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International layovers don’t have to imply ready for hours in the airport terminal; it’s additionally attainable to take advantage of the quick window of time and discover the nation you’re transiting in. Enter “Shanghai Express”, free layover metropolis tours launched by Trip.com Group to present travellers the highest highlights of Shanghai earlier than their subsequent flight – all inside a few hours.
Starting from 15 April 2024, worldwide travellers stopping by the Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) for over eight hours could have the chance to participate in these layover metropolis tours – the primary of their variety in Shanghai. You don’t have to fear about researching the place to go and the way both, as these tours take cost of all the things: airport pick-up and send-off, attraction tickets, e-sim playing cards, and extra. So, all you want to do is turn up.
The tours will likely 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 short-term entry allow issued by the airport border inspection.
“As visa-free transit policies open up new avenues for international travellers to explore China, Trip.com Group is excited to unveil this innovative programme for those with just a short stopover,” stated Ms Han Feng, Head of Marketing at Trip.com. “We will leverage our extensive resources to ensure a memorable tour experience and provide world-class customer service to help flyers enjoy what Shanghai has to offer.”
Exploring the town between flights
Upon passing customs after arrival on the Shanghai Pudong International Airport, travellers could head to the Trip.com Group foreign money change counter on Island A in the Departure Hall of Terminal 2 for in-person registration. An expert information will likely 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 likely be ready to select from a number of tour timings. Each free tour accommodates a most of ten travellers and lasts 5 to six hours, together with transportation from and again to the airport.
The tours characteristic a number of the prime sights on the AI-powered Trip.Best checklist for Shanghai based mostly on consumer opinions and skilled curation, main guests on a journey via the previous, current, and way forward for the bustling metropolis.
Current itineraries embody:
Shanghai Highlights City Tour (9:00-14:00): a tour of basic Shanghai highlights, together with exploring conventional Chinese structure in the Yu Garden and viewing Shanghai’s iconic and futuristic skyline on the Bund.
Strolling Under the Trees Citywalk Tour (16:00-22:00): a tour for the romantics and concrete historical past lovers, which incorporates a metropolis stroll via the outdated villas and charming cafes alongside the attractive Wukang Road, an immersive go to to the Yu Garden, and a stroll alongside the historic Bund.
Huangpu River Cruise Sightseeing Night Tour (18:00-23:00): a distinctive expertise in the town that by no means sleeps – together with the breath-taking evening view of the Bund aboard the Huangpu River Cruise and a deep dive into the bustling Yu Garden at evening.
Led by English-speaking guides, every tour consists of transportation, tickets, e-sim playing cards, and staff insurance coverage. Those searching for to journey gentle could retailer their baggage on the airport or on the shuttle bus if house permits. Please be aware that the free tours don’t embody meals, although our guides will likely be more than pleased to provide eating suggestions.
Rise in worldwide transits by way of China
The Shanghai Express Tours are anticipated to enrich the expertise of travellers as they transit in mainland China, sparking their curiosity in extra in-depth journeys in the longer term.
The International Air Transport Association 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 progress of 47%. International 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 comes in third on the checklist of prime worldwide departure nations transiting into Shanghai Pudong Airport. Transit occasions range between eight hours to 144 hours.
Currently, nationals from 54 nations are eligible for the 72/144-hour transit visa-free insurance policies in 23 cities throughout mainland China. As lengthy as they maintain legitimate worldwide journey paperwork and interline tickets to nations or areas with confirmed dates and seats, they will apply for visa-free transit at border inspection in designated metropolis ports.
Additionally, overseas nationals with worldwide connecting flights inside 24 hours can transit via 9 designated airports in mainland China with out immigration procedures. Those in exploring the native metropolis inside this timeframe could acquire a 24-hour short-term entry allow by presenting their passports and connecting ticket flights and fill out the Temporary Entry Card.
Discover the fantastic thing about China with ease
The Shanghai Express Tours are set in opposition to the backdrop of Trip.com Group’s numerous initiatives to help worldwide travellers to uncover the fantastic thing about China with ease because the nation relaxes visa necessities.
With visa-free entry prolonged to Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg on 14 March, China is now visa-free for eligible travellers from 15 nations.
Trip.com Group witnessed a triple-digit year-on-year rise in worldwide journey bookings to China in the primary two months of 2024. Shanghai, Guangzhou, Beijing, Shenzhen, and Chengdu drew probably the most consideration from international travellers, with theme parks just like the Shanghai Disney Resort and historic websites just like the Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum capturing vital curiosity.
Trip.com not too long ago launched an initiative with the Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site in Xi’an to present abroad on-line integration to provide worldwide travellers offers, guided tour choices, and extra details about its astounding Terracotta Warriors and memorable historical past.
Trip.com Group has additionally been working with airways to present worldwide and home flight combos to encourage extra travellers to enterprise past conventional hotspots. The “Explore China” marketing campaign, launched with Air China in March, offers travellers from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland a free further flight inside China after they buy a single round-trip flight to the nation.
The “Beyond Shanghai: Experience China” marketing campaign, launched with China Eastern Airlines in February, additionally rewards prospects reserving flights to Shanghai with a complimentary home flight inside mainland China.
To improve comfort for guests to China, Trip.com Group has carried out numerous initiatives. Notably, the China Travel Guide on the Trip.com app gives sensible info on navigating the nation. It covers matters similar to entry necessities, web entry, cost, transportation and extra with easy-to-follow ideas and explanatory movies. Since its launch in September 2023, the information has served greater than 100,000 worldwide travellers planning to go to China.
Furthermore, to streamline cost choices for guests, Trip.com Group has additionally partnered with Alipay, a main digital cost and way of life service platform. Through this partnership, chosen packages and journey guides can be found on the Alipay app, offering help for worldwide guests.
Meeting the wants of every kind of travellers, whether or not you’re simply passing via or planning a deep dive, Trip.com Group is dedicated to utilizing its experience and assets to make such journeys memorable, and provide help to discover China’s infinite potentialities.
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