Officials at Changsha Huanghua International Airport announced that, as of the first anniversary of China’s 240-hour transit-without-visa scheme on 17 December, more than 4,000 foreigners have used Hunan province’s ports to enter or exit the country without a pre-arranged visa.
The travellers hailed from 22 countries, with the United Kingdom, United States and Indonesia supplying the largest numbers. Popular onward destinations include London, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok—highlighting Changsha’s growing role as a secondary aviation hub. Immigration officers credited the uptake to extended 10-day stay allowances, upgraded e-gates and a multilingual helpdesk capable of handling 12 languages.
![Hunan marks 4,000th traveller under China’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy]()
For the provincial government, the figures are an early vindication of its campaign to attract international MICE events and technology investment away from coastal megacities. Local hotels report that average foreign-guest nights have doubled versus 2024, and the Hunan commerce bureau is courting airlines for additional long-haul routes.
Business-travel planners should note that Changsha now supports visa-free stays long enough for plant audits or supplier visits in neighbouring Hubei, Jiangxi and Guangxi, making it a viable alternative entry point when Beijing or Shanghai flights are full.
The travellers hailed from 22 countries, with the United Kingdom, United States and Indonesia supplying the largest numbers. Popular onward destinations include London, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok—highlighting Changsha’s growing role as a secondary aviation hub. Immigration officers credited the uptake to extended 10-day stay allowances, upgraded e-gates and a multilingual helpdesk capable of handling 12 languages.
For the provincial government, the figures are an early vindication of its campaign to attract international MICE events and technology investment away from coastal megacities. Local hotels report that average foreign-guest nights have doubled versus 2024, and the Hunan commerce bureau is courting airlines for additional long-haul routes.
Business-travel planners should note that Changsha now supports visa-free stays long enough for plant audits or supplier visits in neighbouring Hubei, Jiangxi and Guangxi, making it a viable alternative entry point when Beijing or Shanghai flights are full.
Source: Hunan Today / China News Service
