(Yicai) July 15 -- China expanded its 144-hour visa-free transit policy to three ports of entry in central and southwest parts of the country to attract more travelers.

Central China's Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport, Yunnan province's Lijiang Sanyi International Airport, and Mohan Railway Port, located close to Laos, were added so the nation now has 37 ports of entry accessible for six-day visits before the final destination, the National Immigration Administration announced today.

Citizens from 54 countries, including the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, can take advantage of the policy to briefly visit China for tourism, business, or family reunions.

Travelers who enter China through Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport must stay in Henan province for the whole time. Those who arrive in Yunnan's Kunming no longer need to stay in the provincial capital but can now visit nine other cities in the province, including Kunming, Lijiang, Yuxi, Pu'er, Dali, and Xishuangbanna.

An official from the NIA said that the administration will continuously improve and optimize the visa-free transit policy to welcome foreign nationals to China with a more open attitude, promoting a high level of opening-up and high-quality development.

China's visa-free transit policy of 72 to 144 hours, implemented in January 2023, has attracted foreign tourists, especially travel bloggers, to visit the country. In the first half, more than 14.6 million foreigners entered China, up about 2.5 times from a year ago, according to official data.

Editor: Emmi Laine