A Lighthouse on Shenzhou Peninsula, a trendy photo-op spot for tourists in Wanning, Hainan. [Photo/IC]

Foreign tourist groups arriving in Hainan by cruise ship can benefit from the visa exemption entry policy that began on May 15, 2024.

This policy allows cruise ship groups of at least two individuals, organized by a Chinese travel agency, to enter China without visas through cruise ports in any of the 13 designated coastal cities, including Haikou and Sanya in Hainan.

These groups must continue their journey to the next scheduled port and depart China on the same scheduled cruise ship.

Duration of stay in China

Up to 15 days

Permitted area of movement within China

The capital city Beijing and coastal provinces (including autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government) :

Beijing

Liaoning province

Tianjin

Hebei province

Shandong province

Jiangsu province

Shanghai

Zhejiang province

Fujian province

Guangdong province

Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region

Hainan province

13 designated coastal cities open their ports for entry

Beihai (Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region)

Dalian (Liaoning province)

Guangzhou & Shenzhen (Guangdong province)

Haikou & Sanya (Hainan province)

Lianyungang (Jiangsu province)

Qingdao (Shandong province)

Shanghai

Tianjin

Wenzhou & Zhoushan (Zhejiang province)

Xiamen (Fujian province)

Note: In case of any discrepancies, the Chinese version of visa policy issued by the immigration authority shall prevail.

National Immigration Administration contributed to the story.