Looking for the definitive 240 hours visa-free china guide? China has significantly expanded its china transit visa policies, upgrading the famous 144-hour transit to an incredible 10 day visa-free china experience. Citizens from 55 eligible countries can now travel across 24 specific provinces—without applying for a visa beforehand!
Key Policy Updates for 2026
Cross-Provincial Travel is NOW Permitted! Unlike the older 144-hour policy which restricted you to your port of entry (e.g., entering Beijing meant you could only stay in Beijing/Hebei/Tianjin), the new 240-hour policy allows you to roam freely across 24 approved provinces!
Ports Expanded to 65: Including major hubs like the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and Guangzhou Baiyun Airport.
How Does the 240-Hour China Transit Visa Work?
To qualify for this 10 day visa-free china policy, you must follow the "A → China → C" rule. Your journey must be a continuous transit from Country A, stopping in Mainland China, and departing to a completely different Country/Region C (Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan count as Region C).
Real Itinerary Examples (Unlocking Cross-Province Travel)
Thanks to the new rules allowing inter-provincial travel across 24 provinces, you can now plan epic multi-city adventures. Here are four highly popular routes:
Example 1: The Southeast Asia Backpacker Route
- Entry: Arrive at Mohan Railway Port (Yunnan) via the high-speed train from Vientiane, Laos (Country A).
- The Journey: Explore Kunming and Dali in Yunnan, then book your china train tickets to travel seamlessly to Guangdong Province.
- Exit: Depart via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Port into Hong Kong (Region C).
Example 2: The Business Traveler Route
- Entry: Fly into Guangzhou Baiyun Airport from Tokyo, Japan (Country A) to attend the Canton Fair.
- The Journey: After business in Guangzhou, take the high-speed bullet train up to Qingdao (Shandong Province) for a coastal retreat.
- Exit: Fly out from Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport to Seoul, South Korea (Country C).
Example 3: The Ultimate "Mega-Tour" (Hong Kong to Beijing)
- Entry: Take the high-speed train from Hong Kong (Region A) and enter mainland China via the West Kowloon Station Railway Port.
- The Journey (10 Days): Because you have 240 hours and 24 provinces at your disposal, the possibilities are endless. You can take a train straight to Hunan to explore the Avatar mountains of Zhangjiajie for 3 days. From there, hop over to Chongqing for hotpot, visit the pandas in Chengdu, fly to Shanghai for the Bund, and finish your trip by walking the Great Wall in Beijing.
- Exit: Fly out of Beijing Capital International Airport to your home country in Europe or North America (Country C). Note: Your exit country cannot be Hong Kong since it was your origin!
Example 4: The Canton Fair Executive (Direct Ferry Exit)
- Entry: Fly direct from the United States (Country A) into Guangzhou Baiyun Airport.
- The Journey: Attend the Canton Fair right next to the Pazhou complex. Instead of booking a complicated return flight out of mainland China, you can enjoy the ultimate convenience of the newly added ferry ports.
- Exit: Take a high-speed ferry directly from the Pazhou Ferry Terminal (or Shekou Port in Shenzhen) straight into the restricted zone of Hong Kong International Airport (Region C), and board your flight back to the US. This feels identical to a simple round trip, but perfectly complies with the A → China → C transit rule!
Allowed Travel Regions (24 Provinces)
A major feature of the 240-hour visa-free transit is that cross-provincial travel is now permitted. Travelers can move freely among the specified areas of the following 24 provinces/municipalities:
| Province / Municipality | Allowed Areas |
|---|---|
| Beijing | Beijing Municipality |
| Tianjin | Tianjin Municipality |
| Hebei | Shijiazhuang, Qinhuangdao, Tangshan, Langfang, Baoding, Cangzhou, Hengshui, Xingtai, Handan, Dingzhou, Xinji, Xiong'an New Area |
| Liaoning | Liaoning Province |
| Shanghai | Shanghai Municipality |
| Jiangsu | Jiangsu Province |
| Zhejiang | Zhejiang Province |
| Anhui | Anhui Province |
| Fujian | Fujian Province |
| Shandong | Shandong Province |
| Henan | Zhengzhou, Kaifeng, Luoyang, Xuchang, Xinxiang, Jiaozuo, Pingdingshan, Luohe, Jiyuan |
| Hubei | Wuhan, Huangshi, Shiyan, Yichang, Xiangyang, Ezhou, Jingmen, Xiaogan, Jingzhou, Huanggang, Xianning, Suizhou, Enshi, Xiantao, Qianjiang, Tianmen, Shennongjia |
| Hunan | Hunan Province |
| Guangdong | Guangdong Province |
| Hainan | Hainan Province |
| Chongqing | Chongqing Municipality |
| Guizhou | Guiyang, Zunyi, Anshun, Bijie, Tongren, Qianxinan, Qiandongnan, Qiannan, Gui'an New Area |
| Shaanxi | Shaanxi Province |
| Shanxi | Taiyuan, Datong |
| Heilongjiang | Harbin |
| Jiangxi | Nanchang, Jingdezhen |
| Guangxi | Nanning, Liuzhou, Guilin, Wuzhou, Beihai, Fangchenggang, Qinzhou, Guigang, Yulin, Hezhou, Hechi, Laibin (12 cities) |
| Sichuan | Chengdu, Zigong, Luzhou, Deyang, Suining, Neijiang, Leshan, Yibin, Ya'an, Meishan, Ziyang (11 cities) |
| Yunnan | Kunming, Yuxi, Chuxiong, Honghe, Wenshan, Pu'er, Xishuangbanna, Dali, Lijiang (9 cities/prefectures) |
65 Eligible Transit Ports
Beijing
Tianjin
Hebei
Liaoning
Shanghai
Jiangsu
Zhejiang
Anhui
Fujian
Shandong
Henan
Hubei
Hunan
Guangdong
Hainan
Chongqing
Guizhou
Shaanxi
Shanxi
Heilongjiang
Jiangxi
Guangxi
Sichuan
Yunnan
China Arrival Card Filling Guide (For Visa-Free Transit)
When you land, passing through immigration is straightforward if you know what to do. Here is a quick china arrival card filling guide specifically for the 240-hour transit:
- Flight No: Write your arriving flight number.
- Purpose of Visit: Tick the box for "Transit" (过境). Do NOT tick "Tourism".
- Intended Address in China: Write the exact name and address of your first hotel. Have your printed hotel booking confirmation ready.
- Departure Flight: You MUST have a printed, confirmed onward ticket to Country C departing within 240 hours. The officer will check this!
💡 Pro Tip: Before arriving, ensure you download the Didi English version for easy taxi hailing, and check our interactive maps for navigating china metro english guides!
Which Countries’ Citizens Are Eligible?
You must hold a valid passport from one of the 55 eligible countries:
- 25 countries in the Europe Schengen area: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
- 15 other countries in Europe: Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Monaco, and Belarus.
- 6 countries in the Americas: the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Chile.
- 2 countries in Oceania: Australia and New Zealand.
- 7 countries in Asia: Republic of Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Indonesia.
【NEW】FAQs on 240-Hour Visa-free Transit
Do I need to enter and exit from the exact same port?
No. You do not need to enter and exit through the exact same port, as long as both the entry and exit ports are within the same allowed administrative region or port group for the 240-hour visa-free transit.
Can I use different modes of transportation?
Yes. You can enter by air and exit by sea or land, provided that both ports are eligible 240-hour transit ports within the same allowed region.
How are the 240 hours (10 days) calculated?
The 240 hours begin at 00:00 on the day following your arrival in China. For example, if you arrive at 8:00 AM on Monday, your 240 hours start at 00:00 on Tuesday.
Where can I travel during the 240-hour transit?
A major upgrade of the 240-hour policy is that you can now travel across provincial boundaries! You can travel freely within the permitted areas of the 24 eligible provinces, regions, and municipalities across China. For example, you can enter in Shanghai and travel to Beijing or Chengdu, as long as you stay within the designated allowed cities/regions for each province.
What activities am I allowed to do?
You are permitted to engage in short-term activities such as tourism, business meetings, visiting family or friends, and transit. However, activities that require prior approval—such as working, studying, or engaging in journalism—are strictly prohibited without the appropriate visa.
Do I need to have my onward ticket booked before arriving?
Yes. You must present a confirmed onward ticket (air, ship, or train) to a third country or region with a confirmed date and seat, departing within 240 hours. Standby tickets are not accepted.
Are Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan considered 'third regions'?
Yes. For the purposes of the transit policy, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan are treated as third regions. This makes traveling through them highly flexible. Here are some perfectly valid 240-hour transit itineraries: • Entering via an airport and departing by sea: Fly into China from Country A, and depart via Guangzhou Pazhou Ferry Terminal taking a boat directly to Hong Kong International Airport. • Overland multi-province travel: Enter via Hengqin Port (Zhuhai) from Macau, travel overland through Guangdong to Yunnan, and exit via the Mohan Railway Port to Laos. • High-speed rail and domestic flights: Take the high-speed train from Hong Kong West Kowloon Station to Wuhan, then take a domestic flight to Shanghai, and finally depart from Shanghai Pudong Airport to the USA.
Can my itinerary be Country A -> China -> Country A?
No. The policy is strictly for transit. Your itinerary must be from Country A -> China -> Country C. Return trips to the original departure country do not qualify.
Can I have a layover in another Chinese city before reaching my transit city?
No. Your flight must arrive directly into the 240-hour transit port from outside Mainland China, and depart directly out of Mainland China. If your flight stops in another mainland city first, you do not qualify for the 240-hour transit (though you may qualify for the 24-hour transit).
How do I apply for the 240-hour visa-free transit?
Upon arrival at an eligible port, look for the dedicated '240-Hour Visa-Free Transit' immigration counter. You will need to fill out a blue Arrival Card for Temporary Entry, and present your passport and onward ticket.
Is there any fee for this transit permit?
No. The 240-hour visa-free transit permit is completely free of charge.
What should I do if my outbound flight is delayed or cancelled, causing me to overstay?
If circumstances beyond your control (like flight cancellations or medical emergencies) force you to stay beyond 240 hours, you must immediately apply for a temporary stay permit at the local Exit-Entry Administration of the Public Security Bureau. Overstaying without permission is illegal.
Do I need to register my accommodation?
Yes. If you stay in a hotel, the hotel will register you automatically. If you stay with family, friends, or in an Airbnb, you or your host must register at the local police station within 24 hours of arrival.
How long must my passport be valid?
Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months from the date of your arrival in China. Some airlines may require 6 months, so it is recommended to travel with at least 6 months of validity.
Can I apply for a visa extension if I want to stay longer?
Generally, the 240-hour transit permit cannot be extended unless under force majeure (e.g., sudden illness or natural disasters). If you plan to stay longer than 10 days, you should apply for a regular Chinese visa before your trip.