Travelers from the UK and Canada are heading to China with visa exemption, as a new visa-free policy for the two countries officially came into effect on Tuesday, which coincided with the first day of the Chinese New Year.
The new policy enables ordinary passport holders from the two countries to be exempted from visa to enter China and stay for up to 30 days for business, tourism, family or friends visit, exchange and transit purposes. The policy will be effective until Dec 31, 2026, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
The entry into effect of the visa-free measure coincided with the first day of the Chinese New Year, which is a Year of the Horse in the 12-animal Chinese zodiac.
Echoing the excitement, travelers arriving in China from both countries shared their plans and hopes under the new policy.
"I'm quite excited for the visa-free [policy] for Canada. Although I work here, I would like my parents to be able to visit me. And having the visa-free option for Canadians would allow them to easily visit me whenever they're able to. So I think that's a good step in the right direction," said Condie Bradley, a Canadian traveler.
Also arriving in Shanghai were British tourists Dawson Joseph and Kaye Niamh, who said they are excited to spend the next weeks traveling around China.
"We've just landed in Shanghai. They've just changed the policy to allow you to spend up to 30 days here. We're very excited. So we're off to see friends, we're traveling around China, we've got a month here, and we're just really excited to be here," they said, while also extending good wishes for the Chinese New Year.
The move came following January visits to China by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, with the two countries respectively pledging to deepen ties and exchanges with China.
In 2025, China's inbound travel saw a notable rise. International visitors made over 82 million crossings into China, a 26.4 percent year-on-year increase. Over 73 percent of these international travelers benefited from China's visa exemption or visa-free transit policies, jumping 49.5 percent from the previous year, the National Immigration Administration said.
Visa-free travelers from UK, Canada arrive in China before Chinese New Year
As another dazzling China Media Group (CMG) Spring Festival Gala drew to a close on early Tuesday morning, sign language performers infused the closing song "Unforgettable Tonight" with heartfelt emotion, allowing viewers with disabilities to share in the celebration and experience every touching note alongside millions of families across China.
For four decades, the final moments of the gala have belonged to "Unforgettable Tonight." For generations, the eve of the Chinese New Year isn't complete until its familiar melody fills living rooms. "Unforgettable Tonight" is not just a song but a cherished tradition that carries the weight of a nation's shared memories and hopes.
Inside a modest rehearsal room, the magic of "barrier-free broadcasting" came alive, as the production team worked to ensure that the visually and hearing-impaired could experience the full energy and emotion of the gala, just like everyone else.
"It might look like sign language is just a set of gestures. But it's so much more. It includes facial expressions, the dynamics, and the tempo of each movement. Every detail expresses the rhythms, melodies, and emotions in the music. As you can see, for this year's 'Unforgettable Tonight' with a lighter tone, the performers made it look effortless, swaying gently as they signed. But if the style changes, so does our signing. We can make it powerful too," said Zhao Zhihui, head of barrier-free broadcasting for the gala.
Last year, the team was challenged by an operatic version of the song, and the sign language mirrored the grandeur: delivered with robust energy and the muscular grace of Chinese opera. But in 2026, the approach was intentionally more intimate. Performers strove to capture even the subtlest change in mood.
"When it was the opera version, our signing was powerful and vigorous, capturing the strength and depth of traditional Chinese opera. This year, we wanted every delicate shift on stage to be fully shared by our visually and hearing-impaired audiences," Zhao shared.
During rehearsal, as the melody of "Unforgettable Tonight" flowed through the room and interpreters began their own choreography, the song revealed a beauty beyond sound and lyrics. Their hands, faces, and movements became a new language of expression, resonating with everyone present.
"It's not really about singing a song. It's about channeling all the emotions we've built up through so many years of the Chinese New Year. The gestures required for this song are simple, just a few basic movements. But every time you perform them, it feels different. Especially the final sign, the emotions are always deeper. Because that moment carries several months of hard work. When you finally succeed and think about 'Unforgettable Tonight,' you realize, what is 'tonight'? It's actually the past months of preparation and effort, all leading to that one final moment when we share the Gala's wonderful performances with every single member of our audience," said Zhao.
Sign language performers bring fresh life to beloved song at Spring Festival Gala
