Starting from November 8 until December 31, 2025, China has introduced a visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders from Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, and South Korea. As the list of countries benefiting from this visa exemption continues to expand, various regions are welcoming an influx of inbound tourists, significantly enhancing winter tourism.
On the first day of the trial visa-free policy, November 8, Wuhan Tianhe International Airport in Hubei welcomed the initial group of visa-exempt travelers. A total of 184 South Korean tourists successfully passed through the Wuhan border inspection station, completing the process in just over two minutes.
Yuan Wei, Team Leader at Wuhan Border Inspection Station: “We arranged for officers fluent in Korean to assist travelers at the card-filling station, optimizing the visa-free entry process for quick and smooth passage.”
From November 8 to 13, a total of 1,560 tourists entered Wuhan Tianhe International Airport under the visa-free policy. Foreign visitors to Hubei can not only enjoy the natural beauty of attractions such as the Three Gorges and Shennongjia but also experience the rich cultural history of the region. This initiative, combined with previous unilateral visa exemptions for countries like France, Germany, and Italy, has made it even more convenient for foreign travelers to visit China.
In Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Scenic Area in Hunan, the expanded visa-free circle has attracted more tourists from South Korea and Germany. They can purchase tickets directly with their passports and enter the scenic area after ticket verification, experiencing the thrill and excitement of the high-altitude glass bridge while enjoying the canyon’s stunning views.
As reported, Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Scenic Area has received approximately 436,100 international visitors this year, with 245,000 of them being South Korean tourists, accounting for nearly one-third of the total visitor count.
This new visa-free policy is expected to further invigorate tourism in China, especially during the winter months, as more international travelers explore the country’s diverse attractions.