Taiwan is to lift its decades-old ban on visits by individual Chinese tourists from April in yet another sign of the island's fast-warming ties with China. An official at Taiwan's China policy decision-making body Mainland Affairs Council today said up to 500 residents from Shanghai and Beijing would be permitted to travel to the island each day on a trial basis. The Taipei-based China Times said the two sides have reached a consensus on the long-anticipated policy, with the measures starting around the Tomb Sweeping Day, which falls on April 5. It said Solo Chinese tourists would be allowed to stay in Taiwan for up to 15 days. Currently Chinese are only allowed to travel to the island in groups as Taiwan's authorities are concerned they might otherwise over-stay their visas and work illegally.