On Feb 18, Mr. Tomas from a German company arrived in Shanghai by an international plane. He came to know that he had forgotten to perform formality of getting an entry visa only after he got down from the plane. Then he went to the frontier check post for entry in Hongqiao International Airport where was told that transit visa was exempted for 48 hours' stay in Shanghai. Mr. Tomas said with feeling, "It's really convenient for us foreigners to enter end leave Shanghai." He is the 90th foreign guest benefited from this new policy since it went into effect in Shanghai on January 1, this year.

For the convenience of foreign tourists to change planes between Hongqiao and Pudong International Airports, all the foreign tourists who are in 24-hour transit through this two airports are exempted from transit visa; citizens of some countries are even exempted from transit visa for a 48-hour stay. During the period of their valid stay, foreigners in transit in Shanghai are free to travel in the surrounding area of Shanghai.