China scraps COVID-19 testing for travellers, 30% off KrisFlyer awards in September

China finally emerged from its self-imposed three years of COVID-19 isolation in early 2023, ceasing the requirement for arriving international travellers to undergo five days of mandatory quarantine on arrival, plus three further days of home isolation, from 8th January.

Though it was a major step towards border reopening from the country’s former “zero COVID” stance, pre-departure PCR testing was still required and strict visa restrictions for foreign visitors remained in place initially, with tourism firmly off the cards.

Thankfully in March 2023 pre-departure PCR testing was then scrapped, replaced with the option to complete a self-swab ART test within 48 hours of departure, and simply report the result on a health declaration form. Tourism visas also started to be issued once again, paving the way for a full reopening.

Most recently, in July 2023, China reinstated visa-free travel for Singapore citizens, with the 15-day visa waiver reinstated for leisure and business travellers.

Now there’s more good news for a return to travel normality for China-bound travellers.

Pre-departure testing to be axed

From Wednesday 30th August 2023, it will no longer be a requirement for arriving international travellers to conduct a self-swab ART or clinic PCR test within 48 hours of departure to mainland China.

“Starting from 30th August, 2023, China-bound travelers are no longer required to undergo COVID-19 PCR test or Antigen Rapid Test (ART) before entering China. It is no longer required to declare the test result in the Health Declaration Form.”

Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Singapore
28th August 2023

This requirement is currently in place for those aged three and above, except when arriving on a direct flight from Macao or Hong Kong.

Once this requirement is dropped, there will be no countries worldwide requiring a pre-departure COVID-19 test for fully vaccinated international arrivals (China is the last to drop it).

Health declaration form remains

It will remain a requirement to complete the “Exit/Entry Health Declaration Form” before travelling to China from overseas, and present the QR code generated to your airline and/or at the airport upon arrival.

This remains the case for returning citizens, long-term residents and short-term visitors.

The form will be simplified to remove the question about your pre-departure COVID-19 test result.

The form can be obtained at htdecl.chinaport.gov.cn, or completed via the China Customs Apple app, or from the WeChat app ‘Customs Passenger Fingertip Service’.

Singapore Airlines awards are on sale

As we reported earlier this month, Singapore Airlines’ latest Spontaneous Escapes list with 30% off selected Saver award redemptions for travel in September 2023 isn’t quite a complete one.

Discounted awards to four cities in mainland China are included in the offer, despite not making it to the carrier’s “full” list of flights (even after we pointed it out – they haven’t bothered to update it!).

That means there is still award space available at discounted rates to and from these cities for travel on many dates next month – now test-free and visa-free for Singapore citizens.

Here’s a list of the mainland China flights included in the Spontaneous Escapes redemption offer for 30% less KrisFlyer miles, for travel during September 2023, but you’ll have to book by 31st August 2023 to take advantage.

Spontaneous Escapes
Business Class
(September 2023)

Singapore to Beijing
Miles	Flights	Aircraft	Seats
43,000 30,100	SQ802 SQ806	A350 MH A350 MH	2018 RJ 2018 RJ
Beijing to Singapore
Miles	Flights	Aircraft	Seats
43,000 30,100	SQ801 SQ807	A350 MH A350 MH	2018 RJ 2018 RJ
Singapore to Shanghai
Miles	Flights	Aircraft	Seats
43,000 30,100	SQ826 SQ830 SQ836	A350 MH A380 A350 MH	2018 RJ 2017 J 2018 RJ
Shanghai to Singapore
Miles	Flights	Aircraft	Seats
43,000 30,100	SQ825 SQ827	A350 MH A350 MH	2018 RJ 2018 RJ

Spontaneous Escapes
Premium Economy Class
(September 2023)

Singapore to Chengdu
Miles	Flights	Aircraft
26,500 18,550	SQ842	A350 LH
Chengdu to Singapore
Miles	Flights	Aircraft
26,500 18,550	SQ843	A350 LH
Singapore to Shanghai
Miles	Flights	Aircraft
34,500 24,150	SQ830	A380
Shanghai to Singapore
Miles	Flights	Aircraft
34,500 24,150	SQ833	A380

Spontaneous Escapes
Economy Class
(September 2023)

Singapore to Guangzhou
Miles	Flights	Aircraft
16,500 11,550	SQ850	A350 MH
Guangzhou to Singapore
Miles	Flights	Aircraft
16,500 11,550	SQ851	A350 MH
Singapore to Beijing
Miles	Flights	Aircraft
21,500 15,050	SQ802 SQ806	A350 MH A350 MH
Beijing to Singapore
Miles	Flights	Aircraft
21,500 15,050	SQ801 SQ807	A350 MH A350 MH
Singapore to Shanghai
Miles	Flights	Aircraft
21,500 15,050	SQ826 SQ830 SQ836	A350 MH A380 A350 MH
Shanghai to Singapore
Miles	Flights	Aircraft
21,500 15,050	SQ825 SQ827 SQ833	A350 MH A350 MH A380

There are some great options here for visa-free China travel, starting from 11,050 miles each way.

Perhaps the better value deal is the 30,100 miles one-way rate in Business Class to or from both Beijing and Shanghai.

Remember you can see the full September 2023 Spontaneous Escapes route list, now including the additional ‘secret’ China options listed above, in our dedicated article that includes aircraft and seat types across the network.

SIA’s China destinations are scaled back

If you were hoping for an even longer list of China options on Singapore Airlines, unfortunately there’s bad news. The carrier suspended its services to Chongqing, Shenzhen and Xiamen at the start of the northern summer 2023 season in March 2023, and will also cease flying to Chengdu from October 2023.

That means only Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai are currently on the carrier’s route list in mainland China during the northern winter 2023/24 season:

• Beijing (14/wk)
  A350 MH, 77W
• Guangzhou (7/wk)
  A350 MH
• Shanghai (28/wk)
  A350 MH, A380, 77W

As you can see, First Class does return to the Beijing route with the Boeing 777-300ER from late October, as does Premium Economy.

Regarding the China route suspensions, Singapore Airlines told Mainly Miles in March this year it was “in discussions with the relevant authorities to resume operations to these points as soon as possible”.

Let’s hope for good news on that front soon, but for the time being there is no sign of a return for these cities on the SIA network.

Scoot is still flying to several cities in China, including Haikou, Ningbo, Xi’an, Nanning and Shenyang, while Jetstar has restarted Singapore – Haikou services.

Singaporeans can already enjoy hassle-free China trips once again, thanks to the reinstatement of 15-day visa-free entry approval last month, and now there’s also no need to conduct a pre-departure ART self-swab before you travel to the country, effective from 30th August 2023.

That will mean no pre-departure COVID-19 testing for travel to any country worldwide from this week, though some African countries still impose this restriction on unvaccinated travellers.

KrisFlyer’s “secret” Spontaneous Awards list for September 2023 still includes four mainland China options in Economy, Premium Economy and Business Class, with plenty of availability still showing if you can book over the next three days.

(Cover Photo: Shutterstock)