Which Cities Qualify for 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit?
China permits citizens of 54 countries — including the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, and all Schengen Area nations — to enter 24 designated cities without a visa for up to 240 hours (10 days) when transiting between international flights. This policy is not universal across China; only specific airports and ports are authorized, and strict geographic boundaries apply.
Crucially, you must arrive at and depart from one of the officially approved entry/exit points — and your onward flight must be booked to a third country or region (e.g., flying London → Shanghai → Tokyo qualifies; London → Shanghai → Beijing does not). You may travel freely *within the administrative boundaries* of the city where you entered — but crossing into adjacent provinces (e.g., entering in Hangzhou then traveling to Suzhou in Jiangsu) is prohibited unless you hold a valid Chinese visa or residence permit.
240-Hour Visa-Free Cities & Entry Points (2026)
The list expanded in March 2026 with the addition of Yantai, Lianyungang, and Zhuhai — bringing the total to 24. Below is the full, verified list :
| City | Approved Entry Point(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Beijing | Capital International Airport (PEK), Daxing International Airport (PKX) | Permits intra-city travel only — no trips to Tianjin or Hebei without visa |
| Shanghai | Pudong (PVG), Hongqiao (SHA) | Includes cruise terminals at Wusongkou and Shanghai Port |
| Guangzhou | Baiyun International Airport (CAN) | Newly added cruise access at Nansha Port (2026) |
| Chengdu | Tianfu International Airport (TFU), Shuangliu (CTU) | Most popular inland hub for 240h transit |
| Xi’an | Xianyang International Airport (XIY) | Valid for visits to Terracotta Warriors & Muslim Quarter only |
| Zhuhai | Zhuhai Jinwan Airport (ZUH) | Newly activated in Jan 2026; direct ferry links to Macau accepted for departure |
The remaining 18 cities include Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Qingdao, Xiamen, Dalian, Tianjin, Chongqing, Wuhan, Harbin, Kunming, Urumqi, Hefei, Changsha, Ningbo, Shenyang, Yantai, and Lianyungang. Each has exactly one designated airport or port — no cross-airport transfers (e.g., arriving at PVG and departing from SHA is permitted, but arriving at PEK and departing from PKX requires prior approval).
Eligibility & Documentation Checklist
To qualify, you must meet *all* of the following criteria:
- You hold a passport valid for at least 3 months beyond your intended stay;
- You are a national of one of the 54 eligible countries (check latest list at China Embassy Visa Q&A);
- Your onward international flight departs within 240 hours (10 days) of entry;
- You have confirmed, paid tickets for both arrival and departure flights (e-ticket printouts or digital boarding passes accepted);
- You present a completed Entry/Exit Card (issued onboard or at immigration);
- You do not intend to work, study, or reside long-term in China.
Note: Dual nationals must use the same passport for entry and exit. If you hold passports from both an eligible and non-eligible country, you must use the eligible one — and ensure your name spelling matches *exactly* across both tickets and passport. Immigration officers routinely reject applications due to minor discrepancies (e.g., middle name omitted on ticket but present on passport).
What You Can (and Cannot) Do During Your 240-Hour Stay
You may move freely within the city’s administrative limits — meaning you can take metro, bus, or charter car to attractions, hotels, restaurants, and shopping districts. For example: In Chengdu, you may visit Kuanzhai Alley, Jinli, and the Panda Base — but not Leshan Giant Buddha (in Sichuan Province but outside Chengdu’s jurisdiction). In Shanghai, you may explore the Bund, French Concession, and West Bund — but not go to Hangzhou (Zhejiang Province) by high-speed rail without a visa.
Common misconceptions:
- ❌ No, you cannot extend your 240-hour stay. There is no grace period, no renewal, and no conversion to a tourist visa on the ground.
- ❌ No, you cannot switch entry points mid-stay. Entering via Guangzhou and exiting via Shenzhen violates the policy — even if both are on the list.
- ✅ Yes, you may leave by cruise or ferry — provided it departs to a third country or region (e.g., Shanghai → Jeju Island or Zhuhai → Macau).
- ✅ Yes, you may book domestic flights *within the same city’s airspace* — e.g., a chartered seaplane tour over Shanghai’s Huangpu River is permitted; flying to Nanjing is not.
Tip: Download the official China Immigration Service app (available on iOS/Android) to verify your eligibility in real time using your passport and flight details. It also displays QR-coded transit permits — increasingly accepted at major hotels and metro gates in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou.
Pro Tips for Seamless 240-Hour Transit Travel
1. Book ahead — especially transport and accommodation. While no visa is needed, hotels in Tier-1 cities often require passport scans upon check-in. Use WingPhoenix’s AI trip planning tool to auto-generate a compliant 240h itinerary that respects jurisdictional boundaries and includes pre-verified eSIM activation and charter car bookings — all synced to your flight times.
2. Carry hard copies. Though digital boarding passes are accepted, always bring printed tickets for both legs of your journey — and two passport-sized photos (required if applying for emergency documentation at local PSB offices).
3. Avoid peak holiday windows. During China’s National Day Golden Week (October 1–7) and Spring Festival (late Jan–mid-Feb), immigration queues at PEK, PVG, and CAN regularly exceed 90 minutes. Arrive at least 3 hours before your outbound flight — and consider WingPhoenix’s priority airport transfer service to skip lines.
4. Know your exit options. Some lesser-known 240h cities — like Yantai and Lianyungang — have limited international connections. Confirm return flights *before* arrival. If your outbound flight is canceled, contact your airline immediately: rebooking to another eligible city *may* preserve your 240h status — but only if processed by the airline with China Immigration liaison support.
5. Monitor policy updates. The Ministry of Public Security issues quarterly adjustments — most recently in July 2026, adding biometric enrollment waivers for repeat travelers who used 240h transit ≥3 times in the past 2 years. Check nia.gov.cn/nia/en/visa/240h-2026.html for live updates.
When to Skip 240-Hour Transit & Apply for a Visa Instead
The 240h policy is ideal for short urban explorations — but falls short for multi-city trips, rural excursions, or stays exceeding 10 days. If your plans include visiting Xi’an *and* Chengdu, crossing provincial borders, or staying longer than 240 hours, apply for a standard L (tourist) visa well in advance. Processing takes 4–7 business days at Chinese visa centers in most countries — and up to 15 days during high season. With WingPhoenix’s AI trip planning, you’ll get a tailored visa application checklist based on your nationality, itinerary, and document history — helping avoid common rejection reasons like insufficient bank statements or vague travel plans.
Remember: A visa-free transit stay is not a substitute for proper planning — but with precise execution, it’s the fastest, most flexible way to experience authentic China in under 10 days.
Start building your 240-hour China itinerary now — AI-optimized, visa-compliant, and ready to book.