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China Travel Advisory

Travel advisory april 12, 2024, mainland china, hong kong & macau - see summaries.

Updated due to new national security legislation in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Summary:  Reconsider travel to Mainland China due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws, including in relation to exit bans, and the risk of wrongful detentions.

Exercise increased caution when traveling to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws .

Reconsider travel to the Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) due to a limited ability to provide emergency consular services . Exercise increased caution when traveling to the Macau SAR due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws .

See specific risks and conditions in each jurisdiction . 

Mainland China – Level 3: Reconsider Travel

Reconsider travel due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws , including in relation to exit bans, and the risk of wrongful detentions .

Summary:  The People’s Republic of China (PRC) government arbitrarily enforces local laws, including issuing exit bans on U.S. citizens and citizens of other countries, without fair and transparent process under the law.

The Department of State has determined the risk of wrongful detention of U.S. nationals by the PRC government exists in the PRC.

U.S. citizens traveling or residing in the PRC may be detained without access to U.S. consular services or information about their alleged crime. U.S. citizens in the PRC may be subjected to interrogations and detention without fair and transparent treatment under the law.

Foreigners in the PRC, including but not limited to businesspeople, former foreign-government personnel, academics, relatives of PRC citizens involved in legal disputes, and journalists have been interrogated and detained by PRC officials for alleged violations of PRC national security laws. The PRC has also interrogated, detained, and expelled U.S. citizens living and working in the PRC.

PRC authorities appear to have broad discretion to deem a wide range of documents, data, statistics, or materials as state secrets and to detain and prosecute foreign nationals for alleged espionage. There is increased official scrutiny of U.S. and third-country firms, such as professional service and due diligence companies, operating in the PRC. Security personnel could detain U.S. citizens or subject them to prosecution for conducting research or accessing publicly available material inside the PRC.

Security personnel could detain and/or deport U.S. citizens for sending private electronic messages critical of the PRC, Hong Kong SAR, or Macau SAR governments.

In addition, the PRC government has used restrictions on travel or departure from the PRC, or so-called exit bans, to:

• compel individuals to participate in PRC government investigations;
• pressure family members of the restricted individual to return to the PRC from abroad;
• resolve civil disputes in favor of PRC citizens; and
• gain bargaining leverage over foreign governments.

U.S. citizens might only become aware of an exit ban when they attempt to depart the PRC, and there may be no available legal process to contest an exit ban in a court of law. Relatives, including minor children, of those under investigation in the PRC may become subject to an exit ban.

The PRC government does not recognize dual nationality. Dual U.S.-PRC citizens and U.S. citizens of Chinese descent may be subject to additional scrutiny and harassment. If you are a U.S. citizen and choose to enter Mainland China on travel documents other than a U.S. passport and are detained or arrested, the PRC government may not notify the U.S. Embassy or the U.S. Consulates General or allow consular access.

Check with the PRC Embassy in the United States for the most updated information on travel to the PRC. In some limited circumstances travelers to Mainland China may face additional COVID-19 testing requirements to enter some facilities or events.

The Department of State does not provide or coordinate direct medical care to private U.S. citizens abroad. U.S. citizens overseas may receive PRC-approved COVID-19 vaccine doses where they are eligible.

Do not consume drugs in the PRC or prior to arriving in the PRC. A positive drug test, even if the drug was legal elsewhere, can lead to immediate detention, fines, deportation, and/or a ban from re-entering the PRC. PRC authorities may compel cooperation with blood, urine, or hair testing. Penalties for drug offense may exceed penalties imposed in the United States.

Demonstrations : Participating in demonstrations or any other activities that authorities interpret as constituting an act of secession, subversion, terrorism, or collusion with a foreign country could result in criminal charges. Be aware of your surroundings and avoid demonstrations.

XINJIANG UYGHUR AUTONOMOUS REGION, TIBET AUTONOMOUS REGION, and TIBETAN AUTONOMOUS PREFECTURES

Extra security measures, such as security checks and increased levels of police presence and surveillance, are common in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Tibet Autonomous Region, and Tibetan Autonomous Prefectures. Authorities may impose curfews and travel restrictions on short notice.

If you decide to travel to Mainland China:

• Enter the PRC on your U.S. passport with a valid PRC visa and keep it with you.
• Read the travel information page for Mainland China .
• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Avoid demonstrations.
• Exercise caution in the vicinity of large gatherings or protests.
• Avoid taking photographs of protesters or police without permission.
• Keep a low profile.
• If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify U.S. Embassy Beijing or the nearest U.S. Consulate General immediately.
• Review the  China Country Security Report  from the Overseas Security Advisory Council.
• Do not consume drugs in the PRC or prior to arriving in the PRC.
• Follow the Department of State on  Facebook  and  Twitter . Follow U.S. Embassy Beijing on  Twitter ,  WeChat , and  Weibo .
• Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) page for the latest  Travel Health Information  related to the PRC.
• Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations.
• Review the Traveler’s Checklist .

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) – Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution

Exercise increased caution due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws .

Summary: Hong Kong SAR authorities have dramatically restricted civil liberties since the Government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) imposed the Law of the PRC on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong SAR on June 30, 2020. Following the Hong Kong SAR government’s enactment of its own Safeguarding National Security Ordinance on March 23, 2024, Hong Kong SAR authorities are expected to take additional actions to further restrict civil liberties.

The 2020 National Security Law outlines a broad range of vaguely defined offenses, such as acts of secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign entities. The 2024 Safeguarding National Security Ordinance builds on this framework with additional vaguely defined offenses, such as treason, insurrection, theft of state secrets, sabotage against public infrastructure, and external interference. According to the legislation, these offenses are applicable to foreign nationals within the Hong Kong SAR and to individuals, including U.S. citizens and permanent residents, located outside its borders. Under these provisions, anyone who criticizes the PRC and/or Hong Kong SAR authorities may face arrest, detention, expulsion, and/or prosecution. Hong Kong SAR authorities are attempting to enforce these provisions against individuals, including U.S. citizens and permanent residents, residing outside of their jurisdiction by offering cash rewards for information leading to their arrests in the Hong Kong SAR.

Dual Nationality: The Hong Kong SAR government does not recognize dual nationality. Dual U.S.-PRC citizens and U.S. citizens of Chinese descent may be subject to additional scrutiny and harassment. If you are a dual U.S.-PRC citizen and enter Hong Kong SAR on a U.S. passport, and you are detained or arrested, PRC authorities are under an obligation to notify the U.S. Embassy or a U.S. Consulate General of your detention and to allow U.S. consular officials to have access to you. In practice, however, U.S. consular officers may be prevented from providing consular assistance, even to those who have entered on their U.S. passports. For more information, visit Consular Protection and Right of Abode in HK(SAR) for Dual Nationals - U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong & Macau .

Demonstrations : Participating in demonstrations or any other activities that authorities interpret as constituting an act of secession, subversion, terrorism, or collusion with a foreign country could result in criminal charges under the 2020 National Security Law and/or the 2024 Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. Be aware of your surroundings and avoid demonstrations.

If you decide to travel to the Hong Kong SAR:

• Enter the Hong Kong SAR on your U.S. passport and keep it with you.
• Read the travel information page for the Hong Kong SAR .
• Be aware of your surroundings.
• If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong & Macau immediately.
• Review the China Country Security Report from the Overseas Security Advisory Council.
• Do not consume drugs in the Hong Kong SAR or prior to arriving in the Hong Kong SAR.
• Follow the Department of State on  Facebook  and  Twitter . Follow U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong & Macau on  Facebook  and  Twitter .
• Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) page for the latest  Travel Health Information  related to the Hong Kong SAR.
• Monitor local media, local transportations sites, and apps like  MTR Mobile  or  Citybus  for updates.

Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) – Level 3: Reconsider Travel

Reconsider travel due to a limited ability to provide emergency consular services. Exercise increased caution due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws.

Summary:  The U.S. government has a limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in the Macau SAR due to People’s Republic of China (PRC) Ministry of Foreign Affairs travel restrictions on U.S. diplomatic personnel.

Even in an emergency, the PRC Ministry of Foreign Affairs requires all U.S. diplomatic personnel, including those accredited to the Macau SAR, to apply for and receive visas before entering the Macau SAR. Approval takes at least five to seven days, significantly limiting the U.S. government’s ability to offer timely consular services in the Macau SAR.

Dual Nationality: The Macau SAR government does not recognize dual nationality. Dual U.S.-PRC citizens and U.S. citizens of Chinese descent may be subject to additional scrutiny and harassment. If you are a dual U.S.-PRC citizen and enter the Macau SAR on a U.S. passport, and you are detained or arrested, PRC authorities are under an obligation to notify the U.S. Embassy or a U.S. Consulate General of your detention and to allow U.S. consular officials to have access to you. In practice, however, U.S. consular officers may be prevented from providing consular assistance, even to those who have entered on their U.S. passports. For more information, visit Consular Protection and Right of Abode in HK(SAR) for Dual Nationals - U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong & Macau .

Demonstrations : Participating in demonstrations or any other activities that authorities interpret as constituting an act of secession, subversion, terrorism, or collusion with a foreign country could result in criminal charges. Be aware of your surroundings and avoid demonstrations.

If you decide to travel to the Macau SAR:

• Enter the Macau SAR on your U.S. passport and keep it with you.
• Read the travel information page for the Macau SAR .
• If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify Review the China Country Security Report from the Overseas Security Advisory Council.
• Do not consume drugs in the Macau SAR or prior to arriving in the Macau SAR.
• Follow the Department of State on  Facebook  and  Twitter . Follow U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong & Macau on  Facebook  and  Twitter .
• Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) page for the latest  Travel Health Information  related to the Macau SAR.
• Monitor local media and the Macau Government Tourism Office website for updates.
• Review your flight status with your airline or at the Macau International Airport website.

Travel Advisory Levels

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U.S. recommends Americans reconsider traveling to China due to arbitrary law enforcement and exit bans

The U.S. recommended Americans reconsider traveling to China because of arbitrary law enforcement and exit bans and the risk of wrongful detentions.

No specific cases were cited, but the advisory came after a 78-year-old U.S. citizen was sentenced to life in prison on spying charges in May.

It also followed the passage last week of a sweeping Foreign Relations Law that threatens countermeasures against those seen as harming China’s interests.

China also recently passed a broadly written counterespionage law that has sent a chill through the foreign business community, with offices being raided, as well as a law to sanction foreign critics.

“The People’s Republic of China (PRC) government arbitrarily enforces local laws, including issuing exit bans on U.S. citizens and citizens of other countries, without fair and transparent process under the law,” the U.S. advisory said.

“U.S. citizens traveling or residing in the PRC may be detained without access to U.S. consular services or information about their alleged crime,” it warned.

The advisory also said that Chinese authorities “appear to have broad discretion to deem a wide range of documents, data, statistics, or materials as state secrets and to detain and prosecute foreign nationals for alleged espionage.”

It listed a wide range of potential offenses from taking part in demonstrations to sending electronic messages critical of Chinese policies or even simply conducting research into areas deemed sensitive.

Exit bans could be used to compel individuals to participate in Chinese government investigations, pressure family members to return from abroad, resolve civil disputes in favor of Chinese citizens and “gain bargaining leverage over foreign governments,” the advisory said.

Similar advisories were issued for the semi-autonomous Chinese regions of Hong Kong and Macao. They were dated Friday and emailed to journalists on Monday.

The U.S. had issued similar advisories to its citizens in the past, but those in recent years had mainly warned of the dangers of being caught in strict and lengthy lockdowns while China closed its borders for three years under its draconian “zero-COVID” policy.

China generally responds angrily to what it considers U.S. efforts to impugn its authoritarian Communist Party-led system. It has issued its own travel advisories concerning the U.S., warning of the dangers of crime, anti-Asian discrimination and the high cost of emergency medical assistance.

China had no immediate response to the travel advisory on Monday.

Details of the accusations against the accused spy John Shing-Wan Leung are not available, given China’s authoritarian political system and the ruling Communist Party’s absolute control over legal matters. Leung, who also holds permanent residency in Hong Kong, was detained in the southeastern city of Suzhou on April 15, 2021 — a time when China had closed its borders and tightly restricted movement of people domestically to control the spread of COVID-19.

The warnings come as U.S.-China relations are at their lowest in years, over trade, technology, Taiwan and human rights, although the sides are taking some steps to improve the situation. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a long-delayed visit to Beijing last week and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is making a much-anticipated trip to Beijing this week. China also recently appointed a new ambassador to Washington, who presented his credentials in a meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House.

Other incidents, however, have also pointed to the testiness in the relationship. China formally protested last month after Biden called Chinese leader Xi Jinping a “dictator,” days after Blinken’s visit.

Biden brushed off the protest, saying his words would have no negative impact on U.S.-China relations and that he still expects to meet with Xi sometime soon. Biden has also drawn rebukes from Beijing by explicitly saying the U.S. would defend self-governing Taiwan if China, which claims the island as its own territory, were to attack it.

Biden said his blunt statements regarding China are “just not something I’m going to change very much.”

The administration is also under pressure from both parties to take a tough line on China, making it one of the few issues on which most Democrats and Republicans agree.

Along with several detained Americans, Two Chinese-Australians, Cheng Lei, who formerly worked for China’s state broadcaster, and writer Yang Jun, have been held since 2020 and 2019 respectively without word on their sentencing.

Perhaps the most notorious case of arbitrary detention involved two Canadians, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, who were detained in China in 2018, shortly after Canada arrested Meng Wanzhou, Huawei Technologies’ chief financial officer and the daughter of the tech powerhouse’s founder, on a U.S. extradition request.

They were charged with national security crimes that were never explained and released three years later after the U.S. settled fraud charges against Meng. Many countries labeled China’s action “hostage politics.”

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US recommends Americans reconsider traveling to China due to arbitrary law enforcement and exit bans

Travelers walk along a concourse at Beijing West Railway Station in Beijing, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

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BEIJING (AP) — The U.S. recommended Americans reconsider traveling to China because of arbitrary law enforcement and exit bans and the risk of wrongful detentions.

No specific cases were cited, but the advisory came after a 78-year-old U.S. citizen was sentenced to life in prison on spying charges in May.

It also followed the passage last week of a sweeping Foreign Relations Law that threatens countermeasures against those seen as harming China’s interests.

China also recently passed a broadly written counterespionage law that has sent a chill through the foreign business community, with offices being raided, as well as a law to sanction foreign critics.

“The People’s Republic of China (PRC) government arbitrarily enforces local laws, including issuing exit bans on U.S. citizens and citizens of other countries, without fair and transparent process under the law,” the U.S. advisory said.

“U.S. citizens traveling or residing in the PRC may be detained without access to U.S. consular services or information about their alleged crime,” it warned.

The advisory also said that Chinese authorities “appear to have broad discretion to deem a wide range of documents, data, statistics, or materials as state secrets and to detain and prosecute foreign nationals for alleged espionage.”

It listed a wide range of potential offenses from taking part in demonstrations to sending electronic messages critical of Chinese policies or even simply conducting research into areas deemed sensitive.

Exit bans could be used to compel individuals to participate in Chinese government investigations, pressure family members to return from abroad, resolve civil disputes in favor of Chinese citizens and “gain bargaining leverage over foreign governments,” the advisory said.

Similar advisories were issued for the semi-autonomous Chinese regions of Hong Kong and Macao. They were dated Friday and emailed to journalists on Monday.

The U.S. had issued similar advisories to its citizens in the past, but those in recent years had mainly warned of the dangers of being caught in strict and lengthy lockdowns while China closed its borders for three years under its draconian “zero-COVID” policy.

China generally responds angrily to what it considers U.S. efforts to impugn its authoritarian Communist Party-led system. It has issued its own travel advisories concerning the U.S., warning of the dangers of crime, anti-Asian discrimination and the high cost of emergency medical assistance.

China had no immediate response to the travel advisory on Monday.

Details of the accusations against the accused spy John Shing-Wan Leung are not available, given China’s authoritarian political system and the ruling Communist Party’s absolute control over legal matters. Leung, who also holds permanent residency in Hong Kong, was detained in the southeastern city of Suzhou on April 15, 2021 — a time when China had closed its borders and tightly restricted movement of people domestically to control the spread of COVID-19.

The warnings come as U.S.-China relations are at their lowest in years , over trade, technology, Taiwan and human rights, although the sides are taking some steps to improve the situation. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a long-delayed visit to Beijing last week and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is making a much-anticipated trip to Beijing this week. China also recently appointed a new ambassador to Washington, who presented his credentials in a meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House.

Other incidents, however, have also pointed to the testiness in the relationship. China formally protested last month after Biden called Chinese leader Xi Jinping a “dictator,” days after Blinken’s visit.

Biden brushed off the protest, saying his words would have no negative impact on U.S.-China relations and that he still expects to meet with Xi sometime soon. Biden has also drawn rebukes from Beijing by explicitly saying the U.S. would defend self-governing Taiwan if China, which claims the island as its own territory, were to attack it.

Biden said his blunt statements regarding China are “just not something I’m going to change very much.”

The administration is also under pressure from both parties to take a tough line on China, making it one of the few issues on which most Democrats and Republicans agree.

Along with several detained Americans, Two Chinese-Australians, Cheng Lei, who formerly worked for China’s state broadcaster, and writer Yang Jun, have been held since 2020 and 2019 respectively without word on their sentencing.

Perhaps the most notorious case of arbitrary detention involved two Canadians, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, who were detained in China in 2018, shortly after Canada arrested Meng Wanzhou, Huawei Technologies’ chief financial officer and the daughter of the tech powerhouse’s founder, on a U.S. extradition request.

They were charged with national security crimes that were never explained and released three years later after the U.S. settled fraud charges against Meng. Many countries labeled China’s action “hostage politics.”

US considers easing warnings for Americans traveling to China

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Reporting by Michael Martina, David Brunnstrom and Kanishka Singh; Editing by Sandra Maler and Sonali Paul

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U.S. Issues Travel Warning for China, Hong Kong — What to Know

The State Department designated both mainland China and Macau as “Level 3,” recommending travelers “reconsider travel” there. Hong Kong was classified as a “Level 2.”

WANG ZHAO/Getty Images

The U.S. Department of State re-issued a travel warning against heading to China, including Hong Kong and Macau, due to the possibility of being wrongfully detained and the arbitrary enforcement of laws.

The State Department designated both mainland China and Macau as “Level 3,” recommending travelers “reconsider travel” there. Hong Kong was classified as a “Level 2” city, recommending travelers “exercise increased caution” when going.

“The People’s Republic of China (PRC) government arbitrarily enforces local laws, including issuing exit bans on U.S. citizens and citizens of other countries, without fair and transparent process under the law,” the department wrote in its advisory, adding “PRC authorities appear to have broad discretion to deem a wide range of documents, data, statistics, or materials as state secrets and to detain and prosecute foreign nationals for alleged espionage.”

In Hong Kong, the department warned China has “demonstrated an intent” to use a 2020 national security law “to target a broad range of activities such as acts of secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign entities.”

The renewed warning comes months after China resumed issuing international tourist visas following some of the strictest COVID-19-related restrictions in the world. For its part, Hong Kong started easing travel restrictions last year and no longer requires visitors undergo any COVID-19 testing or quarantine measures.

The State Department regularly updates its travel advisories for countries all over the world, assessing the security and health situations in each country and adjusting the classification accordingly on a scale of one (which indicates travelers should exercise normal precautions) to four (which warns Americans not to travel there). Recently, the department issued similar travel warnings for both Colombia and Jamaica .

In general, the State Department recommends American travelers enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive alerts “and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.”

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It Just Got Easier for Americans to Visit China—Here's What to Know

By Matt Ortile

I was recently applying for a new passport, dreaming of all the new stamps and visas I’d collect, when I wondered: “Can Americans travel to China?” As it turns out, some recent policy changes out of Beijing have made it easier than ever to marvel at the Great Wall of China , take in the cosmopolitan bustle of Shanghai , and devour spicy Sichuan -style dishes at the source.

As of January 1, 2024, US travelers applying for tourist visas to China are no longer required to present proof of roundtrip tickets for travel, hotel reservations, or specific itineraries. The development came after a declaration in December by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the United States that states both countries mutually agreed to simplify the visa process in an effort to “facilitate people-to-people exchanges between China and the United States.”

To learn more about how US passport holders can travel to China, I reached out to travel specialists with deep expertise in tourism in China and Asia more broadly: Mei Zhang, the founder of WildChina and a member of Condé Nast Traveler ’s Global Advisory Board ; and Catherine Heald, co-founder and CEO of Remote Lands , a luxury travel advisor specializing in destinations throughout Asia.

Here’s what you need to know about traveling to China with a US passport in 2024.

Can Americans travel to China?

Yes, Americans can travel to China for tourism purposes. The country previously upheld travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, from early 2020 to March 2023. At the time, a quarantine period was required of anyone who entered the country; additionally, Zhang of WildChina explains, flights between the United States and China were extremely limited, and so tickets were prohibitively expensive .

Interest in travel to China has increased in recent months, says Heald of Remote Lands, thanks to the new visa application rules that have come into effect in 2024: “Even when the country opened, obtaining a visa was somewhat difficult, so it did not really see an influx of travelers from the US until this year.”

What kind of visa do I need to visit China?

US passport holders need a visa to visit China, obtained in advance of travel, i.e. there is no “visa on arrival” option. Tourist visas valid for ten years and good for multi-entry use must be acquired though a Chinese embassy or consulate, or a visa service. Currently, for US citizens, the cost for a tourist visa for travel to China is $140, whether for single-use or multi-entry use. This is a reduced fee, in effect until December 31, 2024 .

According to the Chinese embassy in the United States, the tourist visa application requirements include: a passport with at least six-months’ validity and two blank pages; a photocopy of the passport’s ID page; a completed application form, filled out online and printed; proof of residence, like a driver’s license or a utility bill; and a completed “ Where You Stay Form ” that attests the applicant is currently applying for a visa from within the US.

Admittedly, the steps are a bit more involved than the path you’d walk (or fly) to countries to which US citizens easily have access, or to destinations that offer visa-on-arrival programs. “When it feels too convoluted to navigate on your own, we recommend using a visa service like CIBT to make it easier,” Zhang says.

If you’re just transiting through China (if you have a 12-hour layover in Shanghai, for example, and want to go into the city before flying to your final stop), you’re in luck: Heald says that in certain Chinese cities, foreign nationals from 54 countries, including the US, are eligible for the 24-, 72-, or 144-hour transit visa-free policies, as long as they stay within certain areas and can present proof of confirmed dates of travel to a third country.

For first-timers visiting China, experts suggest an itinerary that includes one, two, or all three of the Chinese metropolitan triumvirate: Beijing, Xi’an, and Shanghai.

When is the best time to visit China?

Spring and fall are the best times to travel in China, according to Zhang and Heald. “ Summer can be very hot, depending on where you are in China, and also busier than usual, since kids are on summer break and traveling with their families during this time,” Zhang says.

She also recommends to plan travel around the calendar of Chinese national holidays, since travel can be more challenging due to the heightened amount of activity. “The main holidays to avoid are Chinese New Year, the May Day holiday in the first week of May, and Golden Week, which is the first week of October).” It’s a fair point, but if those times are what work for you, don’t let the craze of the crowds stop you. I imagine it would truly be an awesome sight to see, a Chinese city or town celebrating the Lunar New Year .

I’m visiting China for the first time—what city should I visit?

Both Zhang and Heald suggest an itinerary that includes one, two, or all three of the Chinese metropolitan triumvirate: Beijing , Xi’an, and Shanghai. Go for the Forbidden City and the Great Wall in the capital, see the iconic Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an, and head to the Bund for the skyscraper-laden cosmopolitan side of China (where you can stay at the Peninsula Shanghai , an editor-favorite hotel featured on the Condé Nast Traveler Gold List for 2024 ).

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If you’re keen to get a little bit of all three—including the Sichuan city of Chengdu—Heald recommends the Classic China tour offered by Remote Lands that highlights some of the country’s most significant historical and cultural sites. (Also: pandas.) Speaking of nature, don’t be afraid to venture out of the cities, if time permits. For getting off the beaten path, Zhang recommends the mountainous province of Yunnan, while Heald mentions that travelers seeking spiritual experiences are going to Tibet (which requires another entry permit).

What else should Americans know before traveling to China?

It’s important to remember that the Great Firewall of China is very real: Websites like Google (including Gmail), YouTube, Facebook, and others are blocked in the country, Heald says, “especially if they touch on sensitive subjects.” She recommends downloading a VPN (virtual private network) to all of your devices before entering China, which allows you to freely use the Internet as usual. “If you do not wish to get a VPN, then plan accordingly and notify any concerned parties that you may be out of touch for a few days,” she says.

Still, China is changing at a rapid pace, Zhang notes. “Some of our recent travelers have described it as stepping into the future .” In the main cities, taxi cars are mostly electric. Sustainability is taking a leading role in development, and high-speed trains connect the entire country, with new rail lines opening regularly. Digital payments have swept every corner of the nation—“everybody from luxury stores to street food carts has a QR code”—and almost no one carries cash or credit cards. Zhang says, “For those who have visited China before, it has changed. And for those who have not visited before, you’re in for something wholly unexpected indeed.”

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China could 'overwhelm' US military bases as Biden shows 'alarming lack of urgency': House committee chair

EXCLUSIVE: The new chairman of the House China Committee says there is an "alarming lack of urgency" from the Biden administration to adopt defensive measures to protect American military bases in the Indo-Pacific against potential attacks from China.

House China Committee Chairman John Moolenaar, R-Mich., who took the helm last month after the departure of Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., outlined his concerns in a letter to Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall and Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro. 

TOP REPUBLICAN SOUNDS ALARM ON US TERRITORY BEING 'HIGHLY VULNERABLE' TO CHINESE MISSILES

"American military bases in the Indo-Pacific are under threat. With its current strike capabilities, China can attack U.S. bases in the region, including those on U.S. territories of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands," Moolenaar warned, adding that a new unclassified analysis suggests China "has enough weapons to overwhelm our air and missile defenses protecting those bases." 

Moolenaar warned that strikes on U.S. bases "could immobilize vital air assets, disrupt logistical chains, and significantly weaken our ability to respond in a conflict." 

Moolenaar said his committee received information that shows "an alarming lack of urgency by the Department of Defense in adopting defensive measures." 

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"U.S. bases in the region have almost no hardened aircraft shelters compared to Chinese military bases," he said. "In addition, a DoD regulation involving World War II-era munitions is substantially delaying and driving up the costs of construction projects in Guam and [the Northern Mariana Islands] aimed at building a more resilient posture for our forces to withstand Chinese attacks and continue operations." 

Moolenaar added: "We urge immediate changes." 

Moolenaar sent the letter to military leaders, along with a number of his congressional colleagues, including Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. 

Reps. Robert Wittman, Blaine Luetkeymeyer, Andy Barr, Dan Newhouse, Darin LaHood, Neal P. Dunn, Jim Banks, Dusty Johnson, Michelle Steel, Ashley Hinson, and Carlos Gimenez also signed onto the letter. 

Moolenaar and his colleagues said U.S. bases and U.S. air assets are "highly vulnerable to Chinese strikes." 

"Unsurprisingly, in recent war games simulating a conflict with China over Taiwan, 90% of U.S. aircraft losses occurred on the ground, rather than from air combat," he explained. 

Moolenaar pointed to "passive defenses" as the most cost-effective way to improve security at bases, calling for hardened aircraft shelters, underground bunkers and more. 

INFLUX OF ILLEGAL CHINESE MIGRANTS THREATENS US TERRITORY, ISLAND MUST SHOW 'STRENGTH OF THE NATION'

"Robust passive defenses can help minimize the damage of missile attacks by increasing our forces’ ability to withstand strikes, recover quickly, and effectively continue operations," he said. 

Moolenaar explained that China has 800 hardened aircraft shelters , in comparison to the United States’ just 100 on bases in Guam, Mariana Islands, Japan and South Korea. 

Moolenaar is now demanding the Pentagon officials provide information on the steps they have taken to enhance passive defenses to protect U.S. bases and forces in the Indo-Pacific, including in Alaska, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Hawaii, minor outlying islands, and allied and partner territory. 

Moolenaar is also asking what plans the Pentagon has to create hardened shelters and bunkers to protect U.S. forces and whether they plan to request additional funding for base resilience construction projects. 

"Our bases in the Indo-Pacific are unacceptably vulnerable to Chinese strikes," Moolenaar told Fox News Digital. "We don’t have enough hardened shelters to protect our aircraft and personnel." 

Moolenaar told Fox News Digital that the Pentagon’s "own regulations are significantly delaying critical construction projects." 

REPUBLICANS DEMAND ANSWERS AFTER TOP BIDEN OFFICIAL INVITED CCP LEADERS TO SENSITIVE NATIONAL SECURITY SITE

"We’re years behind the mark to harden our bases," Moolenaar told Fox News Digital. "Today, I’m imploring Pentagon leaders to begin this critical construction before China decides it’s too late."

Moolenaar’s warning comes as his congressional colleagues have pointed, specifically, to Guam as a region in need of additional attention.

Guam is the westernmost U.S. territory in the Indo-Pacific region and home to about 170,000 U.S. citizens. The Department of Defense owns approximately a quarter of the land on Guam and has a military force of nearly 7,000 active-duty service members on the island. 

Guam hosts Naval Base Guam, the Navy’s only submarine base in the western Pacific, as well as Anderson Air Force Base, a large air base able to host U.S. strategic bombers and fighters.

But Guam is significantly closer to Beijing than it is to Hawaii, and is within range of nuclear-capable missiles owned by the People’s Republic of China and North Korea.

U.S. officials have warned that China has spent decades developing both short- and intermediate-range missiles that can target Guam.

Original article source: China could 'overwhelm' US military bases as Biden shows 'alarming lack of urgency': House committee chair

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What's the best state for you », china's climate envoy to visit washington this week, the state department says.

China's Climate Envoy to Visit Washington This Week, the State Department Says

FILE PHOTO: China's special envoy for climate change Liu Zhenmin speaks at the China Development Forum (CDF) 2024, in Beijing, China March 24, 2024. REUTERS/Jing Xu/File Photo

(Reuters) - The United States will host China's Special Envoy for Climate Change Liu Zhenmin in Washington on Wednesday and Thursday, the State Department said.

The Biden administration had previously said that U.S. climate change diplomat John Podesta would meet Liu in Washington sometime in May, resuming bilateral talks on climate cooperation amid simmering tensions over trade and security.

The visit will mark Liu's first to Washington in his new role after replacing veteran climate envoy Xie Zhenhua, who stepped down due to health reasons in January.

(Reporting by Eric Beech and Dan Whitcomb)

Copyright 2024 Thomson Reuters .

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Must-watch: Chinese migrants are entering US illegally. We follow their perilous odyssey

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The Chinese are the fastest-growing migrant group at the US’ southern border. The CNA documentary Walk The Line tells their stories as they attempt one of the world’s most dangerous migration routes, starting in South America.

United States Border Patrol preparing to search migrants at the country’s southern border.

This audio is AI-generated.

Derrick A Paulo

Andersen Xia

Jonathan Chia

NECOCLI, Colombia and SAN DIEGO: When Lucy was living in the city of Chengdu, she was studying at a church school. In China, that is illegal, so the school operated underground.

But the church got banned, and the school was shut down. For a couple of months, classes were taught in her home. That, too, was discovered, and the authorities put a stop to it.

“Our landlord in Chengdu later came to us and said he couldn’t renew our lease,” recounted Dad. After that, he and his wife came to a decision. “We wanted to take our daughter out of China,” said Mum.

Dad did the research, trawling through YouTube and Telegram. And in December, they and their 13-year-old daughter were in South America, following in the footsteps of thousands of Chinese citizens who have tried entering the United States illegally.

Last year, over 37,400 Chinese migrants entered the US illegally via its southern border, more than 50 times the number in 2021, according to data from the US Customs and Border Protection.

While Central and South Americans formed the bulk of the 2.54 million migrants who entered illegally via the southern border last year, the Chinese are the fastest-growing migrant group encountered by the US Border Patrol.

There is a newly coined expression on the Chinese internet referring to what they are doing: Walking the line.

It is a line that starts as far south as Ecuador — the closest country to the US that allows Chinese passport holders to enter visa-free — which means taking a long, arduous detour to reach the US.

It means trekking through dense jungle in drug-cartel territory as well as enduring robberies and police extortion along the way.

Their journey along one of the world’s most dangerous migration routes is observed in the coming CNA series, Walk The Line, which followed some of the Chinese migrants for seven weeks.

They were willing to be filmed on condition that their real names were not used. They were, for the most part, unprepared for the travails ahead.

"NOT OUR NORMAL CUSTOMER"

The US has had almost 1,250 kilometres of primary and secondary barriers along its 3,140-km border with Mexico since 2021. It is not enough to keep illegal migrants from coming in.

Coming soon: Following Chinese migrants’ journey to US border (3:13)

One of the openings in the border wall is near 75-year-old Jerry Shuster’s land in Jacumba, California. And migrants including the Chinese are camping out on his property while waiting for the US Border Patrol to process them.

“Can I take them out of there? I took my gun, and I shot in the air four bullets. The police arrested me … Even Border Patrol tells me, ‘Leave them alone, you can’t move them out of there,’” he said.

“I think Chinese have more rights than we do over here … But I don’t understand why they come over here. I really would like to know that myself.”

One of those migrants camping out put it succinctly to CNA correspondent Wei Du: “We couldn’t make ends meet in China. Who’d come here otherwise?”

Another Chinese migrant, who had to sell his apartment and car and ran up “huge debts”, complained: “The government can make you do PCR tests or shut down your business whenever it wants to.”

With the surge in illegal border crossings from Mexico in recent months, the US Border Patrol has prioritised the processing of families while other migrants can wait for days before being taken into custody.

CNA was there late last November as one group of Chinese migrants were getting ready for night in the Californian desert not too far from San Diego. “It’s only 6 pm,” muttered one of them. “The cold is unbearable.”

There are volunteers feeding migrants awaiting Border Patrol processing, and team leader Sam Schultz, a local resident, estimated that on most days, “upwards of 50 per cent” of the migrants were Chinese.

He had been helping to provide food and water supplies for about 10 weeks by then. And one thing he noticed was how hard it was “to get a bunch of Chinese people to line up in a queue”.

“I think people are really worried that there might not be enough food for everybody, so they just want to be in the front,” he said. “And they’re right. There might not be enough food for everyone, sad to say.”

It is “not a particularly orderly situation” on the border, and most of the Chinese migrants, he observed, “aren’t really familiar with camping out … dealing with the kind of harsh situation that we have here”.

Or as one Border Patrol officer told Du, expressing his surprise to see more Chinese migrants of late: “Not our normal customer.”

BIG DREAMS, BIG RISKS

Viewers of Walk The Line will have a ringside seat for the border crisis unfolding in the US. They will also have an up-close look at the personal crises of Chinese migrants as they struggle to reach the country.

Lucy’s family met Du in Colombia, before they were to make their way to the Darien Gap, a jungle separating the country from Panama. Until today, the Darien Gap has no roads; crossing it can take up to a week.

A worried Mum said: “My daughter isn’t an athletic child. She gets headaches if she walks too much. I don’t know if she can handle it.”

Smugglers take groups of migrants through the jungle to reach Panama. But the trek itself is not as great a peril as the drug cartel controlling the area.

Asked if there was no turning back, a teary Dad replied: “No. I want to be free — free from fear — (and to) say and do whatever you want as long as it doesn’t hurt others. I want to experience that.”

His wife may not have “big dreams as he does”, but she does want Lucy to have “an easier life”. She said: “My life’s been too tiring.”

But as they inched towards the Promised Land for many immigrant families, she acknowledged that their initial ideas of the US may not square with reality.

“We were naive. We thought the streets in America were paved with gold,” she said. “All we had to do was to pick it up.”

Walk The Line premieres on Saturday, at 9 pm SG/HK, with more episodes on Sunday and Monday in the same time slot.

You may also be interested in:

Must watch: Better ‘a beggar here than an emperor there’ — life after Hong Kong, and the struggle to resettle

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The huge solar storm is keeping power grid and satellite operators on edge

Geoff Brumfiel

Willem Marx

NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of solar flares early Saturday afternoon. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says there have been measurable effects and impacts from the geomagnetic storm. Solar Dynamics Observatory hide caption

NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of solar flares early Saturday afternoon. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says there have been measurable effects and impacts from the geomagnetic storm.

Planet Earth is getting rocked by the biggest solar storm in decades – and the potential effects have those people in charge of power grids, communications systems and satellites on edge.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says there have been measurable effects and impacts from the geomagnetic storm that has been visible as aurora across vast swathes of the Northern Hemisphere. So far though, NOAA has seen no reports of major damage.

The Picture Show

Photos: see the northern lights from rare, solar storm.

There has been some degradation and loss to communication systems that rely on high-frequency radio waves, NOAA told NPR, as well as some preliminary indications of irregularities in power systems.

"Simply put, the power grid operators have been busy since yesterday working to keep proper, regulated current flowing without disruption," said Shawn Dahl, service coordinator for the Boulder, Co.-based Space Weather Prediction Center at NOAA.

NOAA Issues First Severe Geomagnetic Storm Watch Since 2005

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"Satellite operators are also busy monitoring spacecraft health due to the S1-S2 storm taking place along with the severe-extreme geomagnetic storm that continues even now," Dahl added, saying some GPS systems have struggled to lock locations and offered incorrect positions.

NOAA's GOES-16 satellite captured a flare erupting occurred around 2 p.m. EDT on May 9, 2024.

As NOAA had warned late Friday, the Earth has been experiencing a G5, or "Extreme," geomagnetic storm . It's the first G5 storm to hit the planet since 2003, when a similar event temporarily knocked out power in part of Sweden and damaged electrical transformers in South Africa.

The NOAA center predicted that this current storm could induce auroras visible as far south as Northern California and Alabama.

Extreme (G5) geomagnetic conditions have been observed! pic.twitter.com/qLsC8GbWus — NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (@NWSSWPC) May 10, 2024

Around the world on social media, posters put up photos of bright auroras visible in Russia , Scandinavia , the United Kingdom and continental Europe . Some reported seeing the aurora as far south as Mallorca, Spain .

The source of the solar storm is a cluster of sunspots on the sun's surface that is 17 times the diameter of the Earth. The spots are filled with tangled magnetic fields that can act as slingshots, throwing huge quantities of charged particles towards our planet. These events, known as coronal mass ejections, become more common during the peak of the Sun's 11-year solar cycle.

A powerful solar storm is bringing northern lights to unusual places

Usually, they miss the Earth, but this time, NOAA says several have headed directly toward our planet, and the agency predicted that several waves of flares will continue to slam into the Earth over the next few days.

While the storm has proven to be large, predicting the effects from such incidents can be difficult, Dahl said.

Shocking problems

The most disruptive solar storm ever recorded came in 1859. Known as the "Carrington Event," it generated shimmering auroras that were visible as far south as Mexico and Hawaii. It also fried telegraph systems throughout Europe and North America.

Stronger activity on the sun could bring more displays of the northern lights in 2024

While this geomagnetic storm will not be as strong, the world has grown more reliant on electronics and electrical systems. Depending on the orientation of the storm's magnetic field, it could induce unexpected electrical currents in long-distance power lines — those currents could cause safety systems to flip, triggering temporary power outages in some areas.

my cat just experienced the aurora borealis, one of the world's most radiant natural phenomena... and she doesn't care pic.twitter.com/Ee74FpWHFm — PJ (@kickthepj) May 10, 2024

The storm is also likely to disrupt the ionosphere, a section of Earth's atmosphere filled with charged particles. Some long-distance radio transmissions use the ionosphere to "bounce" signals around the globe, and those signals will likely be disrupted. The particles may also refract and otherwise scramble signals from the global positioning system, according to Rob Steenburgh, a space scientist with NOAA. Those effects can linger for a few days after the storm.

Like Dahl, Steenburgh said it's unclear just how bad the disruptions will be. While we are more dependent than ever on GPS, there are also more satellites in orbit. Moreover, the anomalies from the storm are constantly shifting through the ionosphere like ripples in a pool. "Outages, with any luck, should not be prolonged," Steenburgh said.

What Causes The Northern Lights? Scientists Finally Know For Sure

The radiation from the storm could have other undesirable effects. At high altitudes, it could damage satellites, while at low altitudes, it's likely to increase atmospheric drag, causing some satellites to sink toward the Earth.

The changes to orbits wreak havoc, warns Tuija Pulkkinen, chair of the department of climate and space sciences at the University of Michigan. Since the last solar maximum, companies such as SpaceX have launched thousands of satellites into low Earth orbit. Those satellites will now see their orbits unexpectedly changed.

"There's a lot of companies that haven't seen these kind of space weather effects before," she says.

The International Space Station lies within Earth's magnetosphere, so its astronauts should be mostly protected, Steenburgh says.

In a statement, NASA said that astronauts would not take additional measures to protect themselves. "NASA completed a thorough analysis of recent space weather activity and determined it posed no risk to the crew aboard the International Space Station and no additional precautionary measures are needed," the agency said late Friday.

People visit St Mary's lighthouse in Whitley Bay to see the aurora borealis on Friday in Whitley Bay, England. Ian Forsyth/Getty Images hide caption

People visit St Mary's lighthouse in Whitley Bay to see the aurora borealis on Friday in Whitley Bay, England.

While this storm will undoubtedly keep satellite operators and utilities busy over the next few days, individuals don't really need to do much to get ready.

"As far as what the general public should be doing, hopefully they're not having to do anything," Dahl said. "Weather permitting, they may be visible again tonight." He advised that the largest problem could be a brief blackout, so keeping some flashlights and a radio handy might prove helpful.

I took these photos near Ranfurly in Central Otago, New Zealand. Anyone can use them please spread far and wide. :-) https://t.co/NUWpLiqY2S — Dr Andrew Dickson reform/ACC (@AndrewDickson13) May 10, 2024

And don't forget to go outside and look up, adds Steenburgh. This event's aurora is visible much further south than usual.

A faint aurora can be detected by a modern cell phone camera, he adds, so even if you can't see it with your eyes, try taking a photo of the sky.

The aurora "is really the gift from space weather," he says.

• space weather
• solar flares
• solar storm