China to bring down payment barriers for foreigners to revive tourism (2024)

FAQs

China to bring down payment barriers for foreigners to revive tourism? ›

China to bring down payment barriers for foreigners to revive tourism. Chinese authorities are easing limits on mobile payments for foreigners and encouraging tourist attractions to accept cash and overseas bank cards in a bid to revive international visitor numbers.

Two years after an extended lockdown of Shanghai under the nation's dynamic zero-Covid policy led to an exodus of expatriates, mainland China's most international city is finally re-embracing a bustle of overseas visitors.

Summary: Reconsider travel to Mainland China due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws, including in relation to exit bans, and the risk of wrongful detentions. Exercise increased caution when traveling to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws.

It's illegal in China to reject cash for purchases, and the central government's crackdown has intensified in the last several years. Regulators have been fining companies such as car dealerships that refuse cash, while state media promotes the paper bill as the "most basic instrument of payment."

Yes, most travelers will need a visa to enter China. The good news is, that there is a great global visa service, CIBT, that walks you through everything you need to apply for your visa, helping you every step of the way.

How much cash can I bring into China? According to the regulation made by the Chinese foreign exchange and China customs administration, international travelers can bring cash of no more than 5000USD⁸, or no more than 20000 CNY when entering China.

In 2019, international arrivals in China amounted to approximately 145.3 million. However, the number of international visitor arrivals dropped to 27.5 million in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic and was estimated to increase to nearly 32 million in 2021.

The safety numbers do a good job of telling China's story. Numbeo, which crowdsources its rankings, says that China is one of the safest countries in the world. It's ranked 19th, ahead of countries like Denmark and the Netherlands which American travelers have named some of the world's safest places.

From March 14, 2024 to December 31, 2025, China has decided to implement a unilateral visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders from twelve countries: Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Malaysia, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium and Luxmbourg.

Though China is open to foreign visitors, you should be aware of political and cultural sensitivities. Avoid any demonstrations or large gatherings. The Chinese authorities enforce public order strictly, and you may face arrest, detention and deportation.

Are guns allowed in China? ›

Private ownership of firearms is prohibited, except in rare cases where individuals can obtain special permits for hunting or sports shooting. Violating China`s gun laws can result in severe penalties, including imprisonment and hefty fines.

Estimated number in China

Most expatriates living in China come from neighboring Asian nations. An estimate published in 2018 counted 600,000 people of other nations living in China, with 12% of those from the US; that means approximately 72,000 Americans living in China.

Since the U.S. dollar has a variable exchange rate, however, any sale by any nation holding huge U.S. debt or dollar reserves will trigger the adjustment of the trade balance at the international level. The offloaded U.S. reserves by China will either end up with another nation or will return back to the U.S.

China's cashless evolution is a remarkable story, as the country transitioned in less than two decades from a cash-first society to one with an 86% mobile payments penetration rate.

How did USA owe China so much money? The U.S. debt to China is approximately $1.059 trillion. That's 27.8 percent of the $3.8 trillion in treasury bills, notes, and bonds held by foreign countries. The rest of the $19.9 trillion national debt is owned by either the American people or by the U.S. government itself.

In 2024, WeChat Pay is made accessible to tourists in China, allowing them to make payments across a vast range of services and merchants. By linking their international Visa cards to their WeChat account, visitors can seamlessly transact in the country's predominantly cashless society.

US passport holders need a visa to visit China, obtained in advance of travel, i.e. there is no “visa on arrival” option. Tourist visas valid for ten years and good for multi-entry use must be acquired though a Chinese embassy or consulate, or a visa service.

Prohibited in China: sleeping pills, medication for ADHD, and strong painkillers without a prescription. Before holidaying in China, make sure you have a doctors note for every medication you are carrying as any amount above a seven-day supply of medication will need to be verified by a prescription.

The following items are prohibited from entering China: arms, ammunition, and explosives of all kinds; counterfeit currencies and counterfeit negotiable securities; printed matter, magnetic media, films, or photographs which are deemed to be detrimental to the political, economic, cultural and moral interests of China; ...

Many hotels and vendors outside scenic spots accept major international currencies, like US dollars, euros, and pounds. You can tip the hotel porters, drivers, and guides in international currencies. Some businesses in smaller cities, like convenience stores and local restaurants, only accept renminbi (Chinese yuan).

Is it illegal to not accept cash in China? ›

It is against the law to refuse cash, cash is the legal tender and widely accepted everywhere. It may be against the law but still happening in increasing number of places. In case a place doesn't accept the cash, ask the casher to use his/her Ali/weixin to pay and pay that person with cash.

China is generally a safe country to travel to, as long as you know where you're going and stay alert. China is visited by travelers from all around the world, and is of no danger to any person who understands local cultures and obeys local laws.

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India (MOHFW), has issued several travel advisories with reference to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. As per these advisories, Indian nationals are strongly advised to refrain from traveling to China, Italy, Iran, Republic of Korea, France, Spain and Germany.

Can Americans travel to China? Yes, Americans can travel to China for tourism purposes. The country previously upheld travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, from early 2020 to March 2023.

China will resume issuing all types of visas for foreigners, including the tourism visa, port visa, and multiple visa-exemption policies starting from March 15, 2023. It is the latest in a series of moves to reopen its border.

Number of foreign visitors to China in 2023 down more than 60% from pre-pandemic levels | CNN.

On 27 January 2024, the National Health Commission of the Peoples Republic of China notified WHO of one confirmed case of human coinfection with influenza A(H10N5) virus and seasonal influenza A(H3N2) virus. This is the first case of human infection with avian influenza A(H10N5) virus reported globally.