The coastal city of Dalian in northeast China will start 72-hour visa-free stay service for travelers from 45 countries on Jan. 1, 2014. The scheme is expected to boost local tourism development and exchanges with the world.
Dalian is the sixth city on the Chinese mainland to introduce the policy. So far, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou Chengdu and Chongqing have already launched the 72-hour visa-free service.
In 2012, Dalian hosted 49 million tourist arrivals, including 1.28 million from overseas, with total tourism revenues of 76.7 billion yuan (12.5 billion U.S. dollars).