According to the news from the website of Chinese Ministry of Public Security, a new policy will be implemented  in batches since 2017. 

Foreigners who are 14 - 70 years old, will need to Leave Fingerprints At The Frontier Inspection when they enter China.

Since 10th February, Shenzhen Bao'an Airport will launch this pilot policy while other open pots will be promoted and implemented in succession afterwards. 

Chinese Ministry of Public Security said that the biological informations such as the fingerprints can help to strengthen the administration of entry and exit.

• Foreigners who hold a Diplomatic Passport or a Chinese diplomatic, Courtesy visa officers

• Personnel under Bilateral Agreement or Reciprocal Arrangement

• Officials at vice-ministerial level or above and the delegations led by them

• Foreigners whose fingerprints are all incomplete or not able to be collected

• Who are exempted by the Ministry of Public Security under special circumstances

This practice is an effective action to prevent forgery and fraudulent certificates which is popular in international community. Nowadays many countries included U.S, Japan and other Schengen member States have implemented this policy.