by Chinese nationals abroad. Many, who struggled with high flight costs and extended quarantine periods, have not been able to visit home for almost three years.

How important is international tourism to China?

Even when China reopens its borders to international tourists, it remains uncertain how much demand will exist in both the short- and long-term.

This remains a significant unknown, and it will play a crucial role in the recovery of inbound tourism to China in the coming months and years, according to Cao.

The Chinese government has increasingly acknowledged the value of international visitors, with China being one of the world’s top tourist destinations in 2019, attracting 65.7 million arrivals.

Cao predicts that the government will likely invest more in promoting inbound tourism in the future, focusing on rebuilding and expanding the market, as well as creating new destinations and itineraries for international travelers.

What are the current Covid restrictions in China?

In early December, China abruptly abandoned its strict zero-Covid policy after widespread protests against its severe social and economic impacts.

Authorities have scaled back mass testing and lockdowns, allowing those who test positive to quarantine at home instead.

While mobile health QR codes still exist, they are no longer strictly enforced when entering public spaces or using public transportation.

Although there are no official mandates for face masks or social distancing, visitors to indoor public areas or those using public transportation will likely be asked to wear a mask.

What’s the current Covid situation in China?

One major concern looming over China’s reopening is Covid-19. As restrictions ease, cases have surged dramatically in recent weeks.

The surge has overwhelmed hospitals and crematoriums, led to shortages of essential medicines, and sparked fears of worsening conditions as experts warn of the virus spreading to under-resourced rural areas during the upcoming Lunar New Year.

The World Health Organization has accused China of downplaying the severity of the outbreak, criticizing its limited definition of Covid-related deaths, while urging Beijing to share more data about the rapid spread.

Read more here.

Is domestic travel on the rise again?

Throughout the pandemic, domestic travel has been a fluctuating trend, shifting with the changing Covid situation. With international travel limited, many Chinese citizens opted to explore destinations within their own country during lockdowns.

Currently, travel activity within China remains relatively low, according to Cao from Dragon Trail.

“Digital health codes no longer restrict movement as they did prior to December,” he explains. “We’re already seeing some popular destinations in China gaining momentum as the domestic market begins its recovery.”

Among these emerging hotspots is the island province of Hainan. Cao refers to data from Chinese travel platforms Ctrip and Qunar, both reporting a sharp rise in searches and bookings for flights to Sanya, a renowned resort town on the island.

“Qunar’s data highlights a rise in bookings from Beijing, especially as the first wave of Covid cases following the lifting of restrictions has now subsided,” Cao adds.

“Looking ahead, Ctrip has reported significant growth in flight searches to Hainan for the New Year and Chinese New Year holidays (January 21-27),” he shares.

Most of China’s major tourist attractions, including museums, theme parks, and national parks, are now welcoming visitors once again.

What are the current Covid regulations in Hong Kong?

In contrast to mainland China, Hong Kong – a special administrative region – is now completely open to international visitors and has lifted most of its travel restrictions.

As of December 28, the city has removed the requirement for incoming travelers to undergo a mandatory PCR Covid-19 test upon arrival.

Travelers entering Hong Kong are still required to show negative results from a PCR test taken within 48 hours or a rapid antigen test (RAT) within 24 hours before their flight.

The city has also discontinued its vaccine pass, which was previously required as proof of vaccination for entry to most public venues.

There is no longer a limit on public gatherings, but the mask mandate remains in effect for all indoor and outdoor public spaces.

Arriving travelers are still required to take rapid antigen tests (RAT) for five consecutive days after their arrival.

In early December, Hong Kong ceased contact tracing for Covid cases, and in September, the city ended mandatory hotel quarantine for overseas arrivals.

On January 8, China reopened its border with Hong Kong, allowing cross-border travel to resume.

Up to 60,000 Hong Kong residents are now permitted to cross into mainland China daily, via land, air, and sea ports, with the same number allowed to travel the other way.

Most of the busy border crossings between Hong Kong and mainland China have been closed since early 2020, causing significant strain on families and businesses with connections on both sides.

Are Chinese citizens now allowed to travel abroad for leisure?

Before the recent easing of restrictions, China had effectively banned international travel, preventing citizens from leaving for 'nonessential' purposes.

However, starting January 8, international leisure travel for Chinese citizens is once again allowed.

A report from Chinese state media states that the National Immigration Administration announced in late December that it would begin processing applications for ordinary passports for tourism from January 8 onward.

Is there a strong demand for international travel among Chinese citizens?

It seems that China's travel-deprived population is eager to once again explore international destinations without restrictions.

On Weibo, many users have been expressing their excitement about traveling abroad, with the hashtag “Where to travel abroad next year” amassing nearly 80 million views by late December.

According to data from Trip.com, online searches for international flights and hotels surged to their highest level in three years during the final days of 2022.

After the announcement of China's reopening, searches for popular destinations soared, increasing tenfold within just 30 minutes, with many users specifically looking for outbound group tours for the upcoming Lunar New Year holidays in January.

Macao, Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand, South Korea, the United States, and the United Kingdom were among the top 10 destinations with the largest spikes in search activity since the announcement.

How has the international community responded to this news?

The decision to lift travel restrictions has sparked considerable debate and controversy.

The role of Chinese tourists in the global tourism industry's recovery has been widely discussed.

In 2018, China alone accounted for 51% of the travel and tourism GDP in the Asia-Pacific region, as reported by the World Travel and Tourism Council. Chinese visitors also represented around 30% of all international arrivals in Thailand.

Now that Chinese tourists are eager to travel again, many countries are expressing concern over their return, primarily due to the ongoing Covid-19 situation in China.

Several countries, including the US, Australia, the UK, and Japan, have introduced additional Covid-19 testing requirements for travelers coming from China, whether directly or via connecting flights.

Willie Walsh, the director general of the International Air Transport Association, expressed disappointment over the reintroduction of these restrictions, calling it 'extremely disappointing' in a statement on the airline trade body's website.

Walsh criticized the reinstatement of Covid-19 testing and other measures for travelers from China, pointing out that the virus is already widespread within the country. He expressed disappointment, calling these actions a 'knee-jerk' reaction to measures that have proven ineffective over the past three years. He urged governments to rely on 'scientific facts' rather than 'scientific politics'.

To learn more about the varied responses to this situation, read further here.