{
  "updated": "2026-10-24",
  "note": "Single source of truth for the Policy Watch page. Edit this file, sync the homepage latest-3 cards, redeploy. Monthly review: 2026-11-24.",
  "updates": [
    {
      "id": "240h-2026-08-20",
      "title": "240-hour transit visa-free: 57 countries",
      "change": "The 240-hour transit visa-free scheme covers 57 countries, 65 ports and 24 provinces. Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam were added in August 2026.",
      "effective_date": "2026-08-20",
      "sources": [
        {
          "label": "National Immigration Administration Announcement No. 4 of 2026",
          "url": null
        },
        {
          "label": "Chinese Visa Application Service Center notice on the visa exemption policy",
          "url": "https://bio.visaforchina.cn/BER3_EN/tongzhigonggao/369746540648075264.html"
        }
      ],
      "impact": "Transit passengers from listed countries can stay up to 10 days without a visa, within the permitted regions.",
      "verified_date": "2026-10-24",
      "review_date": "2026-11-24",
      "status": "current"
    },
    {
      "id": "30day-50",
      "title": "30-day unilateral visa-free: 50 countries",
      "change": "The unilateral 30-day visa-free policy covers 50 countries, including Brunei. Most listings run to 2026-12-31; Russia runs to 2027-12-31.",
      "effective_date": "ongoing",
      "sources": [
        {
          "label": "Consulate General of China in Barcelona: FAQs on visa-free entry (50-country list)",
          "url": "https://barcelona.china-consulate.gov.cn/chn/lsfw/qzfw/202511/t20251110_11750035.htm"
        },
        {
          "label": "Chinese Visa Application Service Center notice on the visa exemption policy",
          "url": "https://bio.visaforchina.cn/BER3_EN/tongzhigonggao/369746540648075264.html"
        }
      ],
      "impact": "Year-end renewal may change the list. Recheck before booking travel after 2026-12-31.",
      "verified_date": "2026-10-24",
      "review_date": "2026-12-20",
      "status": "current"
    },
    {
      "id": "hainan-30day",
      "title": "Hainan 30-day visa-free: separate scheme",
      "change": "Hainan has its own 30-day visa-free entry scheme for tourists, separate from the national lists and covering a wider set of nationalities (61 countries). Leaving Hainan for the mainland falls under the national rules instead.",
      "effective_date": "ongoing",
      "sources": [
        {
          "label": "Hainan 30-day visa-free entry scheme (tourist entry)",
          "url": null
        }
      ],
      "impact": "Island-only trips follow Hainan rules; mainland legs need the national route checked separately.",
      "verified_date": "2026-10-24",
      "review_date": "2026-11-24",
      "status": "current"
    }
  ]
}