Good news if you're from France, Germany, Malaysia, Singapore, or Thailand — China dropped the visa requirement for your country. Just show up. US, UK, Canada, Australia passport holders: yes, you still need a visa. No change there. Apply at least 4 weeks before your trip. But here's a trick most people don't know: the 144-hour transit policy covers 54 countries. If you're flying from London to Sydney via Beijing, you can stop over for 6 days visa-free. I've had clients add a whole side trip this way. Full visa guide: wanderpeng.com/blog/china-visa-guide-2026