Chongqing to start 72-hour visa-free stays

Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality will launch 72-hour visa-free stays for travelers from 45 countries, becoming the fifth city on the mainland to introduce the policy.

Jiangbei International Airport in Chongqing will apply the visa-free policy to passengers from countries including the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Canada and Japan, the municipal government said Wednesday.

To enjoy the policy, travelers should hold third country visas and have booked plane tickets leaving for a third country or region within 72 hours.

The scheme provides convenience for overseas tourists and will promote the openness of the inland hub and its economic, trade and cultural exchanges with the world, said a Chongqing municipal government official.

So far, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu have already launched the 72-hour visa-free service.