News: More Covid Travel Rules + Ice Skating Opens in Beijing

Australia, Canada Enact Covid Testing Rules + More Post-Covid Travel News

Vincent R. Vinci, Contributing Editor | Jan 3, 2023 1:47 pm | Add a comment | 260 reads

Canada, Australia Impose Covid Testing Requirements on Travelers From China: Canada and Australia have become the latest countries to impose Covid testing requirements for travelers coming from China, according to NPR. Australian health authorities will require air travelers coming from the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong and Macao SARs to provide a negative PCR test taken within two days of departure, while Canada has announced similar measures.

The two countries join the US, Japan, India, the UK, Italy and other European countries with the measures in light of an ongoing outbreak in China. Thus far, Morocco has been the only country to ban travelers from China outright.

Taiwan Region Starts Testing on Arrival for Air Travel From Chinese Mainland: Taiwan region authorities have unveiled a new testing program to administer PCR tests upon arrival for air passengers from the Chinese mainland. On the first day of the program, more than 500 passengers from seven flights had been tested, according to a report by Taipei Times.

The report adds that all arrivals are expected to practice seven days of self-isolation and health monitoring, with an at-home rapid test every two days, before they can go out. The PCR testing on arrival program will be carried out through Jan 31.

Beijing Venues Start Ice Skating, Winter Activities: Several parks in the capital, including the Summer Palace, Beihai Park and Shichahai, launched ice skating and other winter activities over the New Year holiday, reports Xinhua News.

According to a post from the Summer Palace, ice skating activities will be open at Houxi River Ice Field, the Great Lake Ice Field, and the ice slide area from 8.30am to 5pm daily, with last tickets sold at 4.30pm. Beihai Park’s activities will be held daily from 8.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30 to 5.30pm, whereas the Shichahai Ice Rink will be open from 9am to 6pm, and their speed skating rink from 9am to 5.30pm.

If you want to keep up-to-date with travel outside and around China, or things to do in Beijing, you can join our new Safe & Sane international and domestic travel WeChat groups or our Beijing Explorers group. To join, add TBJButler on WeChat (QR code below) and tell them which group you want to join.