China will no longer require a negative COVID-19 test result for incoming travelers starting Wednesday, a milestone in its reopening to the rest of the world after a three-year isolation that began with the country’s borders closing in March 2020.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin announced the change at a briefing in Beijing on Monday.
China in January ended quarantine requirements for its own citizens traveling from abroad, and over the past few months has gradually expanded the list of countries that Chinese people can travel to and increased the number of international flights.
Beijing ended its tough domestic “zero COVID” policy only in December, after years of draconian curbs that at times included full-city lockdowns and lengthy quarantines for people who were infected.
Some had to fly to Japan to await Quantum of the Seas (Image: Quantum)
Sobbing families said they were “treated like criminals” by border staff at Beijing Airport after flying in to join a 12-day Royal Caribbean cruise.They had been told they would be able to enter the country under a 144-hour visa exemption system that would allow them to spend three days sightseeing before boarding Quantum of the Seas.But families said they feared for their safety after randomly being targeted by officials.
Many told how they were separated from their loved ones after individuals were picked out of groups and refused entry.
Some passengers were forced to fly back to Britain immediately.
Management consultant Alison Goldie, 56, told how she and accountant husband Allan, also 56, had spent £6,000 on the cruise to celebrate her friend Lesley McGregor’s 50th birthday.
Lesley was travelling with husband Scott and her parents Anne and Matt Matheson.
Wheelchair-user Mrs Matheson, 68, and her 71-year-old husband were rushed through immigration before officials ruled Alison could travel but not the rest of the party.
Alison, who stayed behind with her husband, said: “Lesley’s parents were in a completely different country for five days.
“It seemed to me that the Chinese were having a ball. It was just like a game.“Staff dealing with us seemed very young and were in high spirits. They were just giggling as they refused entry in a random way.”
The group were forced to fly to Japan to await the ship and meet the elderly parents onboard.
Clair Matthews, 46, husband Joseph, 50, and her parents-in-law Teresa, 71, and Stanley Matthews, 79, were all refused entry. They were forced to spend a night at the airport.
Clair said: “We had the temporary visa. They flicked through our passports and told us, ‘You’re not coming in’.”
When the family refused to pay to fly on to the boat’s first port of call in Japan, they were threatened with arrest. Clair said: “I was told that if I was still here within 24 hours of landing and didn’t have proof of onward travel, I would be taken to prison.
“I just thought, I don’t want to be in prison in my own country, I sure as hell don’t want to be in prison in Beijing.”
The family spent more than £3,000 on flights to Japan and four nights in a Fukuoka hotel before boarding the ship yesterday.
It set sail from Tianjin port in China on Monday before arriving in Fukuoka yesterday morning.
An Abta spokesman last night said: “Entry into China under a visa waiver is not guaranteed and Chinese border officials have the right to refuse entry without warning or explanation.”
It’s the year of the dog. Facing stiff competition United Airlines will eliminate charges for customers’ second checked bag on all routes from North America to China and Hong Kong.
Currently, customers traveling from China/Hong Kong to the United States already receive two free checked bags. Fees for oversized and overweight bags will continue to apply.
“We are responding to valuable feedback from customers who are seeking added benefits when they travel to China and Hong Kong, particularly for leisure purposes,” said Marcel Fuchs, United’s Vice President, Atlantic and Pacific Sales. “By allowing a second checked bag at no additional fee, we aim to make the overall experience of traveling to China and Hong Kong easier for our customers.”
It turns out all the hype that's surrounded Shanghai Disneyland since it broke ground five years ago was well-founded: the park is gorgeous and packed with exclusive attractions, like a pirate-themed "land" called treasure cove and Little Mermaid-themed pools. It's all more than enough to convince even casual Disney fans to hop on a 13-hour flight.
But before you pack your bag or planning your meet-and-greets, read on what you need to know before heading to Shanghai's new Disney park:
Before you leave:
First things first: obtain a visa.
If you’re an American citizen, you’ll need a recent passport as well as a Chinese Visa, which costs around $140. It is recommended to apply for your Visa about a month before you leave, but Chinese consulates are not available in every city, so it’s best to get everything prepared well in advance of submission.
Preload your phone with necessary apps and prepare for limited communication.
Websites like Twitter, Facebook, and Google, as well as Gmail, are blocked within mainland China. You can bypass the firewall, but it requires setting up a VPN for both your phone and requisite websites, which is cumbersome but inexpensive. Ordering a Chinese SIM card in advance for your phone (if your device meets the requirements) is helpful, as is obtaining a mobile WiFi device if it does not. You can also handle this at the airport, but it may be more costly and time-consuming. Sign yourself and family members at home up on WeChat in advance, too, which offers free multimedia messaging while abroad.
Pack absolutely everything you may need.
The resort is located in an industrial area, and medicine, amenities, and other must-haves will not be readily available. There are a few makeup and beauty stores in Disneytown, but no drugstores, so make sure all your necessities are in your suitcase.
If you have dietary restrictions or picky eaters, bring breakfast snacks.
Disney is always incredibly accommodating for any kind of food allergy or restriction, but only a small fraction of the food at Shanghai Disneyland is Western. There are familiar foods for lunch and dinner, sure, but breakfast can prove to be the most challenging for anyone on a specified diet. Pack small snacks and granola bars to have on hand, especially if you have little ones who won’t take kindly to the food, and keep a stash back at the room for late-night eats once the hotel cafes close.
Stay On-Property
If you’re visiting Shanghai Disneyland for more than one day, which you should, stay on-property. The cost for Toy Story Hotel and Shanghai Disneyland Hotel are much less thanstateside hotels, but both are remarkably nice.
Bookend Your Trip
If you want to experience the rest of Shanghai as well, make sure Shanghai Disneyland is a bookend of your trip and not in the middle. The airport is much closer to Disneyland than it is to the heart of the city, making it convenient for arriving or departing flights.
Once you arrive:
If you’re heading to Disneyland straight from the airport, have the address of your resort, in Mandarin, printed out on paper.
Because the park is so new, taxi drivers may not know exactly where it is by name. Be sure to have local currency for the fare, and, upon landing, tuck the kept half of the immigration form you receive on the plane into your passport holder—and don’t lose it! You’ll need it when you come back through prior to boarding your return flight.
When visiting the parks, keep an ID on you at all times.
Shanghai Disneyland tickets are non-transferrable, and though it’s in the fine print, proof of identity may be required for entry.
If you’re making a day trip from Shanghai, take a train instead of a taxi.
It is a lengthy journey most cabs will not want to or know how to make. Disneyland is far from Shanghai’s city center—over an hour by train, with a short walk to the gate—but convenient, as “Disney Resort” is the final stop on Line 11. Try to avoid rush hour, which can be quite hectic, and download the Explore Shanghai Metro app in advance, which offers easy directions in English throughout the system.
Leave enough time to get home from the parks.
Be sure to stay informed about evening train schedules, and if you're staying off-property, buy a round-trip ticket from the get-go. Ticket sales stop at a certain time, for which there is even an overhead announcement reminding guests to do just this.
Jet-lagged? Coffee is easy to find, if you know where to look.
Different items are carried at each hotel, in Disneytown and within the parks, and you’ll want to spot them all. Be sure to visit Lotso Shop for Buzz Lightyear bobbleheads, Tinker Bell Gifts for princess-themed jewelry, Trend-D for feminine Disney-themed purses and Whistle Stop Shop for monogrammed ears.
You’ll want to spend at least one afternoon—or meal—within Disneytown.
The dining options available are vast, and all are incredibly high-quality, providing some of the best food throughout Shanghai Disneyland property. There are the regular shopping and photo ops—Lego’s first Asia boutique is here, naturally—and even an all-Mandarin production of The Lion King, which is beautiful, despite being lost in translation.
But there’s a whole section of Disneytown that’s very easy to miss.
It’s called Lakeshore, and it’s separate from the main strip next to park gates, hanging out over Wishing Star Park’s massive body of water. It contains The BOATHOUSE, one of Florida’s new signature restaurant, as well as a few shoe stores, toy shops and a Korean beauty outpost.
Be more patient than usual.
Even though it’s Disney, and experiences at other foreign parks may be different, don’t expect all of Shanghai Disneyland Resort to be English-friendly, as on average, only one of every three staff members speak the language. Buses on-property can be a bit tricky to navigate, so make sure you’re in the right line, in the right place, whenever you’re unsure.
Upon your departure:
Leave yourself plenty of time to get to the airport.
The language barrier at the Pudong Airport can be immense, and some flights booked through partner airlines will not allow guests to fully check-in online, so plan to leave about four hours before your international flight. Double check your terminal before you depart the hotel, and check in advance about taxis, which may not be as readily available as they are in the city center.
Flying elsewhere within China before you go home?
Be prepared to wait. It’s common knowledge that flights within the country frequently run behind schedule.
Be aware of China Eastern Airline’s idiosyncrasies.
It’s the most popular airline within China, but can provide for a much different experience than American companies. Phones cannot be used in airplane mode at all throughout the duration of the flight, as is the case with portable batteries, and requested seats through their stateside partner, Delta, were not honored upon check-in. Despite already having been through security, my flight also required all water bottles to be emptied out prior to boarding. There were multiple meals offered, and the in-flight entertainment provided plenty of English language selections, but the differences are noteworthy for American travelers.
One of the Asian destinations that a lot of my Philippine friends seemingly visit all too often would have to be Hong Kong, and I can’t blame them because other than its dynamic culture, the airfare can be really cheap and shopping is also relatively cheaper (especially for tech products). In fact, this is the first country that I have visited abroad, but what struck me most was the food for I can still fondly remember the amazing gastronomic trip that my friend and I did in the city!
Speaking of “country”, you will find that a lot of people are confused about Hong Kong:
“Is it a part of China…? Or is it separate country, because they do have a different currency, legal and passport system?“
There is no one simple answer to this since most data say it’s detached from China while others say it’s not. For a start though, it helps to note that it was only in 1997 that Hong Kong became free of the United Kingdom’s rule. Today, it is officially called the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) which is a part of China. However, the Hong Kong Basic Law between China and Britain states that Hong Kong will retain its own systems (economic, governmental, political, etc.) — therefore with that in mind, Hong Kong is practically a separate country from China. They are absolutely autonomous.
Moreover, for reasons that are ideological and political, most Hong Kong citizens (Hongkongers / Hong Konger / Hong Kongese) even find it important to stress that they are Chinese BUT not Chinese at the same time. This mainly means that they don’t want to be called as ‘Geopolitical Chinese‘ (ä¸åœ‹äºº) which refers to those who are under the rule of People’s Republic of China or Mainland China, because they prefer it instead to be regarded as ‘Ethnic Chinese’ (genetically Chinese) and/or Cultural Chinese (someone who follows the true-blue Chinese culture and lifestyle).
If you want to know more about the situation over China and Hong Kong, you can watch this video:
All in all: Hong Kong and China really are just two different worlds, so because of all these factors and more, I’ll also be considering Hong Kong as a stand alone country for this series.
“Wait… what series?” you might ask? Well, in case you missed my announcement, this post is a part of my newest monthly serial wherein locals from all over the world will be writing about 10 fun and interesting facts about their home country! (To keep an eye out for the succeeding countries that will be featured next, you can click and save the link from the banner below…)
So for today — as the title goes — we will be learning about Hong Kong from Yung Nam Cheah, a local who is my guest writer for this piece! .
BIO & INTRO
My name is Nam Cheah and I am a recent geologist graduate. As a millennial, I plan to make the most out of life and I document my passion to laugh, travel, and eat on my suitably named blog: Laugh, Travel, Eat.
I was born in Hong Kong and I spent half of my life there and the other half in UK. Currently however, I am back in Hong Kong — a place known as the pearl of Asia and an international city where east meets west. Most of all, it is known as a very densely populated city full of skyscrapers! But the impression that most people have of Hong Kong is actually only of the Hong Kong Island and a few other touristic places.
NOTE: Hong Kong is comprised of Hong Kong Island (the central urban area), the Kowloon Peninsula, and the New Territories (makes up 86.2% of Hong Kong’s territory), and over 200 offshore islands (largest of which is Lantau Island)
I often get a lot of questions such as “Is it true that Hong Kong has no green space?” or “How can such a small area fit 7 million people?”
Well, it’s all about what you grow up with and what you have. As a girl who was born and raised in the New Territories of Hong Kong, I bring to you ten things that you should know about Hong Kong: .
10 THINGS FOREIGNERS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HONG KONG
#1: There are plenty of green in Hong Kong
As I’ve mentioned, most people think that there’s not much ‘green’ in Hong Kong but this is a very common misconception. While we might not have sprawling parks like Central Park and Hyde Park, we have plenty of nature! It’s true that most of our green spaces in the main city and towns are not for sunbathing or lying on, but we have plenty of country parks. Besides, you have to remember that 2/3 of the country is actually made up of the ‘countryside’ and as a matter of fact, hiking is fast becoming the average Hong Kong citizens’ favourite past time.
With countless small mountains scattered across the whole of Hong Kong as well as several beautiful islands, there are no shortage of natural wonders in the land. For instance, I have climbed up Sunset Peak and trekked to see basaltic columns at one of Hong Kong’s geological parks. So if you do visit Hong Kong, make sure you see the other side of her too.
#2: It’s only hilly on Hong Kong Island
I live in the New Territories region of Hong Kong and let me tell you – all the towns are flat over here. However, Hong Kong Island’s geology is different – it’s made up of volcanics that gives it its hilly topography. It surely makes for a dramatic cityscape, but then you would have to deal with all the stairs. Did I mention I hate stairs?
#3: You can use the Octopus Card for almost EVERYTHING
Photo by Canadian Pacific / CC Octopus cards started out as a way to pay for all the transport system (because they are under different companies), but it then went on to become a form of payment that you can use in convenience stores. And now you can use them to pay at shops, cinemas, supermarkets, fast food outlets, and even at hospitals!
It’s a top up card that’s not dissimilar to the Oyster Card of London, except it’s so much more. You can purchase one at any MTR station or convenience store for HK$50 ($6.40+) and you get discounts on travels.
TRIVIA: The Octopus Card is widely used in Hong Kong — at about 95% of the population! But you might wonder, why is it called as such though…?
Well, in Cantonese, they actually call it as Baat Daaht Tung which literally means “eight-arrived pass” (or also as “go everywhere pass”). The number 8 refers to all directions (think north, west, south, east, northwest, northeast, southwest, southeast), it’s also a lucky number in Chinese culture (which could mean “getting rich”) and it also happens to represent the 8 different public transportation systems in Hong Kong. Coincidentally, the English name ‘octopus’ goes along with the #8 in the Chinese name too — since an octopus does have 8 tentacles!
#4: Shops open late AND close late
It doesn’t apply to all shops, but most boutiques often don’t open until well after 11. You might get better luck in big shopping malls, but if you are going to privately owned shops like the ones I frequent in Mon Kok, then you better save your visit till lunch time.
On the bright side though, most shops don’t close until well after 8pm, so you will still have plenty of time to shop around.
#5: Museums are free on a Wednesday
I am not sure how this came about, but all the government museums are admission-free on a Wednesday. My school used to take us to all kind of museum visits exclusively on Wednesdays, but bear in mind that it also meant that the place would be more crowded.
But hey – a dime saved is a dime earned!
#6: We will stare, we will judge, but we do it to everyone
This will particularly apply if you are not of oriental appearance. Yet, even if you are of Asian descent, dressing differently to the locals will probably earn you some stares as well. But don’t worry – we just do it to everyone. It’s nothing personal; we are just a particularly judgy nation that enjoys gossiping about other people.
Aileen says: Speaking of behavior towards other people, I found that Hongkongers (especially the younger crowd) LOVE to take photos with foreigners. My white friends, for example, once visited Hong Kong Disneyland and they were ‘mobbed’ by school girls and boys who simply wanted to take photos with them — even if in fact, they were complete strangers! And nope, they weren’t celebrities either :P
#7: We are a fast paced nation with attitude
If you ever walk around the MTR (Mass Transit Railway) during rush hour, or try to walk through a market during a weekend in Hong Kong, you will know what I am talking about. Hong Kongers live a fast paced life and have zero tolerance for whoever is in their way.
We will shove; we will push and we will “tsk” – just know that it’s nothing personal either.
NOTE: Hong Kong is simply an ‘energetic city’ with a diverse mix of people!
#8: If it’s below 20 degrees, it’s cold for us
Hong Kong is a sub-tropical country and the temperature rarely goes below 6 degrees at most. With an average temperature of around 27 degree celcius, people tend to start bundling up if it falls below 20!
Anoraks, jackets, scarfs and fur boots – you name it, you see it. So don’t be alarmed if you take a photo with a chorus of people decked in their winter gear while you are standing in your t-shirt and shorts.
#9: We are a dine out nation
Most people live in high density apartments that are often built atop a shopping mall that’s often coupled with the most affordable restaurants — so, it’s no surprise that Hong Kongers love to dine out! Besides, given our long work hours, cramped living space and fast paced lifestyle, it seems only fitting that we eat out as well to avoid all the hassle of cooking and washing up.
#10: We put our surname first
In China and a lot of other oriental countries, we put our surname first in our names. This sparked a massive confusion for form-fillings and other things, so be sure to pay extra attention on this should you need to. This can get particularly awkward if you are introduced to someone who doesn’t have an English name.
By applying this rule, my name is therefore: Yung Nam Cheah. When I first went to UK, people constantly tried to call me Yung (and still do), thinking that Nam is my middle name when in fact it is Cheah that is my middle name. Talk about major confusion!
