China Travel Updates
What changed for visitors — entry rules, transport, payments, attractions and events.
- Transport
Emirates upgrades one daily Dubai-Beijing flight to A380 for two periods
Emirates will operate one of its two daily Dubai-Beijing Capital flights with an Airbus A380 instead of a Boeing 777-300ER during two windows: 1 November to 30 November 2026, and 1 February to 27 March 2027. The affected services are EK306/307. The second daily flight, EK308/309, will continue to use the 777-300ER.
via AeroRoutes
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Xiamen Airlines suspends Doha routes for entire Northern winter 2026/27 season
Xiamen Airlines has closed reservations on its Beijing Daxing–Doha and Xiamen–Doha routes for the full Northern winter 2026/27 season. Travellers will not be able to book these flights through March 27, 2027. Beijing Daxing–Doha reservations are currently available again for travel on or after March 28, 2027, while Xiamen–Doha schedules have not been filed for summer 2027.
via AeroRoutes
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Shanghai Opera House unveils 2026-2027 season with international artists
The Shanghai Opera House launched its 2026-2027 season on September 3, 2026, featuring performances by international artists including conductor Li Xincao, tenor Juan Diego Florez, and soprano Rosa Feola. The season includes opera productions, concerts, and the opening of the new Shanghai Grand Opera House with events from October 17, 2026. A complete Beethoven symphony cycle will run over four days in 2027 to mark the 200th anniversary of the composer's death.
via Shanghai Culture and Tourism Bureau
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CIFTIS 2026 opens in Beijing with over 1,800 exhibitors from 90 countries
The 2026 China International Fair for Trade in Services opened at Beijing's Shougang Park on September 9, 2026, with 90 countries, regions and international organizations participating. More than 1,830 enterprises are exhibiting onsite, including 473 Fortune Global 500 or industry-leading companies. The fair runs 11 business inspection routes covering investment promotion and cultural tourism experiences, and has created a dedicated promotion area for overseas expansion services hosting 41 events.
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Hongqiao Airport offers free luggage storage for visa-free transit passengers
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport now provides complimentary luggage storage for eligible transit passengers under China's visa-free transit policy. Passengers can store one piece of luggage free of charge for up to 72 hours with no size restrictions at the Luggage Service Center opposite Gate 6 on the Departure Floor of Terminal 1. The airport has also introduced a wheelchair rental service for elderly passengers and travelers with reduced mobility, available for 20 yuan per day at the Terminal 1 Information Desk.
via Meet in Shanghai
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Shenzhen Airlines to launch Shenzhen-Sydney flights from December 2026
Shenzhen Airlines will launch four weekly flights between Shenzhen and Sydney, its second route to Australia. The service will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays using Airbus A330-300 aircraft. The first flight departs on December 14, 2026.
via AeroRoutes
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China Airlines keeps Kaohsiung-Chongqing weekly flight for winter 2026/27
China Airlines will continue operating one weekly flight between Kaohsiung and Chongqing during the Northern winter 2026/27 season. The service resumes on 18 November 2026 after a brief cancellation from 25 October to 17 November 2026, with bookings available through 27 March 2027. The airline is currently only accepting full-fare business and economy class reservations on this route.
via AeroRoutes
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Air China adds A350 flights on Beijing-New York JFK route in late September and early October 2026
Air China extended Airbus A350-900 operations on the Beijing Capital to New York JFK route. The A350 will now also fly on September 23, October 1, October 3, and October 5, 2026, replacing the Boeing 747-8I on those dates. The carrier operates this route five times weekly.
via AeroRoutes
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Electronic border permits for Shigatse, Xizang suspended after Gyirong Port mudslide
The National Immigration Administration has suspended issuing electronic border administration area permits for Shigatse City, Xizang Autonomous Region, following a large-scale mudslide on the Nepalese side that caused heavy casualties at Gyirong Port. Travellers who already hold valid electronic permits listing Shigatse as their destination should not travel to the area for now. The suspension takes effect from 00:00 on 28 August 2026, and the resumption date will be announced separately.
via National Immigration Administration
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Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam added to China's 240-hour transit and Hainan visa-free policies
Nationals of Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam are now eligible for China's 240-hour visa-free transit policy and the 30-day visa-free entry policy for Hainan. Eligible travelers may transit through 65 open ports including Beijing and Shanghai for up to 240 hours, or enter Hainan directly for up to 30 days for tourism, business, visits, and family visits. The change took effect on August 20, 2026.
via National Immigration Administration
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Shanghai launches 100 "Hu Xiaoyou" tourist service hubs before WorldSkills 2026
Shanghai is rolling out a new tourist service network called "Hu Xiaoyou" ahead of the 48th WorldSkills Competition. The hubs integrate travel information, one-stop booking, AI-powered itinerary planning, foreign card payments, and multilingual support in 10 languages and over 120 currencies. One hundred service points will be installed at airports, hotels, tourist information centers, competition venues, and key scenic spots by the end of August 2026.
via Shanghai Culture and Tourism Bureau
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