ITB China 2026 Opens in Shanghai as Visa-Free Policies Spark Inbound Travel Boom
Beijing Hotels Rethink Services as 80 % of Foreign Guests Travel Independently
Commentary: Wave of High-Level Visits to Beijing Underscores China’s ‘Open-Door’ Diplomacy
Latest News
China extends visa-free entry for Russian citizens to end-2027
On 26 May 2026 Beijing confirmed that Russian travellers will remain eligible for 30-day visa-free entry until 31 December 2027. The move stabilises business and leisure traffic, eliminates a 2026 expiry risk and supports booming Sino-Russian trade. Mobility teams gain a predictable framework for short-term assignments and technical visits.
ITB China 2026 opens in Shanghai, spotlighting luxury, cruise and travel-tech
Shanghai welcomed 23,500 trade visitors as ITB China 2026 kicked off on 26 May, featuring 900+ exhibitors, a travel-tech innovation hub and partner destination Georgia. The show’s expanded scale and deal-making frenzy underline renewed corporate and leisure mobility between China and the rest of the world.
Philippines detains 24 Chinese nationals for work-permit and overstay violations
GMA Regional TV reported on 26 May that 24 Chinese citizens were arrested in Davao del Norte for overstaying and working without proper permits. The case highlights the Philippines’ stricter enforcement against visa abuse and the need for Chinese companies to double-check compliance for short-term assignees.
Chinese dissident’s 30-hour sea escape to South Korea raises asylum questions
CNN-syndicated reports on 26 May detailed activist Dong Guangping’s risky inflatable-boat journey from Shandong to South Korea. The episode tests Seoul’s asylum stance, could affect China-ROK relations, and reminds multinationals of the need for robust duty-of-care protocols for at-risk Chinese employees abroad.