Nepal, July 8 -- Foreign tourists are trickling back to China after the country loosened its visa policy to unprecedented levels. Citizens from 74 countries can now enter China for up to 30 days without a visa, a big jump from previous regulations, the AP reported.

The government has been steadily expanding visa-free entry in a bid to boost tourism, the economy and its soft power. More than 20 million foreign visitors entered without a visa in 2024 - almost one-third of the total and more than double from the previous year, according to the National Immigration Administration.

"This really helps people to travel because it is such a hassle to apply for a visa and go through the process," Georgi Shavadze, a Georgian living in Austria, sa...