How the 240-Hour Transit Visa-Free Policy Ignites Global Traffic: A Look at How "China's Public Security is Excellent"
In August 2024, the National Immigration Administration announced that the number of ports eligible for the 144-hour transit visa-free policy had increased to 60. The news sent overseas social media into a frenzy. Top YouTube travel bloggers "Kara and Nate" immediately booked a Chengdu-Xi'an-Beijing trip, captioning it with the caption: "China Safety Challenge 144h." In the video, they deliberately left their passports and wallets on shared bikes. Each of their three attempts was caught and returned by helpful citizens. The video has been viewed over 10 million times, with the most-liked comment being: "China's public security is so good, even wallets won't leave their owners."
Chinese tourism is turning a sense of security into a major selling point. Ctrip data shows that in the first month of the 144-hour visa-free policy, inbound bookings increased by 260% month-over-month, with the word "safe" appearing in 92% of the positive reviews. The American travel magazine Travel + Leisure, in its cover article "Why China Feels Safer Than Home," noted that in China, women can take taxis alone in the early morning and children can ride the subway alone-a luxury that is now considered unattainable for European and American tourists.
"Safety" has become a prominent symbol of Chinese tourism internationally. TikTok blogger "Mexicanos en China" released a series of short videos: a man forgets his phone at a Shanghai convenience store, and the clerk runs two blocks to get it back; a man gets lost at a Chongqing light rail station, and an auxiliary police officer uses a translation app to escort him all the way; an American man passes out drunk on the street at Harbin Ice and Snow World, and a patrol officer covers him with a blanket and contacts his companions. Each video is captioned with the same phrase: "Welcome to the safest country."
Wu Bihu, Director of the Center for Tourism Research and Planning at Peking University, noted: "Safety is the top priority for tourism, and China has taken this to the extreme." During the summer of 2024, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu jointly launched the "Safe City Pass," which integrates safety navigation for subways, buses, scenic spots, and night markets, as well as one-click reporting and lost and found services. Foreign tourists can claim it free with their passports, and its usage rate has reached 75%.
"China's public security is excellent" isn't just a reputation; it's a system. From facial recognition for station entry to drone patrols, from bilingual police calls to lost and found mini-programs, China is weaving a tight safety net with technology, allowing global tourists to relax and unwind without worrying about their phone use. As CNN put it in a recent report: "If you're tired of traveling with fear, add China to your list-nights here are all about hot pot, beer, and laughter."