Beijing to allow visa-free transit trips

China will allow transit passengers from 45 countries including the US, Canada and most members of the EU to spend up to 72 hours in Beijing without a visa from next month.

The move would "strongly spur the development of the tourism industry, speed up building of an international city (and) expand contacts with the rest of the world," the Beijing Tourism Administration said on its website.

The policy only applies to travellers in transit to a third country, and not for return flights to the capital, whose attractions include the vast Forbidden City.

Eligible nationalities include the United States, Canada, most European Union countries, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, South Korea, Japan and the United Arab Emirates.

One noted omission was Norway which is embroiled in...

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It is going to become easier to visit Beijing in the new year. China is hoping to boost tourism and the economy by allowing transit travelers to spend up to 3 days in the city without a visa.