Visitors to Beijing will be offered 72-hour visa-free stays from January 1st, 2013.

Guests from 45 countries, who are in possession of outbound air tickets, will be able to visit the country under the new policy.

The UK is one of the countries on the list, which will see holidaymakers in transit able to tour the city without the usual visa restrictions.

However, the policy of a visa-free short term stay is not new to China. 

Shanghai has a 48-hour visa-free policy for travellers from selected countries who are flying on to other destinations.

Air China has announced that it will be working with local Beijing tour operators to create special 72-hour tours of Beijing.