Что такое политика безвизового транзита на 240 часов?
По состоянию на 2026 год китайская программа 240-часового (10-дневного) транзит без визы policy remains one of the most generous for foreign travelers passing through select international airports and ports. Introduced in 2019 and expanded steadily since, the program now covers 24 cities — up from just 7 in 2021 — including major gateways like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Xi’an, and newly added hubs such as Kunming, Qingdao, and Xiamen. Unlike the older 72-hour rule, the 240-hour window gives travelers genuine flexibility to explore beyond airport terminals — think day trips to the Great Wall, West Lake, or Leshan Giant Buddha — without applying for a Chinese visa.
To qualify, you must hold a valid passport from one of the 53 eligible countries (including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, all Schengen states, and Singapore), possess confirmed onward tickets departing China within 240 hours, and enter and exit via designated ports in the same approved city or coordinated zone (e.g., Beijing Capital + Daxing airports count as one ‘Beijing’ entry point). Crucially, your itinerary must show clear continuity: no visa required if you fly into Shanghai Pudong and depart from Shanghai Hongqiao — but not if you arrive in Shanghai and leave from Guangzhou unless both are part of an approved inter-city transit corridor (more on that below).
The 24 Approved 240h Transit Cities (2026 Updated List)
These cities are officially authorized by China’s National Immigration Administration (NIA) for 240-hour visa-free transit as of October 2026. All accept arrivals via air, and many also permit entry by cruise or скоростных поездах (noted in the table). Note: Some cities — like Hangzhou and Nanjing — require arrival at specific terminals (e.g., Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport only; Nanjing Lukou Airport only). Others, like Tianjin and Dalian, are cruise-only entry points.
| Город | Approved Entry Points (2026) | Air / Sea / Rail | Аэропорт Шанхай Пудун, терминал 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Пекин | Capital Int’l Airport (PEK), Daxing Int’l (PKX) | Air | Both airports count toward same 240h stay; metro connects them in 38 mins |
| Шанхай | Pudong (PVG), Hongqiao (SHA), Wusongkou Cruise Terminal | Air, Sea | Inter-переезд в аэропортs allowed; cruise passengers must disembark and re-embark same vessel |
| Гуанчжоу | Baiyun Int’l Airport (CAN) | Air | No cruise/rail access under this policy |
| Чэнду | Tianfu Int’l (TFU), Shuangliu (CTU) | Air | Both airports accepted; TFU is primary for international transit |
| Сямэнь | Gaoqi Int’l (XMN), Dongdu Cruise Terminal | Air, Sea | Newly added sea access (2025); popular for Taiwan Strait itineraries |
Key Requirements — What You Must Have in 2026
The rules are strict but straightforward — and unchanged since the 2024 NIA consolidation. Here’s your checklist:
- A passport valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned departure date (not 6 months — a common misconception)
- Confirmed onward ticket with date/time stamp showing exit from China within 240 hours (PDF e-ticket accepted)
- Entry and exit via the same approved city or its designated port cluster — no cross-city exits (e.g., enter Beijing, exit Shanghai = ineligible)
- No prior Chinese visa refusal or entry ban on record (checked automatically at immigration kiosks)
- Passport nationality must be on the official NIA 2026 Eligible Countries List — updated quarterly; verify before booking
⚠️ Critical update for 2026: Immigration officers now use AI-powered facial verification linked to Interpol databases at all 24 ports. While this speeds up clearance (average 92 seconds at PVG), it also means discrepancies — like mismatched names between passport and airline ticket — will trigger manual review and possible denial. Always double-check spelling, gender markers, and birth dates across documents.
Where You Can Go — and Where You Can’t
Under the 240h policy, you’re legally permitted to travel anywhere within the administrative boundaries of the city where you entered. That includes suburbs and satellite counties — but ждите neighboring provinces unless explicitly permitted. For example:
✅ Allowed: Enter via Chengdu Tianfu → take high-speed rail to Leshan (1h, within Sichuan Province, and covered under Chengdu’s transit zone per NIA Notice #2026-07).
❌ Not allowed: Enter via Shanghai PVG → travel to Hangzhou (Zhejiang Province) without a visa. Though only 45 mins by train, Hangzhou is a separate administrative unit — and not part of Shanghai’s transit area. You’d need either a visa or to enter Hangzhou directly under its own 240h program (which it has, but requires arrival at Xiaoshan Airport).
Two exceptions exist in 2026:
• Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei coordinated zone: Valid for entries at Beijing PEK/PKX or Tianjin Binhai Airport — allows seamless movement across all three municipalities.
• Yangtze River Delta cluster: Covers Shanghai, Nanjing, and Hangzhou — but only if you enter and exit via the same airport/port in each city. No inter-city transfers within the 240h window are authorized unless pre-cleared with NIA (rare and paperwork-heavy).
Pro Tips for Stress-Free 240h Transit in 2026
1. Book flights with ≥3-hour layovers between arrival and immigration. Even with automated kiosks, peak hours (7–10am and 4–7pm) see queues. At Guangzhou CAN, average wait time is 14 minutes in October — but jumps to 37+ minutes during National Day holiday (Oct 1–7), which ended last week.
2. Print your onward boarding pass — even if digital. Many immigration desks (especially in Xi’an and Qingdao) still require hard copy proof. Screenshots are frequently rejected.
3. Use WingPhoenix’s AI планировщиков поездок to auto-generate compliant itineraries. Our tool cross-references real-time NIA port lists, flight schedules, and rail timetables to build 240h-compliant routes — highlighting permissible destinations, transport options, and document deadlines. For instance, it’ll flag that a 220-hour plan from Seoul → Qingdao → Tokyo is valid, but adding a day trip to Weihai (outside Qingdao’s jurisdiction) voids eligibility.
4. Carry proof of accommodation. Not mandatory, but strongly advised: Immigration may ask for hotel address or Airbnb confirmation — especially if staying outside city centers (e.g., in Chengdu’s Pixian district). Digital copies accepted.
5. Avoid безвизовом transit if arriving by land. The 240h policy does ждите apply to land borders (e.g., Hong Kong–Shenzhen, Kazakhstan–Khorgas). Only air and sea ports are covered — and even then, only the 24 listed cities.
Finally: If your plans change mid-transit (e.g., flight cancellation), notify local Exit-Entry Administration within 24 hours. Extensions are rarely granted — but emergency registration avoids overstay penalties.
Whether you’re squeezing in a panda encounter in Chengdu or cycling along West Lake in Hangzhou, the 240-hour visa-free transit policy makes China more accessible than ever — provided you know the rules. With precise planning and up-to-date awareness, your layover can become the highlight of your Asia trip.