China - never a dull moment!

[Cruiser Elite]

No more Public Transport Mask Mandate - China ends mandatory face masks on public transport！

 

[Cruiser Elite]

On Mar 14 Aust dropped reqt for pre Covid testing for inbound Chinese pax yet here we are a month down the track and Aust pax China bound are still read to undertake pre flt PCR test so they can go visit the home of Covid - puzzling huh?

 

[Cruiser Elite]

PCR-test free travel for passengers from the listed 34 countries

 

[MEL_Traveller]

PCR-test free travel for passengers from the listed 34 countries

Ha! Neither Australia nor Ukraine on that list!

I guess Australia keeps good company.

 

[woodyren]

On Mar 14 Aust dropped reqt for pre Covid testing for inbound Chinese pax yet here we are a month down the track and Aust pax China bound are still read to undertake pre flt PCR test so they can go visit the home of Covid - puzzling huh?

Mrs Woodyren is travelling to China in June but she will be travelling from Singapore. As far as I know at present people travelling from Singapore and many other countries currently require a supervised RAT test. This was reduced down from the more expensive and time consuming PCR recently.

I now wonder if they will require her as an Australian to still do the PCR? This will be problematic as she is flying out on the day we arrive after a cruise and PCR results even if expedited take 6 hours.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

woodyren see post 2 up - if you are dep SIN you do not require PCR - RAT gets you over the line. I flew SIN-PVG on Mar 25 after arr from MEL on Mar 24 - 2 separate bookings - I did self admin RAT test and took pics - I had checked baggage straight through from MEL and with online check-in I did not require to front any staff again until security at gate.

Zero checking of any testing on arr into PVG - it was just not an issue. I can’t help with reqts that SIN check-in staff might seek but I still think just some proof that RAT was undertaken should be all that is reqd - hope that helps

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Finally - end to PCR tests

 

[playbargain]

Finally - end to PCR tests

Yep about time!

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3218308/coronavirus-china-will-no-longer-require-pcr-tests-travellers-country

 

[JackMiles]

Maybe I'm just being thick but I don't really understand this. Second link says "travellers can instead show negative rapid antigen test results while airlines will not be required to check the proof". (First link stated something similar.)
So you need to give yourself a RAT but no-one will check it? Or does it get checked at immigration - if so, bit strange that that is not stated in the articles.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Ah huh - Welcome to China - the land of COMPLICATION and CONTRADICTION -

Zero checking of testing on arrival - that responsibility was handballed to airlines quite some time ago - on arrival provided you have completed your health dec and can display a QR code on demand you are all good to go

If there is ever a difficult way to complete any task the Chinese will find it - it may take a small or even a considerable amount of time - but be rest assured they will find it

 

[TheEmu]

China's planned changes to espionage law alarm foreign businesses

Fears grow of more cases like Astellas employee's detention

asia.nikkei.com

Given the industry I was involved in previously and more particularly the employer, as well as the fact that my current business partner is 南京人 and based there, I'm in no rush to go back.

 

[michaelj]

From today (1 May), China is meant to recognise virtual ABTC. My own app still has the pop to say not valid for Russia or China and does not list CHN in the Valid for Travel section despite that showing as a pre approved country when I check my application online. I'm heading to China towards the end of May and relying on the virtual card to update as suggested by Virtual APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) | APEC

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I am heading to China Wed and am relying on fact that virtual ABTC for entry is indeed acceptable.

 

[michaelj]

Cruiser Elite, has your virtual ABTC updated to show CHN?

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Cruiser Elite, has your virtual ABTC updated to show CHN?

Dunno cause now when I try to open it it defaults to ‘Application Status’

But I have emailed them and received this response:


So maybe they are in process of updating virtual APEC Cards - well hopefully that is the case

 

[michaelj]

Dunno cause now when I try to open it it defaults to ‘Application Status’

Post automatically merged: May 1, 2023

But I have emailed them and received this response:

View attachment 326599View attachment 326600View attachment 326601

Thanks, interested to hear of your experience. Clearly, the "reinstatement" at midnight Beijing time is late.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Yep updated today

 

[michaelj]

Yep updated today

View attachment 326677

I had to completely delete app then redownload from App Store and set up afresh. It now’s shows CHN, so I’m happy.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I had to completely delete app then redownload from App Store and set up afresh. It now’s shows CHN, so I’m happy.

Yes as I did - and if you didn't have your original Application Number on hand you would have been sc rewed - existing APEC number was of no use whatsoever.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Always a highlight of every trip to China is the fabulous array of delightful foodstuffs on offer.

No more so than this exquisite culinary delight at breakfast in Executive Lounge Jing’an Shangri-La Shanghai this morning: