The Short Answer
Foreign travelers of any nationality can normally transit through an open Chinese port without a visa for no more than 24 hours when they hold a valid international travel document and a confirmed onward international air, ship or train ticket to a third country or region.
If you remain inside the port's restricted transit area, no entry permission is normally required. If you want to leave that area—for a hotel, city visit, airport change or baggage process—you must apply to border inspection for temporary entry permission. Approval is not guaranteed.
Official source: National Immigration Administration transit policy.
24-Hour vs 240-Hour Transit
| 24-hour direct transit | 240-hour transit | |
|---|---|---|
| Nationality | all nationalities in principle | current 57-country list |
| Time | no more than 24 hours | no more than 240 hours |
| Basic movement | remain in restricted port area | enter and travel within specified areas |
| Leaving airport/port | requires temporary entry permission | entry allowed only when all policy conditions are approved |
| Ports | open ports, subject to actual transit facilities | current list of 65 eligible ports |
| Route | country/region A → China → different C | same third-country structure |
Use the 240-hour guide when you qualify and want a multi-day stay. A long connection does not automatically become 240-hour transit.
When Temporary Entry Permission Is Needed
Apply when you need to:
- visit the city during a layover;
- sleep in a landside hotel;
- collect and recheck baggage outside the restricted area;
- change between airports or ports;
- meet a person or service landside.
The border officer may inspect connection time, ticket, destination-entry documents, hotel, route and whether the port can complete the process safely. A short connection, unclear onward journey or immigration concern can result in refusal to leave the restricted area.
Correct Route Examples
- Canada → Beijing → Thailand within 24 hours
- Japan → Shanghai → Hong Kong within 24 hours
- Hong Kong → Guangzhou → Vietnam within 24 hours
The places immediately before and after mainland China must be different countries or regions. United States → Shanghai → United States does not become third-country transit merely because the arrival and departure cities differ.
Nine-Airport Direct-Transit Simplification
National Immigration Administration guidance has described direct airside transit simplification at major airports including Beijing Capital, Beijing Daxing, Shanghai Pudong, Hangzhou Xiaoshan, Xiamen Gaoqi, Guangzhou Baiyun, Shenzhen Bao'an, Chengdu Tianfu and Xi'an Xianyang for eligible 24-hour connecting passengers.
That does not promise baggage through-check, an airside hotel or acceptance of separate tickets. Ask the operating airline whether bags are checked through and whether the terminal transfer stays airside.
What to Carry
- valid passport or accepted international travel document;
- confirmed onward ticket with date and seat;
- visa or entry permission for the destination when required;
- full itinerary showing the country/region before and after China;
- hotel booking and local route if applying for temporary entry;
- baggage-through-check confirmation from the airline;
- enough connection time for immigration, collection, transfer and security.
Airport Changes Are High Risk
PEK to PKX or PVG to SHA requires landside entry and a long city crossing. Temporary entry permission, baggage, road/rail time and a second check-in all apply. Do not buy such a connection unless the transit rule and recovery plan are clear.
Use the airport transfer guide to price the actual move. If temporary entry is refused, an airport-change itinerary may become impossible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I leave the airport for eight hours?
Only if border inspection grants temporary entry permission and the remaining time safely covers the city and return. Read the Beijing, Shanghai or Guangzhou layover guide before attempting it.
Does every airline accept separate tickets?
No. Immigration policy and airline check-in/baggage policy are separate. Confirm with both operating carriers before departure.
Can I use it for a domestic connection?
Only when the overall international transit and port process fit the rule. A domestic segment can require entry to mainland China and may not be possible under an airside-only plan.
What if the flight is delayed beyond 24 hours?
Contact airline and border inspection immediately. Do not leave the port or overstay based on your own recalculation; obtain official instructions and documentation.
Is temporary entry a visa?
No. It is limited permission connected to this transit and may be refused. It does not authorize work, study or an unrelated stay.