China Travel Updates
What changed for visitors — entry rules, transport, payments, attractions and events.
- Attractions & Cities
Guangzhou museums extend evening hours for Mid-Autumn and National Day holidays
The Guangdong Museum of Art, Bai'etan will open from 9am to 9pm from September 25–27 and October 1–7, with eleven exhibitions and no reservation required for individual visitors. The Guangdong Museum in Zhujiang New Town will also extend hours until 9pm from September 25–27, though reservations remain required. The Cantonese Opera Art Museum in Liwan already operates until 9pm Tuesday through Sunday, while the Nanyue King Museum is maintaining its regular 5:30pm closing time with no evening extension announced.
via That's Magazines
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Air Travel to launch Changsha–Jinghong–Bangkok flights from October 2026
Chinese carrier Air Travel (Hunan Airlines) will operate two weekly flights on the Changsha–Jinghong–Bangkok Suvarnabhumi route starting from October 25, 2026. The service will use Airbus A320 aircraft and adds to the airline's existing three weekly Changsha–Bangkok flights. The new routing gives travellers from Changsha and Jinghong direct access to Bangkok with a stop in Xishuangbanna.
via AeroRoutes
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Aerolineas Argentinas expands China Eastern codeshare from September 2026
Aerolineas Argentinas is expanding its codeshare partnership with China Eastern to cover additional routes. China Eastern will place its MU code on Aerolineas Argentinas flights from Shanghai Pudong to Auckland and Buenos Aires Ezeiza, effective from October 1, 2026, as well as on Wenzhou to Madrid from September 16, 2026, and Wenzhou to Rome Fiumicino from September 17, 2026. China Eastern will also display MU-coded flight numbers on various Aerolineas Argentinas services within South America from October 1, 2026.
via AeroRoutes
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Condor ends Frankfurt-Bangkok-Sanya flights in late October 2026
German carrier Condor will discontinue its 3 weekly Frankfurt–Bangkok Suvarnabhumi–Sanya service at the end of October 2026. Travellers planning to fly this route must book alternative flights. The last scheduled departure is on October 22, 2026.
via AeroRoutes
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Ningbo-Xiangshan cross-sea suburban railway opens in Zhejiang
China's first cross-sea suburban railway, the Ningbo-Xiangshan line, began operation on September 22, 2026. The 61.45-kilometer route with 10 stations connects Xiaoyangjiang Station in Ningbo's Yinzhou District to Damuwan Station in Xiangshan County, with trains reaching speeds of up to 160 kilometers per hour. The line creates a half-hour transportation circle between downtown Ningbo and Xiangshan Peninsula, ending the area's history without rail transit.
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World Design Cities Conference 2026 opens free main exhibition in Shanghai September 26
The 2026 World Design Cities Conference will hold its main exhibition from September 26 to September 30, with free admission for the general public. The conference program runs September 28–30 at No. 689 Jumen Road in Huangpu District, featuring nearly 500 brands, over 3,000 exhibits, AI and fashion showcases, and four themed CityWalk routes across the city.
via Meet in Shanghai
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China Southern launches direct Shenzhen-Surabaya flights
China Southern Airlines now operates nonstop flights between Shenzhen and Surabaya, East Java. The service runs every Tuesday and Saturday, with Flight CZ8341 departing Shenzhen at 4:45pm and arriving in Surabaya at 9pm, and return Flight CZ8342 leaving Surabaya at 10:30pm and arriving in Shenzhen at 5am the next day. The route launched on September 15, 2026.
via That's Magazines
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Cathay Pacific adds 777-300 service to Chengdu and Guangzhou from late October
Cathay Pacific will operate 428-seat Boeing 777-300 aircraft on select Hong Kong routes to Chengdu Shuangliu and Guangzhou during the Northern winter 2026/27 season. The Chengdu service runs on flights CX986/987 on selected dates from October 26 to December 24, 2026, while the Guangzhou service on CX982/983 operates on Saturdays with two exceptions in November. The expanded wide-body operations are effective from October 25, 2026.
via AeroRoutes
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Foreigners in non-hotel accommodation can now register online nationwide
Foreigners residing or staying in domiciles other than hotels can now complete accommodation registration online through the NIA Government official website, the "NIA 12367" App, the "NIA 12367" WeChat mini program, or the Alipay mini program. The offline channel at local public security organs remains available, and online registration carries the same legal effect as on-site registration. The nationwide rollout began on September 21, 2026.
via National Immigration Administration
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Nationwide online registration for foreigners staying outside hotels launches
Foreigners staying in non-hotel accommodation in China can now complete their mandatory registration online instead of visiting a police station in person. The registration must still be completed within 24 hours of check-in, and can be submitted through the NIA government services website, the "NIA 12367" app, or its WeChat and Alipay mini-programs. The new online option took effect nationwide on September 21, 2026, while in-person registration at local public security authorities remains available.
via National Immigration Administration
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2026 Shenzhen Belt and Road International Music Season opens
The 2026 Shenzhen Belt and Road International Music Season opened on September 11, 2026, at Longgang International Art Center. The festival will run until early November 2026, presenting 25 productions across 34 performances, nearly 70 percent of which are premieres. The season features both international and Chinese artists, including overseas performers making their Shenzhen debuts.
via Shenzhen Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau
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23rd China-ASEAN Expo opens in Nanning
The 23rd China-ASEAN Expo and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit opened in Nanning on Thursday, themed on "CAFTA 3.0 Opportunities, Better Life." The event runs from September 18, 2026.
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International Mid-Autumn Lantern Carnival opens at Hong Kong's Victoria Park
The International Mid-Autumn Lantern Carnival opened at Victoria Park in Hong Kong, featuring over 3,000 lanterns from 20 countries and regions on the "World Lantern Boulevard." Travellers in Hong Kong can view the 8-meter-tall Nanjing Qinhuai lantern installation, displayed in the city for the first time. The carnival runs until September 27, 2026.
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Air China extends Beijing-Reykjavik flights to year-round service
Air China has extended its Beijing Capital to Reykjavik Keflavik route to year-round operations, maintaining three weekly flights via Copenhagen. The service will continue on or after March 28, 2027, with Airbus A330-300 aircraft scheduled for the Northern summer 2027 season. Flights operate on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
via AeroRoutes
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Orange rainstorm alert issued for Xiangcheng District, Zhangzhou, Fujian
The Xiangcheng District Meteorological Observatory upgraded its rainstorm warning from yellow to orange at 9:04 a.m. on September 21, 2026. Heavy rainfall of 58.5 millimeters fell in Tongbei Subdistrict in the past hour, and an additional 30 to 40 millimeters are expected over the next two hours in Tongbei, Xiangkou, Xiqiao, Xinqiao, and Dongputou subdistricts. Travelers in the area should expect disruptions and follow local emergency guidance.
via National Meteorological Center
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Air China reduces Europe flights for November–December 2026
Air China has filed additional service reductions on multiple European routes for the Northern winter 2026/27 season, mainly affecting November and December 2026. Routes from Beijing Capital, Beijing Daxing, Shanghai Pudong, and Chengdu Tianfu to cities including London Gatwick, Venice, Vienna, Milan, Barcelona, Brussels, Budapest, Geneva, Istanbul, Stockholm, and Frankfurt will see frequencies cut by one to three weekly flights. The reductions are effective from October 25, 2026 through dates in late December 2026 or early January 2027, depending on the route.
via AeroRoutes
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China Eastern adds extra Shanghai–St. Petersburg flights for winter 2026/27
China Eastern will operate 10 weekly flights between Shanghai Pudong and St. Petersburg from October 25, 2026, up from the initially planned 7 weekly. The route is served by Airbus A330-200 aircraft. Two additional mid-week services operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays alongside the existing daily flight.
via AeroRoutes
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Air Serbia and China Southern to launch codeshare flights from mid-October 2026
Air Serbia and China Southern will launch a reciprocal codeshare partnership covering service between Serbia and China. Travelers can book connecting flights on routes between Belgrade and Guangzhou, and between Belgrade and Shanghai Pudong, on either airline. The codeshare takes effect on October 16, 2026.
via AeroRoutes
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Heavy rain orange alert issued for Wensu County, Aksu Prefecture, Xinjiang
Wensu County Meteorological Observatory issued an orange heavy rain warning at 18:30 on September 19, 2026. Tacun Tourist Resort already recorded 19.3 mm of rainfall in the previous three hours, with local rainfall expected to exceed 24.1 mm in the next three hours in Tuwuxiuke Town, Qingchuan Town, and Bozidun Township. Travelers in the area should be aware of potential flash floods, mudslides, and landslides, and outdoor activities may be suspended.
via National Meteorological Center
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Wuzhou, Guangxi issues orange rainstorm alert
Wuzhou Meteorological Observatory issued an orange rainstorm warning at 09:23 on September 20, 2026. Wanxiu District already recorded 20 mm of rainfall in the past hour, and an additional 10-30 mm is expected over the next three hours in Wanxiu and Changzhou districts, with a high risk of urban waterlogging. Travellers in the area should expect disruptions and take precautions against potential flash floods, landslides, and mudslides.
via National Meteorological Center
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Air China restores sixth weekly Beijing-Vancouver flight from January 2027
Air China will add a sixth weekly flight on the Beijing Capital to Vancouver route from January 2, 2027. The additional service will be operated by Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. This brings the route to near-daily service for travellers flying between China and Canada.
via AeroRoutes
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Shenzhen Airlines keeps A350 on Shenzhen-London Heathrow route for winter 2026/27
Shenzhen Airlines will continue operating Airbus A350-900 aircraft on the Shenzhen to London Heathrow route during the Northern winter 2026/27 season. Four of the seven weekly flights will use the A350, while the remaining three will be operated by Airbus A330 aircraft. The schedule takes effect from October 25, 2026.
via AeroRoutes
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Air China adds third daily Beijing-Phuket flight for winter 2026/27
Air China will operate a third daily flight on the Beijing Capital to Phuket route during the Northern winter 2026/27 season, bringing the total to three daily flights on most days. The additional service will run daily except Sundays. The extra flight operates from November 16, 2026 to February 20, 2027.
via AeroRoutes
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China Eastern boosts Kunming flights to Southeast Asia from late October 2026
China Eastern has filed increased frequencies on seven routes from Kunming to Southeast Asian destinations for the Northern winter 2026/27 season. The changes apply to flights to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, Chiang Mai, Ho Chi Minh City, Kuala Lumpur, Mandalay, Singapore, and Yangon. All increases take effect from October 25, 2026.
via AeroRoutes
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Cathay Pacific extends Hong Kong-Almaty flights through late October 2027
Cathay Pacific has extended its Hong Kong – Almaty passenger service into the Northern summer 2027 season. The route will continue to operate three times weekly with Airbus A330-300 aircraft. The extended schedule is effective from March 30, 2027, with bookings now open.
via AeroRoutes
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48th WorldSkills Competition final preparations underway in Shanghai
The 48th WorldSkills Competition will open in five days at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai, with 64 events across six major fields including transport and logistics and construction. All competition materials have arrived, workstations are basically complete, and final facility debugging is underway, with full completion expected by Friday, September 18, 2026. About 1 million infrastructure items have been organized, and interactive experience areas will allow visitors to try hands-on skill modules during the event.
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Universal Beijing Resort adds indoor Fast & Furious ride and nighttime Lagoon show for fifth anniversary
Universal Beijing Resort has opened two new attractions: Asia's first indoor Fast & Furious ride and a new nighttime spectacular at the Lagoon. The indoor Fast & Furious ride features high-speed car chases in an immersive indoor environment, while the Lagoon show combines lighting effects, music, storytelling and audience interaction for evening entertainment. The new attractions mark the resort's fifth anniversary and coincide with the 25th anniversary of the Fast & Furious franchise.
Book attraction tickets on Trip.com - Payments & Connectivity
Jilin expands tax-free shopping with instant cross-region refunds and longer claim window
Jilin Province has streamlined departure tax refund services, increasing the number of tax-free shops to more than 81 and extending the refund claim period to 28 days. Tourists can now receive instant refunds for purchases made in other provinces when departing through Jilin ports, and refunds under 10,000 yuan are subject to random inspection. A multilingual electronic consumption map and WeChat mini program provide refund information.
Pay in China with a Wise card - Transport
Xiamen Airlines resumes Fuzhou-New York JFK via Tokyo Narita for winter 2026/27
Xiamen Airlines will operate its Fuzhou to New York JFK route with a technical stop at Tokyo Narita for westbound departures during the Northern winter 2026/27 season. The twice-weekly service runs from October 25, 2026 to March 27, 2027, with flights departing Fuzhou at 09:20 and arriving at JFK at 10:55 on Mondays and Fridays. Return flights depart JFK at 12:55, stop at Narita from 18:45 to 22:00 the next day, and reach Fuzhou at 22:00 local time.
via AeroRoutes
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Heavy rain orange alert issued for Dayao County, Chuxiong, Yunnan
A heavy rain orange alert is in effect for Dayao County in Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan. The alert warns of ongoing heavy rainfall with high risk of urban waterlogging, mountain floods, and geological disasters in townships including Liuju, Zhaojiadian, and Tanhua. The alert was issued at 18:44 on September 17, 2026, with severe conditions expected to continue for the following three hours.
via National Meteorological Center
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