As flights ramp up to and from China, the government is adding another layer of protection to halt the cross-border spread of Covid-19.
The civil aviation regulator said all inbound travellers must provide negative nucleic acid test results.
It is for all passengers flying to China, including Chinese citizens and foreign travellers.
Proof of tests results should be from no more than five days before making the trip.
The nucleic acid is the most important method of testing for the coronavirus, said foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin.
Foreign nationals need a declaration of health from their local Chinese embassy to go with the negative test result.
The health QR code on the declaration form will be checked and verified before departure by the respective airline.
The move comes after China issued temporary bans on three airlines for carrying inbound passengers who later turned out to be positive for Covid-19.
Last week Thai Lion Air and Thai AirAsia X were given one-week bans.
by Ray Montgomery, Asia Pacific editor
