China's National Immigration Administration (NIA) announced on Monday the expansion of the country's 240-hour visa-free transit program to five more ports in Guangdong Province, as part of China's latest efforts to further deepen its opening-up policy.

Those entry ports to be added to the list are Guangzhou Pazhou Ferry Terminal, Hengqin Port, Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Port, Zhongshan Port and West Kowloon Station Port of Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link.

The new policy, effective Wednesday, will raise the total number of ports eligible for the 240-hour visa-free transit to 65.

Travelers from 55 eligible countries who meet certain criteria can enter China through any of those ports across 24 provincial-level regions and stay in the country for up to 240 hours, or 10 days, without a visa before heading to a third destination, according to the NIA.

In addition, China's 24-hour visa-free direct transit policy will be expanded to ten more international airports, including Tianjin Binhai International Airport, Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport, Nanjing Lukou International Airport, Fuzhou Changle International Airport, Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport, Wuhan Tianhe International Airport, Nanning Wuxu International Airport, Haikou Meilan International Airport, 

Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport, and Kunming Changshui International Airport.

Starting from Wednesday, travelers with international interline tickets transiting to a third country or region within 24 hours through any of the aforementioned airports without leaving the airport can be exempted from immigration inspection procedures.