The 240-hour transit visa-free policy is China's most generous transit scheme ever. Introduced in December 2024, it replaced the older 72-hour and 144-hour policies with a unified program that gives you 10 full days to explore 24 provinces — all without a visa.
This guide goes deeper than our overview guide with specific port details, routing strategies, and practical itineraries for making the most of your 10 visa-free days in China.
Key Takeaways
- 10 days, 24 provinces, 65 ports — the most freedom China has ever offered transit passengers.
- The A → China → B rule is mandatory: your departure country and onward destination must be different.
- Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan count as third regions — opening up the popular "Hong Kong Backdoor" strategy.
- Time starts at 00:00 the day after entry, so arriving early adds a few hours of grace.
Eligible Countries (55 Total)
Europe (40): Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom.
Americas (6): Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Mexico, United States.
Asia-Pacific (7): Australia, Brunei, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Korea, United Arab Emirates.
Middle East (2): Qatar, Saudi Arabia.
Additional: Ukraine.
65 Entry/Exit Ports
Major airports
| Airport | City | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Beijing Capital | Beijing | PEK |
| Beijing Daxing | Beijing | PKX |
| Shanghai Pudong | Shanghai | PVG |
| Shanghai Hongqiao | Shanghai | SHA |
| Guangzhou Baiyun | Guangzhou | CAN |
| Shenzhen Bao'an | Shenzhen | SZX |
| Chengdu Tianfu | Chengdu | TFU |
| Chongqing Jiangbei | Chongqing | CKG |
| Xi'an Xianyang | Xi'an | XIY |
| Hangzhou Xiaoshan | Hangzhou | HGH |
| Wuhan Tianhe | Wuhan | WUH |
| Nanjing Lukou | Nanjing | NKG |
| Kunming Changshui | Kunming | KMG |
| Xiamen Gaoqi | Xiamen | XMN |
| Qingdao Jiaodong | Qingdao | TAO |
| Dalian Zhoushuizi | Dalian | DLC |
| Haikou Meilan | Haikou | HAK |
| Sanya Phoenix | Sanya | SYX |
| Harbin Taiping | Harbin | HRB |
| Shenyang Taoxian | Shenyang | SHE |
| Changsha Huanghua | Changsha | CSX |
| Nanning Wuxu | Nanning | NNG |
| Guiyang Longdongbao | Guiyang | KWE |
| Tianjin Binhai | Tianjin | TSN |
Land ports
- Hong Kong West Kowloon high-speed rail station (the key to the HK Backdoor strategy)
- Various border crossings in Guangxi, Yunnan, and Xinjiang
Seaports
- Shanghai cruise port
- Guangzhou (Nansha)
- Qingdao, Xiamen
- Sanya and Haikou (Hainan)
- Shekou (Shenzhen)
24 Eligible Provinces
| Province/Region | Key Cities | Must-See |
|---|---|---|
| Beijing | Beijing | Forbidden City, Great Wall, Summer Palace |
| Shanghai | Shanghai | The Bund, Yu Garden, French Concession |
| Guangdong | Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai | Dim sum, Huaqiangbei, Pearl River Delta |
| Sichuan | Chengdu, Leshan | Pandas, hot pot, Jiuzhaigou |
| Zhejiang | Hangzhou, Ningbo | West Lake, tea plantations |
| Jiangsu | Nanjing, Suzhou, Wuxi | Classical gardens, Ming city wall |
| Shaanxi | Xi'an | Terracotta Warriors, Muslim Quarter |
| Chongqing | Chongqing | Hot pot, Yangtze cruises, cyberpunk cityscape |
| Hubei | Wuhan | Yellow Crane Tower, East Lake |
| Fujian | Xiamen, Fuzhou | Gulangyu Island, Fujian Tulou |
| Yunnan | Kunming, Dali, Lijiang | Stone Forest, Old Town, ethnic minorities |
| Hunan | Changsha, Zhangjiajie | Avatar mountains, glass bridge |
| Shandong | Qingdao, Jinan | Beer, Mount Tai, coastal scenery |
| Liaoning | Dalian, Shenyang | Coastal city, imperial palace |
| Hebei | Chengde, Qinhuangdao | Mountain Resort, Great Wall passes |
| Tianjin | Tianjin | Italian Style Town, Ancient Culture Street |
| Henan | Zhengzhou, Luoyang | Shaolin Temple, Longmen Grottoes |
| Jilin | Changchun, Yanji | Korean culture, winter sports |
| Heilongjiang | Harbin | Ice Festival, Russian architecture |
| Guangxi | Guilin, Yangshuo | Karst mountains, Li River |
| Hainan | Sanya, Haikou | Beaches, surfing, tropical climate |
| Guizhou | Guiyang | Ethnic villages, waterfalls |
| Anhui | Huangshan | Yellow Mountain, ancient villages |
| Jiangxi | Nanchang, Jingdezhen | Porcelain capital, Poyang Lake |
The Third Country Rule: What Works and What Doesn't
✅ Valid routes
| Route | Why It Works |
|---|---|
| US → Shanghai → Japan | Different departure and destination |
| UK → Beijing → Thailand | Different departure and destination |
| Singapore → Guangzhou → Vietnam | Different departure and destination |
| France → Chengdu → Hong Kong | HK counts as a third region |
| Japan → Shenzhen → Macau | Macau counts as a third region |
| Australia → Kunming → Philippines | Different departure and destination |
❌ Invalid routes
| Route | Why It Fails |
|---|---|
| US → Shanghai → US | Same departure and destination |
| Japan → Beijing → Japan | Round trip, same country |
| UK → Guangzhou → UK | Even with a long layover, same country |
The Hong Kong Backdoor Strategy (Step by Step)
This is the most popular way to use the 240-hour transit visa-free, especially for US and European travelers:
Step 1: Fly to Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a major international hub with direct flights from virtually everywhere. Americans, Brits, Australians, and most Europeans can enter Hong Kong visa-free.
Step 2: Enter mainland China via West Kowloon station
Take the high-speed rail from Hong Kong West Kowloon directly into mainland China. This station is one of the 65 eligible entry ports. Trains depart frequently to:
- Shenzhen (15 minutes)
- Guangzhou (45 minutes)
- Shanghai (8 hours, overnight available)
Step 3: Travel for up to 10 days
Cross 24 provinces using domestic flights, high-speed rail, or buses. Some popular routes:
- Guangzhou → Guilin → Chengdu → Xi'an → Beijing (cross-country)
- Shenzhen → Hangzhou → Shanghai → Nanjing (eastern corridor)
- Guangzhou → Kunming → Dali → Lijiang (southwest China)
Step 4: Fly out to a third country
Your departure must be to a country/region that is NOT Hong Kong or your original departure. Options:
- Fly from Beijing to Tokyo, Seoul, Bangkok, Taipei, etc.
- Fly from Shanghai to Singapore, Manila, Osaka, etc.
- Take the train back to Hong Kong and fly somewhere else from there (HK ≠ your original departure)
Sample 10-Day Itineraries
The Grand Tour (US → China → Japan)
| Day | City | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive Shanghai PVG | The Bund at night |
| 2 | Shanghai | Yu Garden, French Concession |
| 3 | Bullet train to Hangzhou (1h) | West Lake, Longjing tea |
| 4 | Bullet train to Nanjing (1.5h) | Ming wall, Confucius Temple |
| 5 | Fly to Xi'an (2h) | Muslim Quarter, City Wall |
| 6 | Xi'an | Terracotta Warriors, Big Wild Goose Pagoda |
| 7 | Fly to Chengdu (1.5h) | Panda base, Jinli Street |
| 8 | Chengdu | Hot pot, Wenshu Monastery |
| 9 | Fly to Beijing (2.5h) | Temple of Heaven, Hutongs |
| 10 | Beijing → Tokyo | Forbidden City morning, depart PEK |
The Southeast Route (Australia → China → Thailand)
| Day | City | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive Guangzhou CAN | Canton Tower, Pearl River cruise |
| 2 | Guangzhou | Chen Clan Academy, dim sum tour |
| 3 | Bullet train to Guilin (2.5h) | Elephant Trunk Hill |
| 4 | Guilin/Yangshuo | Li River cruise, karst peaks |
| 5 | Fly to Kunming (1.5h) | Stone Forest |
| 6 | Kunming → Dali (2h train) | Old Town, Erhai Lake |
| 7 | Dali | Cangshan Mountain, Three Pagodas |
| 8 | Dali → Lijiang (2h bus) | Old Town, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain |
| 9 | Lijiang | Tiger Leaping Gorge or Blue Moon Valley |
| 10 | Fly Kunming → Bangkok | Depart KMG |
The Quick Eastern Corridor (UK → HK → China → Singapore)
| Day | City | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive Hong Kong | Victoria Peak, dim sum |
| 2 | HK West Kowloon → Shenzhen (15m) | Huaqiangbei, Dafen village |
| 3 | Shenzhen → Guangzhou (30m train) | Shamian Island |
| 4 | Guangzhou → Shanghai (flight, 2.5h) | The Bund |
| 5 | Shanghai | Yu Garden, Tianzifang |
| 6 | Bullet train to Suzhou (30m) | Humble Administrator's Garden |
| 7 | Suzhou → Hangzhou (1.5h) | West Lake, Lingyin Temple |
| 8 | Hangzhou | Tea village, Hefang Street |
| 9 | Bullet train to Nanjing (1.5h) | Purple Mountain, Qinhuai River |
| 10 | Fly Nanjing → Singapore | Depart NKG |
Practical Tips for 240-Hour Transit
Domestic travel within China
- Flights: Book on trip.com with a foreign credit card. Check in with your passport.
- High-speed rail: Book on trip.com or at station counters. Use your passport as ID. Arrive 45 minutes early for security.
- Hotels: All hotels accept foreigners (unlike the past). Your passport is your ID. The hotel registers you with the police automatically.
- Payment: Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay before arrival. They accept foreign Visa/Mastercard.
Keep these documents accessible
- Your passport with the transit entry stamp
- Your onward ticket (printed or digital) — some domestic transport staff may ask
- Hotel addresses in Chinese — for taxi drivers
What if your onward flight is delayed?
If your departing flight is delayed beyond the 240-hour window through no fault of your own (airline delay, weather), contact the airline and immigration immediately. They can usually issue a temporary extension. But don't cut it close on purpose.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the 240-hour time calculated?
From 00:00 the day after entry. Arrive Monday 3 PM → clock starts Tuesday midnight → depart by Thursday 11:59 PM the following week.
Can I enter and exit from different ports?
Yes. You can arrive at Guangzhou and depart from Beijing — any combination of the 65 ports works.
Can I visit Tibet?
Yes, but you need a Tibet Travel Permit arranged through a tour agency in advance. The transit visa-free covers your entry to China; the TTP is an additional permit for Tibet specifically.
What if my onward flight is canceled?
Contact your airline and immigration immediately. They can usually accommodate a rebooking within the 240-hour window. If it extends beyond, you may need to apply for an emergency extension.
Can I enter on the 240-hour policy and leave via Hong Kong?
Yes. As long as Hong Kong is not your original departure country. For example: US → Shanghai → HK → fly to Thailand works (HK is your exit point, Thailand is the third country).
Related guides:
- China Transit Visa-Free Complete Guide
- 144-Hour Transit Cities & Airports
- China Visa-Free Countries Guide
- China Visa Guide 2026 (Overview)