China has widened its visa-free regime to an unprecedented 74 countries, allowing their citizens to visit the mainland for up to 30 days without first obtaining a visa, the National Immigration Administration announced this week. The move, effective in early July, marks the most extensive waiver since borders reopened and is aimed at jump-starting inbound tourism and facilitating business travel after the pandemic. The new 30-day waiver builds on earlier measures. On 12 June Beijing added Indonesia to its 240-hour (10-day) transit visa-free programme, expanding that list to 55 nations. Travellers from countries still outside the month-long scheme can continue to use the shorter transit option at 60 designated ports of entry. Officials say the easing is already lifting arrivals. More than 20 million foreigners entered China without a visa in 2024—almost one-third of all inbound visitors and more than double the previous year, according to immigration data. The roster of countries eligible for 30-day stays is scheduled to rise to 75 on 16 July with the inclusion of Azerbaijan, underscoring Beijing’s push to restore international tourism to pre-COVID levels.