Since the introduction of the 240-hour visa-free transit policy on Dec 17, Shanghai Pudong International Airport has received over 11,000 international travelers benefiting from the policy, according to the Shanghai Airport Station of Immigration Inspection.

During the three-month period from Dec 17 to March 16, the number of travelers utilizing the visa-free policy has increased by 52 percent since a year ago, when the 144-hour visa-free policy was still in effect, said the station.

More than 90 percent of these travelers came from Europe and North America, with additional visitors from Russia. The top countries included the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Sweden.

The newly upgraded visa-free transit policy now allows international travelers to visit multiple cities in China.

One such traveler, Alsterklint from Sweden, arrived with his family on Flight KLM 895 on March 16. He shared that during their 10-day trip, they plan to visit both Shanghai and Shenzhen.

To enhance the experience for international travelers, Pudong airport has streamlined border clearance procedures by introducing intelligent inspection equipment, enabling most passengers to clear immigration and retrieve their luggage quickly and efficiently.

A team of about 100 multilingual volunteers is also stationed at the airport, offering round-the-clock assistance to international visitors.

Source: Shanghai Observer