The south China city of Guilin, transport hub for the backpacker haven of Yangshuo County, began to offer 72-hour visa-free stays to international transit passengers from 28 July 2014. The same visa-free policy is already in place in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Kunming, Chengdu, Chongqing, Shenyang and Dalian.
The scheme covers travelers from 51 countries, including the United States, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and a number of European Union countries. Under the plan, air transit travelers are allowed 72-hour visa-free visits to the city, famous for its picturesque river and karst mountains.