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☆ What it’s like onboard the COMAC C919 plane, China’s answer to Boeing and Airbus
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-04 | by ( Steven Jiang | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The C919 is China’s first homegrown mainline passenger plane, manufactured by the Shanghai-based state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC). Steven Jiang/CNNI was happy to hear the flight attendant highlight the aircraft type in his pre-takeoff briefing. “Today you’re flying with Air China C919 aircraft, which is the first large airliner independently developed by China,” he said, as the jet taxied to the runway. Air China serves hot meals in economy during meal hours even for short-haul flights (today’s flying time: 1 hour 40 minutes). As far as my passenger expectation goes, this C919 flight has earned a solid B in terms of safety and comfort.

Persons: Beijing CNN —, I’ve, Steven Jiang, CNN Long, ”, deplaning, don’t, COMAC Organizations: Beijing CNN, Boeing, Airbus, Air, Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, China Eastern Airlines, CNN, International, Air China, Air China C919, China, Hongqiao Locations: Beijing, Air China, Shanghai, Europe, China, Southeast Asia, Africa

☆ Visiting China in 2024: A guide to visas, mobile payments and more
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-10 | by ( Maggie Hiufu Wong | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +20 min

We’ve put together a guide to some of the most frequently asked questions regarding China travel. China travel FAQsDo you need a visa to go to China? However, travelers visiting under these visa-free transit programs have more restrictions in terms of places they can visit. Exploring the country via China’s vast high-speed railway network is not an option for those entering under the two transit visa schemes. Beijing, China's capital city, accepts international travelers visiting under the 144-hour visa-free transit program.

Persons: it’s, ”, Denny Tian, Gabriela Correia, Correia, Tian, Greg Baker, Correira, ” Gabriela Correia, David Tucker, We’ve, John Seaton Callahan, China ’, Kevin Frayer, –, ” Correira, you’ve, Didi, Uber, Yan Cong, China’s Organizations: CNN, Immigration Administration, China, Google, Getty, “, Service, Shanghai Hongqiao, Hong Kong, Hong, Hong Kong Immigration, Travelers, Facebook, ”, Publishing, United, US, Baidu, Apple, China Railway, Bloomberg Locations: China, Beijing, Portugal, Shanghai, AFP, “, Hunan, Singapore, Thailand, Austria, Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, New York, Japan, South Korea, United Kingdom, United States, Hong Kong, Macau, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Asia, Tibet, Tibet Autonomous Region, Hainan, China's, Hawaii, ”, Canada

☆ China will restrict exports of some aviation, aerospace equipment to 'safeguard national security'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-31 | by ( Sheila Chiang | In Sheilachiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

SHANGHAI, CHINA - DECEMBER 09: Captain Zhao Hongbing waves a Chinese national flag after the first C919 large passenger aircraft of China Eastern Airlines landed at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport on December 9, 2022 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Yin Liqin/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images)China on Thursday said it will restrict the exports of certain aviation and aerospace components and technologies starting July 1, citing the need to "safeguard national security." The new regulations seek to better protect national security and fulfill international obligations such as non-proliferation, a spokesperson from the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement. The notice was jointly announced with the General Administration of Customs as well as the Equipment Development Department of the Central Military Commission. Exports of items including equipment, software and technologies related to aerospace structural components, engine manufacturing and manufacturing of gas turbines will require export licenses.

Persons: Zhao Hongbing, Yin Liqin Organizations: China Eastern Airlines, Shanghai Hongqiao, China News Service, Getty Images, Ministry of Commerce, Administration of Customs, Equipment Development Department of, Central Military Commission Locations: SHANGHAI, CHINA, Shanghai, China

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken waves as he prepares to depart Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport en route to Beijing, on April 25, 2024. The U.S. and China will hold their first high-level talks on artificial intelligence within the "coming weeks," U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said Friday, providing no update over the future of Chinese social media giant TikTok. During wide-ranging talks with Chinese officials in Beijing, Blinken said the two sides had agreed to the first U.S.-China intergovernmental dialogue on AI to discuss the risks and safety concerns surrounding the emerging technology. The U.S. imposed restrictions on Beijing's ability to access high-end tech and is moving close to banning social media app TikTok, unless its Chinese parent ByteDance sells it. Speaking at a press conference, Blinken said that TikTok "did not come up" in the talks.

Persons: Antony Blinken, State Anthony Blinken, Blinken Organizations: State, U.S Locations: Shanghai Hongqiao, Beijing, U.S, China

☆ China's Didi Global says ride-hailing app had 'systems malfunction'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A man passes by a car of Chinese ride-hailing service Didi at the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport in Shanghai, China August 14, 2023. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSHANGHAI/BEIJING, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Didi Global said on Monday its ride-hailing app had experienced a "systems malfunction" after users in multiple cities including Beijing and Shanghai said they were unable to book rides in the evening. The company apologised for the issue on its official Weibo account and said it was urgently trying to fix it. Didi is China's largest ride-hailing company, with its service in the country delivering average daily transactions of 31.3 million in the third quarter. Reporting by Brenda Goh in Shanghai and Ethan Wang in Beijing; Editing by Jan HarveyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Didi, Aly, Didi Global, Brenda Goh, Ethan Wang, Jan Harvey Organizations: Shanghai Hongqiao International, REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Rights SHANGHAI, BEIJING, Beijing, Weibo, Zhejiang, Jilin

☆ IMF upgrades China's 2023, 2024 GDP growth forecasts
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

People wait to board trains at the Shanghai Hongqiao railway station ahead of the National Day holiday, in Shanghai, China September 28, 2023. GDP growth could slow to 4.6% in 2024 because of continued weakness in China's property sector and subdued external demand, the IMF said in a press release, albeit better than its October expectation of 4.2% in the IMF's World Economic Outlook (WEO). The combination of the downturn in the property sector and local government debt crunch could wipe out much of China's long-term growth potential, economists say. Local debt has reached 92 trillion yuan ($12.6 trillion), or 76% of China's economic output in 2022, up from 62.2% in 2019. China should also develop a comprehensive restructuring strategy to reduce the debt level of local government financing vehicles (LGFVs), she said.

Persons: Aly, IMF's, Gita Gopinath, Gopinath, LGFVs, Joe Cash, Ryan Woo, Edmund Klamann, Christopher Cushing Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Monetary Fund, China's, Communist Party, Thomson Locations: Shanghai Hongqiao, Shanghai, China, Rights BEIJING, Gopinath

REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Another month, another new record for China's primary aluminium production sector. Power availability is proving to be as effective a cap on China's aluminium production as any government mandate. Some of that production capacity has only just been powered up after a previous round of restrictions was lifted in June. And an increasingly significant one as ever more Chinese aluminium capacity migrates from north to south to lower the carbon footprint. Rainfall in Yunnan is now the key determinant of China's primary aluminium production capacity.

Persons: Stringer, John Kemp, wean, Paul Simao Organizations: REUTERS, International Aluminium Institute, China Southern Power, AZ Consulting, China Hongqiao, HK, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Zouping, Shandong province, China, Beijing, Yunnan, YUNNAN, It's, Shandong

A Comac C919, China's first large passenger jet, flies away on its first commercial flight from the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport in Shanghai, China May 28, 2023. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Sept 28 (Reuters) - China Eastern Airlines (600115.SS) said on Thursday it will buy another 100 C919 airplanes in a deal worth $10 billion at list prices, in what would be the largest ever order for the jet made by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC). The list price for the C919 is $99 million but aircraft can be sold at discounts of up to 50%, especially for new models. Next, the plane manufacturer will cooperate with China Eastern more closely, to show other potential users the reliability and performance of C919." China Eastern will get delivery of five aircraft in 2024, while ten are to be delivered each year from 2025 to 2027.

Persons: Aly, Li Hanming, Li, COMAC, COMAC's, Sophie Yu, Brenda Goh, Neil Fullick, Peter Graff, Miral Organizations: Shanghai Hongqiao International, REUTERS, Rights, China Eastern Airlines, Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Airbus, Boeing, China Eastern, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Rights BEIJING, Beijing, Washington, Brunei

☆ China's outbound travel surges ahead of 'Golden Week' holidays
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Jared Mitovich | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Outbound travel from China is surging ahead of the first "Golden Week" holiday period since the country has allowed international travel to resume and even as China's economic growth has slowed. Golden Week, which begins Oct. 1 this year, marks the annual weeklong period that includes the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day in China. Trip.com said bookings for travel within China are up by four times compared with last year's Golden Week, with residents opting to travel between different provinces for longer periods of time. Northwest China's autumnal tours and South China's comfortable climate have made those destinations particularly popular, Trip.com said. Golden Week typically spurs hundreds of millions in China to travel.

Persons: Trip.com, Jane Sun, Sun, China — Organizations: International Airport, Beijing Capital International Locations: Shanghai, China, Singapore, Australia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan, Covid, United Kingdom, South Korea

☆ Rio Tinto shoulders Simandou iron ore bill as Chinese funds delayed - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Clara Denina | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Anglo-Australian miner owns two of four Simandou mining blocks as part of its Simfer joint venture with China's Chalco Iron Ore Holdings (CIOH) and the government of Guinea, where the mine is located. CIOH is 75% held by Aluminum Corporation of China (Chinalco) and 20% by Baowu Steel Group, with China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) and China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) each holding 2.5%. Simandou's other two blocks are owned by the Winning Consortium Simandou (WCS), made up of Singapore-based Winning International Group, Weiqiao Aluminium - part of the China Hongqiao Group (1378.HK) - and United Mining Suppliers. Rio earmarked $800 million for its share of the development in 2023 and around $2 billion a year in 2024 and 2025. Reporting by Clara Denina; Additional reporting by Felix Njini and Amy Lv; Editing by Jan HarveyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Chris Helgren, CIOH, CHEC, Simandou, Raphael Gnambalamou, Clara Denina, Felix Njini, Amy Lv, Jan Harvey Organizations: Rio Tinto, Developers Association of Canada, REUTERS, Ore Holdings, CIOH, Aluminum Corporation of China, Baowu Steel, China Railway Construction Corporation, China Harbour Engineering Company, Weiqiao, China Hongqiao, HK, United Mining Suppliers, Thomson Locations: Rio, Toronto , Ontario, Canada, Simandou, Guinea, China, Singapore

☆ Chinese property stocks surge after central bank vows more support for private businesses
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Other attendees included diary giant Yili Group, aluminum products manufacturer China Hongqiao Group and electrical components manufacturer Chint Group . At the symposium, PBOC governor Pan Gongsheng said the central bank will promote the expansion of private business bond financing support instruments, and strengthen the financial market to support their development. This is the latest move by the central government to boost market confidence and vow support for private businesses and the real estate sector amid signs of slowing growth. watch nowAt the Politburo meeting on July 24, the top leadership promised to "adjust and optimize policies" to boost the beleaguered property sector, as well as introduce measures to promote private investment. Separately, China's state planner, the National Development and Reform Commission, also released a 17-point statement, and pledged to encourage more private capital into the construction of major national projects.

Persons: Qilai Shen, Pan Gongsheng Organizations: Bloomberg, Getty, China Hongqiao Group, Chint, National Development, Reform Commission, Communist Party Locations: Beijing, China

☆ China's central bank to guide more financial resources to support private sector
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Jason Lee/File PhotoBEIJING, Aug 3 (Reuters) - China's central bank governor pledged on Thursday to guide more financial resources towards the private economy, suggesting refreshed urgency from Beijing to bolster the confidence among private firms as economic momentum weakens. During a meeting on Thursday with at least eight private firms from sectors including property, aluminium and agribusiness, the People's Bank of China (PBOC) Governor Pan Gongsheng said the bank would roll out guidelines to support private firms. Responding to some firms' requests of broadening bond financing channels, Pan said the central bank would expand debt financing tools for them. "Financial institutions should actively create a positive atmosphere to support the development and growth of private firms ... and increase willingness to lend." To revive confidence among private businesses, head of the economic planner also held several meetings with private firms last month to learn about their operation difficulties.

Persons: Pan, Jason Lee, Pan Gongsheng, Ellen Zhang, Ryan Woo, Ella Cao, Jon Boyle, Alison Williams Organizations: People's Bank of China, Congress, REUTERS, HK, China Hongqiao, Chint, Thomson Locations: Beijing China, BEIJING, Beijing, China, Hope

☆ Elon Musk says his Shanghai factory makes the ‘highest quality’ Teslas
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

It was the first time Musk has visited the country since January 2020, when a video of him dancing onstage at Tesla’s Shanghai factory went viral. Before leaving, Musk met Chen Jining, the Communist Party chief of Shanghai, according to a statement by the city government. Musk praised the success of Tesla’s Shanghai facility — which opened in 2019 — and said he was hoping to work more with the city in various areas, the statement said. In 2022, the company delivered 1.31 million vehicles globally, more than half of which were from Shanghai, according to its financial results. “Congratulations to Giga Shanghai & Tesla China SDS teams for their excellent work overcoming many obstacles over many years!!

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Elon Musk, Musk, Chen Jining, Chen, Tesla, —, Variflight, ”, “, ” Musk, “ It’s, ” “, Elon, Jade Gao, Qin Gang, didn’t, Zeng Yuqun Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Communist Party, Beijing Capital International Airport, Getty, Financial Times, Twitter, Giga Shanghai, Tesla China SDS, EV, CNN Locations: Hong Kong, China, Shanghai, Shanghai’s Hongqiao, Beijing, AFP, United States, Weibo

☆ Elon Musk's whirlwind China trip included talks with vice premier
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SHANGHAI, June 1 (Reuters) - Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) Chief Executive Elon Musk departed Shanghai on Thursday, wrapping up a two-day trip to China in which he met senior Chinese government officials including the highest-ranking vice premier. The video released by Tesla showed Musk praising employees for "overcoming so many difficulties and challenges" and making a heart sign with his hands. Earlier in the trip, Musk met with China's foreign, commerce and industry ministers in Beijing and dined with the chairman of battery supplier Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (CATL) (300750.SZ). He also met with Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang on Wednesday, a source familiar with the matter said. China values its relationship with Tesla and in 2019 Musk had a one-on-one meeting with then premier Li Keqiang.

Persons: Elon Musk, Musk's, Tom Zhu, Tesla, Musk, Ding Xuexiang, Ding, Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Chen Jining, Chen, Zhang Yan, Brenda Goh, Nicoco Chan, Julie Zhu, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Tesla Inc, Amperex Technology Co, State, Information Office, U.S ., Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, Shanghai, China, Beijing, U.S, Shanghai's Hongqiao, Austin , Texas, Hong Kong

☆ Elon Musk wraps up whirlwind China trip
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SHANGHAI, June 1 (Reuters) - Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) Chief Executive Elon Musk departed Shanghai Thursday morning, wrapping up a two-day trip to China in which he met government ministers, a key battery supplier and visited the automaker's biggest production hub. Photos of Musk's visit to Tesla's Shanghai factory late Wednesday showed him holding up a "Giga Shanghai" sign, flanked by hundreds of staff including head of global manufacturing Tom Zhu. "A very rewarding day!," Grace Tao, Tesla's China-based public affairs chief, said in a social media post with the photos. Earlier in the trip, Musk met with China's foreign, commerce and industry ministers in Beijing where he also dined with the chairman of battery supplier Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (CATL) (300750.SZ). The industry ministry only said Musk and its head exchanged views about development of electric vehicles and connected cars; the commerce ministry announced he discussed Tesla's development in China with its minister.

Persons: Elon Musk, Tom Zhu, Grace Tao, Musk, Brenda Goh, Zhang Yan, Nicoco Chan, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Tesla Inc, Amperex Technology Co, U.S ., Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, Shanghai, China, Beijing, U.S, Shanghai's Hongqiao, Austin , Texas

☆ Musk's China visit ends with burgers for 100 Shanghai Tesla workers — and favor from Beijing as state-affiliated media showcases trip on Twitter
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Hasan Chowdhury | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Elon Musk's surprise trip to China ended with burgers and soft drinks for Tesla staff in Shanghai. His trip was showcased on Twitter by Chinese state media. Elon Musk completed his whistle-stop tour of China by treating workers at Tesla's Shanghai plant to burgers and soft drinks, with his visit being showcased on Twitter by China's state-affiliated media. A video published online by Tesla's China team, seen by Insider, showed Musk delivering a speech to a crowd of workers at his Shanghai plant. Elon Musk visited workers at Tesla's Shanghai gigafactory after first China trip in three years.

Persons: Elon Musk's, Elon Musk, Tesla's, China Grace Tao, Grace Tao, Weibo Musk, Jack Ma, Zeng Yuqun, Tesla, Musk Organizations: Twitter, Bloomberg, Tesla's, Global Times, Communist Party's, Shanghai gigafactory Locations: China, Shanghai, Tesla's China, Beijing

☆ China's first homegrown large passenger jet took its maiden flight after 16 years in the making — check it out
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

China's first domestically-made large passenger jet completed its maiden commercial flight Sunday. China's first domestically-made large passenger jet has completed its maiden commercial flight. VCG/VCG via Getty ImagesNearly 130 passengers were on board for the maiden flight, which took around two hours, Comac said. Crowds gather to watch the C919 land at Beijing Capital International Airport during its maiden commercial flight. Passengers sit on board the C919's maiden commercial flight.

☆ China's domestic travel recovery marred by anti-spending 'special forces'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Casey Hall | Thomson Reuters | Casey Has Reported On China'S Consumer Culture Her Base In Shanghai For More Than A Decade | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] Passengers wait to board trains at Shanghai Hongqiao railway station ahead of the five-day Labour Day holiday, in Shanghai, China, April 28, 2023. To get to the ancient temples, pagodas and grottoes she wanted to visit, she walked roughly 30,000 steps a day. "I can control the expenses, to go to many places for the least amount of money, but it is really tiring." "Maybe I didn't wear the right shoes, but my feet started to hurt after walking more than 10,000 steps," she said, joking that she exemplified "the battle-scarred version of special forces travel." ($1 = 6.9121 Chinese yuan renminbi)Reporting by Casey Hall and Shanghai newsroom; Editing by Marius Zaharia and Lincoln Feast.

☆ A Hydropower Renaissance, but Where Are the Giant Dams?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Mira Rojanasakul | Max Bearak | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +10 min

Pumped Storage Hydropower, 1900-2040 Global map showing a concentration of planned pumped storage projects in China. Pumped Storage Existing Planned China’s momentum has allowed it to surpass Europe’s capacity for pumped storage. “Our data show that pumped storage is set to grow much faster than conventional dams,” said Joe Bernardi, who runs Global Energy Monitor’s hydropower tracker. UPPER RESERVOIR GENERATORS + TURBINES LOWER RESERVOIR When electricity demand exceeds supply, water is released to race downhill, spinning giant turbines. UPPER RESERVOIR GENERATORS + TURBINES LOWER RESERVOIR When electricity demand exceeds supply, water is released to race downhill, spinning giant turbines.

[1/5] Passengers wait to board trains at Shanghai Hongqiao railway station ahead of the five-day Labour Day holiday, in Shanghai, China, April 28, 2023. REUTERS/Aly SongBEIJING, April 28 (Reuters) - China is bracing for a record-high travel rush over the Labour Day holiday, with popular sightseeing spots selling out of tickets and some cities warning would-be visitors away as domestic tourism rebounds after Beijing ended COVID curbs. Authorities are expecting 19 million trips to be made across China's vast railway network on Saturday, the first day of the five-day holiday, which would be the highest number of rail trips made in a single day in the country's history. Over the 40-day Lunar New Year travel period in January-February this year, 348 million trips were made in total, or about 8.7 million trips a day on average, according to the National Railway Administration. China's aviation authority said it expects air passenger trips to reach a total of 9 million over the five days.

☆ Millions of Chinese workers on the move ahead of Friday travel peak
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Bernard Orr | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/3] A medical worker helps a patient receiving treatment at the emergency department of a hospital, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Shanghai, China January 17, 2023. Travellers bustled through railway stations and subways in Beijing and Shanghai, many ferrying large wheeled suitcases and boxes stuffed with food and gifts. The infection rate in the southern city of Guangzhou, capital of China's most populous province, has now passed 85%, local health officials announced on Wednesday. Clinics in rural villages and towns are now being fitted with oxygenators, and medical vehicles have also been deployed to isolated areas. Doctors in both public and private hospitals were being actively discouraged from attributing deaths to COVID, Reuters reported on Tuesday.

☆ China reopening earlier than expected could hit supply chains in the short term, but boost growth in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Jihye Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Photographer: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesMainland China's reopening came sooner than expected for investors, and Goldman Sachs warns it will lead to short-term strains in the workforce and supply chains. Positive outlook for GDP, Chinese yuanDespite shorter-term concerns for China's reopening, economists have a rosy outlook for China's growth in the long run. "Improved growth expectations in 2023 might outweigh unfavorable factors such as deterioration in goods and services trade balances," the Goldman Sachs note said. International travel to resumeThe economists at Goldman Sachs said the latest measures will likely benefit the surrounding region's growth as travel normalizes. Travelers with luggage's inside Terminal 1 at the Hong Kong International Airport on December 20, 2022 in Hong Kong, China.

☆ U.S. will require airline passengers traveling from China to test negative for Covid
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Travelers check in at Shanghai's Hongqiao International Airport in on Dec. 12, 2022, after China relaxed domestic travel restrictions. The Biden administration will require airline passengers traveling from China to test negative for Covid before entering the U.S., a federal health official said on Wednesday. All travelers two years of age and older originating from China, Hong Kong or Macau will be required to get tested for Covid two days before their departure to the U.S., the health official said. The requirements, which apply regardless of nationality and vaccination status, starting Jan. 5. The testing requirements come as China battles a major outbreak of the virus after easing its stringent zero-Covid policy in the wake of social unrest earlier this year.

☆ Here are the countries Chinese tourists want to visit the most
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Travelers check in at Shanghai's Hongqiao International Airport in on Dec. 12, 2022, after China relaxed domestic travel restrictions. Within half an hour of China's announced policy change, searches for travel abroad surged to a three-year high, the travel booking company said. Macao and Hong Kong also made the list, which did not include any countries on the European continent. Authorities also said they would allow Chinese citizens to resume travel, without providing details on timing or process. During the pandemic, Beijing prevented Chinese citizens from getting passports or leaving the country unless they had a clear reason, typically for business.

☆ China to scrap quarantine for international travelers in an essential end of zero-Covid
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING — China announced late Monday that travelers will no longer need to quarantine upon arrival on the mainland starting Jan. 8. The changes end the bulk of the most restrictive measures that China had imposed for nearly three years under its zero-Covid policy. Since March 2020, travelers to the mainland have had to quarantine, typically at a designated hotel and for 14 days. That isolation period subsequently began to increase to 21 days or more for some travelers, before China began cutting quarantine times this summer. Current policy requires five days of quarantine at a centralized facility, followed by three days at home.

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