Huanggang Port to Replace Lok Ma Chau Crossing on 24-Hour Schedule from 12 October
Guangzhou Baiyun Airport Surpasses 100,000 International Flight Movements in Record Time
Golden-Week Data: 1.55 Million Border Movements Per Day as China Logs 2.14 Billion Trips
Latest News
ChinaVisaCheck Confirms 79 Passports Now Enjoy 30-Day Visa-Free Entry—List Last Verified 10 October
An update on 10 October by ChinaVisaCheck shows 79 nationalities now qualify for 30-day visa-free entry to mainland China, reflecting policy extensions announced in late September. The expanded waiver eases spontaneous business trips but does not replace work-permit requirements.
Hong Kong Touts Biometric “Face-Pass” but Reminds Travellers to Carry Documents
Ahead of the 12 October border revamp, Hong Kong released a video promoting its new facial-recognition e-Channel. While the biometric lane eliminates the need to present documents at the gate, authorities emphasise that travellers must still carry passports and complete prior registration.
October Visa Bulletin Gives Chinese EB-2 Applicants a One-Month Jump, Opens Door for New Filings
The October 2026 U.S. Visa Bulletin moves the EB-2 “Dates for Filing” for mainland-born Chinese to 1 January 2023, allowing thousands to submit green-card applications immediately. EB-3 filing dates jump even further to 1 April 2024, but officials caution that cut-offs could slide back if demand spikes.
Hong Kong–Shenzhen’s Rebuilt Huanggang Port Opens 12 October; 160 000 Already Registered for New Biometric E-Channels
Hong Kong will open its rebuilt Huanggang Port on 12 October, introducing joint biometric e-channels that reduce clearance time to five minutes. Over 160 000 travellers have already registered via the e-Channel app, signalling high demand for the streamlined one-stop system that is set to boost daily commuter capacity between Hong Kong and Shenzhen.
Shanghai Ports Log 809,000 Passenger Movements—60 % of Foreign Arrivals Use Visa-Free Channels
Border counters in Shanghai cleared 809,000 passengers from 1–7 October, a 3.4 % rise year-on-year. Of 89,000 foreign arrivals, nearly 60 % entered visa-free or on transit-visa-free privileges—an important facilitator for short-term business visitors attending the city’s major sports and trade events. Automation and extra staffing cut clearance times, but mobility managers should prepare for tighter housing supply as inbound volumes climb.
Civil Aviation Authority issues winter–spring route licence list for Southwest China, opens new city-pairs
CAAC’s Southwest bureau released its 2026/27 winter–spring domestic route permit list on 9 October, authorising 41 new links and revoking nine unprofitable services. New licences improve direct access to fast-growing secondary cities, benefiting corporate travel programmes, while highlighting CAAC’s stricter, data-driven capacity oversight.
China-Laos Railway moves 530,000 people over National Day week, adds 386 extra trains in Yunnan
More than half a million people used the China-Laos Railway during Golden Week, with 28 international services linking Kunming and Vientiane. The operator’s rapid addition of 386 extra trains shows the corridor’s flexibility and rising importance for cross-border mobility and tourism.
Year-Long Marine Works East of Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge Artificial Island May Reroute Passenger Ferries
Marine authorities have begun a year-long engineering project east of the HZMB artificial island, prompting minor route changes for Macau–Hong Kong passenger ferries from 9 October 2026. While land traffic on the bridge is unaffected, maritime operators must follow new safety zones and expect slight schedule adjustments.
Fujian Border Crossings Reach 164,800 as Xiamen Port Surpasses 5 Million Travellers YTD
Fujian processed about 164,800 cross-border trips during Golden Week, driven by air and cruise traffic through Xiamen and the debut of Fuzhou Airport’s Terminal 2. Cross-Strait ferry links and streamlined permit renewals further ease business mobility, signalling continued growth in the province’s foreign traveller footprint.
Hong Kong Issues Travel Advisory Ahead of 11 October Cyclothon: Road Closures, Ferry Cancellations and Extra High-Speed Rail Trips
Hong Kong will close multiple major roads and adjust public-transport services for the 11 October Cyclothon. The Transport Department’s 9 October advisory highlights possible delays to airport transfers, diverted bus routes and selected ferry cancellations, while an extra Shenzhen–Hong Kong high-speed rail trip has been added to accommodate travellers.