Beijing considering limited visa-free stay

London, May 28 (IANS) Beijing is considering allowing foreign tourists a 72-hour window to explore the capital without a visa.

Fu Zhenghua, the city's public security director, said it is an important sign that shows Beijing is open to the world.

Neither the bureau nor the Beijing Tourism Development Committee, which proposed the policy, would offer more details about the visa-free stay, China Daily reported Monday.

However, experts said the policy is expected to be similar to ones already being run in Shanghai (48 hours) and South China's Hainan province (21 days for tour groups).

"Shanghai and neighbouring cities, such as Hangzhou and Wuxi, have benefited greatly (since Shanghai introduced a visa waiver for transit passengers)," which allow foreign tourists a visa-free stay for 48 hours, said Jiang Yiyi, director of China Tourism Academy's international tourism development institute.