Trip.com Group launches free transit tours to turn your layover in Shanghai into a mini-vacation

Worldwide layovers don’t must imply ready for hours within the airport terminal; it’s additionally doable to take advantage of the quick window of time and discover the nation you’re transiting in. Enter “Shanghai Categorical”, free layover metropolis excursions launched by Journey.com Group to point out travellers the highest highlights of Shanghai earlier than their subsequent flight – all inside a couple of hours.

Ranging from 15 April 2024, worldwide travellers stopping by the Shanghai Pudong Worldwide Airport (PVG) for over eight hours may have the chance to participate in these layover metropolis excursions – the primary of their type in Shanghai. You don’t have to fret about researching the place to go and the way both, as these excursions take cost of the whole lot: airport pick-up and send-off, attraction tickets, e-sim playing cards, and extra. So, all you want to do is flip up.

The excursions shall be out there to worldwide travellers who’re eligible for China’s 72/144-hour visa-free transit coverage, in addition to these holding a 24-hour momentary entry allow issued by the airport border inspection.

“As visa-free transit insurance policies open up new avenues for worldwide travellers to discover China, Journey.com Group is happy to unveil this revolutionary programme for these with only a quick stopover,” stated Ms Han Feng, Head of Advertising at Journey.com. “We’ll leverage our in depth sources to make sure a memorable tour expertise and supply world-class customer support to assist flyers get pleasure from what Shanghai has to supply.”

Exploring town between flights

Upon passing customs after arrival on the Shanghai Pudong Worldwide Airport, travellers might head to the Journey.com Group forex change counter on Island A within the Departure Corridor of Terminal 2 for in-person registration. An expert information shall be out there on the counter one hour earlier than the beginning of every tour to help with the registration course of. Registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-served foundation.

Travellers will have the ability to select from a number of tour timings. Every free tour accommodates a most of ten travellers and lasts 5 to 6 hours, together with transportation from and again to the airport.

The excursions characteristic a number of the high points of interest on the AI-powered Journey.Finest listing for Shanghai based mostly on consumer opinions and knowledgeable curation, main guests on a journey via the previous, current, and way forward for the bustling metropolis.

Present itineraries embrace:

Shanghai Highlights Metropolis Tour (9:00-14:00): a tour of traditional Shanghai highlights, together with exploring conventional Chinese language structure within the Yu Backyard and viewing Shanghai’s iconic and futuristic skyline on the Bund.

Strolling Below the Bushes Citywalk Tour (16:00-22:00): a tour for the romantics and concrete historical past lovers, which features a metropolis stroll via the outdated villas and charming cafes alongside the attractive Wukang Highway, an immersive go to to the Yu Backyard, and a stroll alongside the historic Bund.

Huangpu River Cruise Sightseeing Night time Tour (18:00-23:00): a singular expertise within the metropolis that by no means sleeps – together with the breath-taking night time view of the Bund aboard the Huangpu River Cruise and a deep dive into the bustling Yu Backyard at night time.

Led by English-speaking guides, every tour contains transportation, tickets, e-sim playing cards, and staff insurance coverage. These searching for to journey mild might retailer their baggage on the airport or on the shuttle bus if house permits. Please word that the free excursions don’t embrace meals, although our guides shall be more than pleased to supply eating suggestions.

Rise in worldwide transits by way of China

The Shanghai Categorical Excursions are anticipated to counterpoint the expertise of travellers as they transit in mainland China, sparking their curiosity in additional in-depth journeys sooner or later.

The Worldwide Air Transport Affiliation reveals that transit numbers have been on the rise, with over 330,000 travellers experiencing layovers in mainland China final December alone. This represents a month-to-month development of 47%. Worldwide airports in mainland China, notably in Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou, have been hubs for worldwide flights notably to and from the Asia Pacific area.

Thailand is available in third on the listing of high worldwide departure international locations transiting into Shanghai Pudong Airport. Transit instances differ between eight hours to 144 hours.

At the moment, nationals from 54 international locations are eligible for the 72/144-hour transit visa-free insurance policies in 23 cities throughout mainland China. So long as they maintain legitimate worldwide journey paperwork and interline tickets to international locations or areas with confirmed dates and seats, they will apply for visa-free transit at border inspection in designated metropolis ports.

Moreover, international nationals with worldwide connecting flights inside 24 hours can transit via 9 designated airports in mainland China with out immigration procedures. These eager about exploring the native metropolis inside this timeframe might acquire a 24-hour momentary entry allow by presenting their passports and connecting ticket flights and fill out the Short-term Entry Card.

Uncover the fantastic thing about China with ease

The Shanghai Categorical Excursions are set towards the backdrop of Journey.com Group’s varied initiatives to help worldwide travellers to find the fantastic thing about China with ease because the nation relaxes visa necessities.

With visa-free entry prolonged to Switzerland, Eire, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg on 14 March, China is now visa-free for eligible travellers from 15 international locations.

Journey.com Group witnessed a triple-digit year-on-year rise in worldwide journey bookings to China within the first two months of 2024. Shanghai, Guangzhou, Beijing, Shenzhen, and Chengdu drew probably the most consideration from world travellers, with theme parks just like the Shanghai Disney Resort and historic websites just like the Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Website Museum capturing vital curiosity.

Journey.com just lately launched an initiative with the Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Website in Xi’an to offer abroad on-line integration to supply worldwide travellers offers, guided tour choices, and extra details about its astounding Terracotta Warriors and memorable historical past.

Journey.com Group has additionally been working with airways to offer worldwide and home flight combos to encourage extra travellers to enterprise past conventional hotspots. The “Discover China” marketing campaign, launched with Air China in March, provides travellers from the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland a free extra flight inside China once they buy a single round-trip flight to the nation.

The “Past Shanghai: Expertise China” marketing campaign, launched with China Jap Airways in February, additionally rewards clients reserving flights to Shanghai with a complimentary home flight inside mainland China.

To boost comfort for guests to China, Journey.com Group has carried out varied initiatives. Notably, the China Journey Information on the Journey.com app gives sensible data on navigating the nation. It covers matters resembling entry necessities, web entry, cost, transportation and extra with easy-to-follow suggestions and explanatory movies. Since its launch in September 2023, the information has served greater than 100,000 worldwide travellers planning to go to China.

Moreover, to streamline cost choices for guests, Journey.com Group has additionally partnered with Alipay, a number one digital cost and way of life service platform. Via this partnership, chosen packages and journey guides can be found on the Alipay app, offering help for worldwide guests.

Assembly the wants of all types of travellers, whether or not you’re simply passing via or planning a deep dive, Journey.com Group is dedicated to utilizing its experience and sources to make such journeys memorable, and make it easier to discover China’s countless prospects.