Inbound tourist groups from other cities are now allowed to enter the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone without passes.

However, tour organizers must submit applications for group crossings to checkpoint authorities in advance. This measure was to relieve the ever-increasing pressure on checkpoint crossings.

Guangdong announced May 28 that inland residents could now obtain 12-month passes for entry into the special economic zone at 2 yuan (US$0.24) after showing their ID cards. Previously, inland tourists to Shenzhen had to obtain passes at public security bureaus in their hometowns before coming to Shenzhen.

(Shenzhen Daily July 22, 2003)