China Reopens Border for First Time since 2020

On Sunday, China reopened its border to international visitors for the first time since March 2020.

Beijing closed borders to contain the coronavirus pandemic and has largely maintained strict quarantine rules to prevent infections from spreading across the country.

However, the Chinese government dropped many of the strict measures last month, after a wave of protests against its so-called zero COVID policy.

Now, China is opening to visitors, as people in Hong Kong have been crossing the border to see their families on the mainland for nearly three years.

Residents from Hong Kong, a semi-autonomous territory in southeastern China, are being able to cross the border into mainland China is one of the most visible signs of an easing of travel restrictions.

The easing of COVID-19 restrictions also coincides with the start of the Spring Festival on the Lunar New Year.

Rush at the China-Hong Kong border after the relaxation of COVID rules