Your Gateway to Exploring China Without a Visa
🌏 Key Policy Features
China offers 144-hour (6-day) or 24-hour visa-free transit to citizens of 53 countries, allowing short-term exploration in major cities.
| 144-Hour Visa-Free | 24-Hour Visa-Free |
|---|---|
| Covers 21 city clusters (e.g., Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta) | Available at all international airports nationwide |
| Permits intercity travel (e.g., Shanghai → Beijing) | Requires same port of entry and exit |
🌐 Eligible Countries (2024 Update)
Grouped by region for easy reference
| Europe (30) | Americas (8) | Asia (9) | Oceania (4) | Africa (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ireland, Montenegro, Serbia | USA, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Colombia, Uruguay | Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Brunei, UAE, Qatar, Thailand, Malaysia | Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga | Mauritius, Seychelles |
Note: Montenegro and Serbia were added in 2023.
✈️ 4-Step Transit Process
1️⃣ Prepare Documents
- Printed onward flight ticket (showing arrival/departure times)
- Valid visa for third-country destination (if required)
2️⃣ Arrival Declaration
- Use dedicated “Visa-Free Transit” lanes at immigration
- Optional but recommended: Hotel reservation
3️⃣ Time Calculation
- 144-hour rule: Counts from 00:00 the day after entry (e.g., Enter Monday 3 PM → Must depart by Saturday midnight).
- 24-hour rule: Strict 24-hour window (e.g., Enter 08:00 → Depart by 08:00 next day).
4️⃣ Critical Restrictions
- ❌ No work or travel to Tibet/Hong Kong/Macau
- ❌ Overstay fines up to ¥10,000 (~$1,380 USD) and future entry bans
🗺️ Top Itinerary Ideas
144-Hour Cultural Adventure
Beijing (Forbidden City & Great Wall) → 1.5hr bullet train → Tianjin (Haihe River night views) → Fly to Shanghai (Disneyland & the Bund) → Hangzhou (West Lake cruise) → Depart from Shanghai
24-Hour Foodie Sprint
Guangzhou Baiyun Airport → Metro to downtown → Dim sum at Tao Tao Ju → Canton Tower photo op → Return to airport
💡 Local Pro Tips
- 🐼 Visit Chengdu/Chongqing panda bases during transit
- 💳 Use Alipay/WeChat Pay for 90% of transactions (link a foreign card)
- 🧳 Free short-term luggage storage at Shanghai Pudong Airport
❓ FAQ
Q: Can UK citizens use this post-Brexit?
A: Yes! The policy remains valid for UK passport holders.
Q: Are high-speed trains allowed?
A: Absolutely! Free to use within 144-hour zones (e.g., Shanghai to Beijing).
Q: Can I extend my stay beyond 144 hours?
A: No extensions permitted—strictly adhere to the time limit.
📲 Essential Tools
- Official Updates
Scan QR code → National Immigration Administration
Interactive Poll
“Which Chinese city would you explore with visa-free transit?”
[ Beijing | Shanghai | Chengdu | Guangzhou ]