It’s a period of modern history many of us would rather forget. It’s almost five years since an outbreak of Covid-19 brought the planet to a halt, an anniversary remembered on March 11 – the day the World Health Organisation declared a global pandemic.
Borders closed, planes were grounded and – for most people – travel plans barely extended beyond the front door.
Over time, countries quickly bounced back and reopened to foreigners. One of the last nations to let down its defences was ironically the very place where the pandemic began.
Since 2023, China has slowly reopened to British travellers, but obtaining a visa has been a slow, frustrating and expensive process putting many people off travelling.
At the beginning of this year, however, new regulations were introduced making it much easier and more enticing for UK passport holders to enter the country. Under new rules, UK travellers can visit China visa-free as long as they are in transit to another country.
What this means in practise is that trip twinning China with another foreign destination poses a stress-free solution to exploring the destination. Only a connecting ticket with the confirmed departure date and seat number leaving for a third country or region within 144 hours is required.
“This update is great news for UK travellers, including families, as previously China’s visa requirement included an in-person application at the embassy in London for each person travelling, including children, which was both time-consuming, and costly, at around £140pp,” says founder and managing director of family travel specialists Stubborn Mule Travel, Liddy Pleasants.
“Some restrictions remain, but the update means that visas for UK citizens to visit China are no longer required where the stay is for 10 days or less in mainland China, where that visit is a transit stay en-route to another country, including Hong Kong”.
She believes this change along with an increasing focus on China will lead to more bookings to the destination. Additionally, prices haven’t risen significantly since 2020 and plenty of flight options are available, making a two-week holiday in China more comparable with the cost of other Asia destinations such as Thailand and Vietnam. An ever-expanding network of routes covered by the high-speed bullet train also reduces the need for domestic flights.
Lauren Coppola, product manager for China at Audley Travel, also reports growing interest from customers, saying: “Enquiries for China are up compared to the same period last year, and we are receiving many calls from clients keen to understand what destinations allow them to take advantage of the new visa transit rule.”
Intrepid Travel also saw a 208% increase in China holiday bookings from the UK in 2024, compared to the year before.
If you want to take advantage of the new visa-free rule, here are a few recommended holidays to book.
Sightsee and suntan: China and Thailand
Distances are vast in a country 39 times larger than the UK, so packing in all the top sightseeing highlights can be exhausting. Combining an action-packed tour with time on the beach in Phuket creates a comfortable balance between exploration and relaxation. Start with a few days in Beijing to walk along part of the Great Wall, enter the Forbidden City and bike ride through the Hutongs (narrow alleys). Continue to Xian for the Terracotta Warriors – a collection of clay soldiers guarding the tomb of China’s first emperor – and travel by high-speed train to Shanghai. End in Thailand’s biggest island lapped by the Andaman Sea.
How: Audley (01993 838220; audleytravel.com/china) offers an 11-night tailormade trip costing from £4,800pp (two sharing), including B&B accommodation, train tickets guided excursions, transfers and flights.
Culture and city: China and Hong Kong
For a time-efficient way to make the most of the new rule, bolt on a few days in Hong Kong to a China tour. Start with walking the less crowded Jinshanling section of the Great Wall, before heading to Chengdu for the giant pandas and them continue to the scenic limestone landscapes of Yangshuo. Take the bullet train to Hong Kong for a final two-night stay, including a cable car ride to the peak.
How: Stubborn Mule (01728 752751; stubbornmuletravel.com) offers a 14-night tailormade holiday from £14,000 for a family of four including B&B accommodation, transfers, activities and flights.
Asia adventure: China, Vietnam and Cambodia
Explore three of Asia’s cultural powerhouses on an energetic multi-hop tour across the region. In Vietnam, visit the temples and museums of Hanoi and take a boat tour through the limestone karsts of Ha Long Bay. A calming Tai Chi session is preparation for a whistlestop tour of China, exploring Beijing, Xian and Shanghai. Head back to Vietnam for the Cu Chi tunnel system used by the Viet Cong in Saigon, and end the trip in Siem Reap to see Cambodia’s world wonder temple Angkor Wat.
How: Mercury Holidays (0333 242 7628; mercuryholidays.co.uk) offers a 20-day escorted tour from £3,407.84pp, including most meals, activities, transfers and flights.
