23 Chinese cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu offer 144-hour visa-free transit. This guide covers eligibility, port list, tips and recommended itineraries.
The 144-hour visa-free transit policy lets eligible foreign travellers entering China en route to a third country or region stay visa-free for up to 144 hours (6 days) in designated areas. For long-haul passengers, that means leaving the airport between flights.
Eligibility
- ✓Hold a valid passport and an onward ticket to a third country within 144 hours
- ✓Arrive and depart via open ports within the same policy region
- ✓Complete a temporary arrival card and answer immigration questions
- ✓Stay is limited to the province/municipality of the port of entry
Major Port Cities
Airports in 23 cities now implement the policy, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, Xi'an, Xiamen, Kunming and Wuhan. Entering via Shanghai lets you travel across the whole Yangtze River Delta (Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui).
Practical Tips
- ✓Confirm your connecting ticket in the airline app; it may be checked at check-in
- ✓Book refundable hotels and keep itineraries close to the port city
- ✓The clock starts at midnight after entry—do not overstay
- ✓Return to the airport early; arrive 3 hours before international flights
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