Although Americans can visit 183 of the world's 227 countries and travel destinations without a visa, China has never been one of them.
The Great Wall and Summer Palace are in the 1.4 billion-person nation, but its government is notoriously anti-tourist.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic closed the country and sank its diplomatic relations with the U.S. to a decades-low, American tourists had to submit extensive documentation of where they planned to stay and what they wanted to see.
China is trying to revive its tourism business after enacting some of the toughest lockdowns in the world during the COVID-19 outbreak.
As of Jan. 1, 2024, the US Chinese Embassy will no longer require proof of a round-trip air ticket, hotel reservation and itinerary, or invitation from a local individual or organization for a tourist visa.
Instead, applicants can apply at a U.S. Chinese visa office and schedule a trip following acceptance. Embassy said applications are reviewed "case-by-case basis.
For citizens of France, Germany, Italy, Malaysia, Spain, and the Netherlands, the application process is slightly less difficult (although the embassy still requires proof of work and residence and passport-sized photos).
Tourist visa applicants within the United States will no longer be required to submit round-trip air ticket booking record, proof of hotel reservation, itinerary or invitation letter.