144-Hour vs 240-Hour Transit Visa China: Which Should You Use in 2026?

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China has two active transit visa-free policies: the older 144-hour (6-day) scheme and the newer 240-hour (10-day) scheme introduced in December 2024. They’re both free, they both require an onward ticket, and they both follow the third-country rule. But they differ significantly in how much of China you can see.

Here’s the direct comparison.

Quick answer: Use the 240-hour policy unless you have a specific reason not to. It’s longer, covers more of China, and is the current standard.

Side-by-Side Comparison

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The Key Difference: Geographic Freedom

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This is the single biggest difference between the two policies.

144-hour: Locked to one region

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Under the 144-hour policy, you’re restricted to the region where you arrive:

• Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei: Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei
• Yangtze River Delta: Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang
• Pearl River Delta: Guangdong province

Land in Shanghai? You can visit Hangzhou and Suzhou (nearby) but not Beijing or Chengdu.

240-hour: Cross 24 provinces freely

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Under the 240-hour policy, you can travel across 24 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities:

Land in Guangzhou, take a train to Guilin, fly to Chengdu, visit Xi’an, and depart from Beijing — all on one transit exemption.

That’s a complete cross-country tour in 10 days without a visa.

Duration: 6 Days vs 10 Days

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The extra 4 days make a significant difference in trip planning:

Eligible Nationalities

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The 240-hour policy added Ukraine to the list. Otherwise, both policies cover the same countries.

Countries eligible for BOTH: US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, most of Europe, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Russia, and more.

Countries on 240-hour list but NOT 144-hour: Ukraine.

If you’re from any of the 54 countries on the 144-hour list, you’re automatically eligible for the 240-hour policy too.

Entry/Exit Ports

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144-hour ports (region-specific)

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• Beijing region: PEK, PKX, TSN, SJW, Qinhuangdao seaport
• Shanghai region: PVG, SHA, NKG, HGH, NGB, Shanghai cruise port
• Guangdong region: CAN, SZX, SWA, 65 seaports

240-hour ports (nationwide)

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All of the above PLUS: Chengdu (TFU), Chongqing (CKG), Xi’an (XIY), Wuhan (WUH), Kunming (KMG), Xiamen (XMN), Qingdao (TAO), Dalian (DLC), Harbin (HRB), Haikou (HAK), Sanya (SYX), Hong Kong West Kowloon rail, and many more — 65 total ports.

When Would You Use 144-Hour Instead?

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Honestly, not often in 2026. The 240-hour policy is superior in almost every way. You might use 144-hour if:

1. Your airline insists on the old policy — some check-in agents may not be trained on the 240-hour rules yet
2. Immigration at a specific port applies 144-hour — rare, but it happens at some smaller ports
3. You’re doing a very short transit — if you only have 2–3 days, the policy doesn’t matter

Decision Flowchart

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Are you transiting through China to a third country?
├── No → You need a regular visa. See our Visa Application Guide.
└── Yes
    ├── Is your nationality on the 55-country list?
    │   ├── No → You need a regular transit (G) visa.
    │   └── Yes
    │       ├── Do you need more than 6 days?
    │       │   ├── Yes → Use 240-hour policy
    │       │   └── No
    │       │       ├── Do you want to visit multiple regions?
    │       │       │   ├── Yes → Use 240-hour policy
    │       │       │   └── No → Either works, use 240-hour by default
    │       │       └── → Use 240-hour policy (it's strictly better)

The answer is almost always: use the 240-hour policy.

Real-World Example

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Scenario: American flying US → China → Japan, has 8 days

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Using 144-hour policy (6 days):

• Day 1: Arrive Shanghai
• Days 1–5: Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou (locked to Yangtze River Delta)
• Day 6: Must depart
• Can’t visit Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu, or anywhere outside the delta

Using 240-hour policy (10 days):

• Day 1: Arrive Shanghai
• Days 1–3: Shanghai + Hangzhou
• Day 4: Fly to Xi’an (Terracotta Warriors)
• Days 5–6: Xi’an → Chengdu (pandas, hot pot)
• Day 7: Fly to Beijing
• Days 7–8: Forbidden City, Great Wall
• Day 8: Depart Beijing → Tokyo

The 240-hour policy transforms a regional visit into a cross-country tour.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Can I choose which policy to use?

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Generally, yes. At immigration, the 240-hour policy should be the default. If an officer applies the 144-hour policy, you can request the 240-hour scheme — it’s the current national standard.

Are the fees different?

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Both are free. No fees for either policy.

Can I switch from one to the other after entry?

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No. The policy applied at entry determines your conditions. You can’t switch mid-stay.

What if I arrive at a 144-hour-only port?

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All major ports that accepted 144-hour transit now accept 240-hour transit. If you encounter a port that only offers 144-hour, it’s likely a smaller or newer port not yet updated.

Related guides:

• China Transit Visa-Free Complete Guide
• 240-Hour Transit Detailed Guide
• 144-Hour Transit Cities & Airports
• China Visa-Free Countries