The country opening up to the world for travel again – and why you should go

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “This update is great news for UK travellers, including families, as previously China’s visa requirement included an in-person application at the embassy in London for each person travelling, including children, which was both time-consuming, and costly, at around £140pp,” says founder and managing director of family travel specialists Stubborn Mule Travel, Liddy Pleasants. “Some restrictions remain, but the update means that visas for UK citizens to visit China are no longer required where the stay is for 10 days or less in mainland China, where that visit is a transit stay en-route to another country, including Hong Kong”. Lauren Coppola, product manager for China at Audley Travel, also reports growing interest from customers, saying: “Enquiries for China are up compared to the same period last year, and we are receiving many calls from clients keen to understand what destinations allow them to take advantage of the new visa transit rule.” Intrepid Travel also saw a 208% increase in China holiday bookings from the UK in 2024, compared to the year before. Asia adventure: China, Vietnam and Cambodia open image in gallery Halong Bay in Vietnam Explore three of Asia’s cultural powerhouses on an energetic multi-hop tour across the region.