240-hour visa-free transit: China itineraries that fit

How the 240-hour transit works

• Passport: you need a passport of one of the 57 countries below, valid for at least 3 more months. The countries you fly in from and on to don't have to be on the list.
• A → China → B: you arrive from one country or region and leave for a different one. Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan count as separate regions, so London → Beijing → Hong Kong works, but New York → Shanghai → New York doesn't.
• Onward ticket: a confirmed ticket (date and seat) out of China within 240 hours, booked before you arrive. Open-date tickets don't count.
• 240 hours: counted from 00:00 on the day after you arrive, so you must leave by 23:59 on the 10th day after your arrival day.
• Ports: you enter through one of 65 designated airports, rail, sea and land ports. You can leave through a different one, even in another province – and in Guangdong through any open crossing, including the land borders to Hong Kong and Macau.
• Permitted areas: since December 2024 you can travel between all 24 covered provinces, but only inside their permitted areas – most cover the whole province, a few only listed cities (see the table below).
• Purpose: tourism, business, visits and family visits. Work, study and journalism need a visa.
• At the border: tell the airline at check-in that you'll use the 240-hour transit, fill in the free arrival card online (s.nia.gov.cn – beware of paid look-alike sites) or on arrival, and queue at the visa-free transit counter. Hotels register you at check-in; if you stay with friends, register with the police within 24 hours.
• No extensions: you can't stay longer or leave the permitted areas. Only for force majeure (illness, a cancelled flight) can you apply to the local police for a stay permit.

Close – with a small change

• From the Avatar Mountains to Hong Kong (13 days): You leave the mainland for Hong Kong on day 12 – one day too late. Drop one day (e.g. one of the two Wulingyuan days) and the route fits: Zhangjiajie and Guilin are inside the permitted areas, and in Guangdong you can exit by any land crossing to Hong Kong.
• Dim Sum & Palm Trees (11 days): The route enters the mainland twice. The first part (Guangzhou → Hong Kong) works as a transit. For the second entry, from Macau, use the Hengqin port (a 240-hour transit port) instead of Gongbei – then fly on from Sanya to a third country within 240 hours.
• The Road to Shangri-La (10 days): Kunming, Dali and Lijiang are inside the permitted area, but Shangri-La (Diqing prefecture) is not. Skip Shangri-La, or get a visa.

Not suitable for the transit

• Sichuan Deluxe (14 days): 14 days, and Jiuzhaigou (Aba prefecture) is outside the permitted area – you need a visa or China's 30-day visa-free entry.

Where you can go: provinces, permitted areas and entry ports

Countries on the list (57)

Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Vietnam.

Many of these passports – including the UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and most of the EU – can also enter China visa-free for up to 30 days (currently until 31 December 2026). That's simpler than the transit: no onward ticket needed. See our China visa-free guide.

Frequently asked questions

Can US citizens visit China without a visa?

Not for a normal round trip – the US isn't on China's 30-day visa-free list. But US passport holders can use the 240-hour transit: fly in from the US (or anywhere else), spend up to 10 days in the permitted areas, and fly on to a different country or region, such as Japan, South Korea or Hong Kong.

Does Hong Kong count as a third country?

Yes. Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan count as separate regions, so a trip like Los Angeles → Shanghai → Hong Kong → Los Angeles qualifies. Hong Kong → Shanghai → Hong Kong doesn't.

Can I enter in Beijing and leave from Shanghai?

Yes. Your entry and exit ports can be different, even in different provinces, as long as both are on the list – and in Guangdong you can leave through any open crossing.

How are the 240 hours counted?

From 00:00 on the day after you arrive. Land on 2 November at 8 pm, and the clock starts at 00:00 on 3 November; you must leave by 23:59 on 12 November.

My passport also has 30-day visa-free entry – which should I use?

Usually the 30-day rule: no onward ticket, and you can fly in and out of the same country. It currently runs until 31 December 2026.

Can I visit Tibet, Jiuzhaigou or Shangri-La on the transit?

No. Tibet, Xinjiang and Gansu aren't covered at all, and some covered provinces only allow certain cities: Jiuzhaigou (Aba, Sichuan), Shangri-La (Diqing, Yunnan) and Pingyao (Jinzhong, Shanxi) are outside the permitted areas.

Sources

• National Immigration Administration – 240-hour transit (ports and areas)
• Chinese Embassy in Canada – list of ports and permitted areas
• Gov.cn – Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam added (20 Aug 2026)
• NIA – online arrival card (free)

Rules checked on 19 October 2026 with official sources. Border officers make the final decision, and the rules can change – check them again before you book.