The Short Answer
Foreign nationals holding ordinary passports from countries with diplomatic relations with China can visit specified Guangdong cities visa-free for up to 144 hours when they first enter Hong Kong or Macau and then join a tourist group organized by a travel agency registered in Hong Kong or Macau.
The group must enter and leave mainland China together. This is not an independent “six-day Guangdong visa” and cannot be activated by buying transport at the border.
Core Conditions
| Requirement | Practical meaning |
|---|---|
| Passport | Ordinary passport from a country with diplomatic relations with China |
| Starting point | Enter Hong Kong or Macau first |
| Organizer | A travel agency registered in Hong Kong or Macau organizes the group |
| Movement | Group enters and exits the mainland together through eligible ports |
| Stay | Maximum 144 hours, counted from 00:00 after entry under the published rule |
| Area | Nine mainland GBA cities, or Shantou under its separate boundary |
The official policy page says the rule may be adjusted dynamically. Have the registered agency confirm the roster, port and current minimum group requirement with immigration before payment.
The Nine Greater Bay Area Cities
- Guangzhou
- Shenzhen
- Zhuhai
- Foshan
- Dongguan
- Zhongshan
- Jiangmen
- Huizhou
- Zhaoqing
The policy also includes Shantou, but a Shantou group must enter and exit through Shantou and stay within Shantou's administrative area. Do not use Shantou as a bridge into the Pearl River Delta group route.
Example That Fits
A traveler first enters Hong Kong, joins a group operated by a registered Hong Kong travel agency, crosses with the filed group into Shenzhen, visits Shenzhen and Guangzhou, and exits mainland China with the same group through an eligible port within 144 hours.
Examples That Do Not Fit
- arriving directly at Guangzhou airport and trying to join after immigration;
- booking an independent Hong Kong–Shenzhen train without a registered group;
- leaving the group early to fly from another mainland city;
- adding Guilin, Xiamen or another destination outside the permitted cities;
- treating a hotel-and-driver package as proof that the operator is a registered Hong Kong/Macau travel agency.
Choosing the Port
The agency should select a port in the permitted cities and coordinate the group process. West Kowloon high-speed rail, Shenzhen land crossings and the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge have different operating hours, luggage flow and local transport. Read the Hong Kong and Macau crossings guide, but follow the operator's filed port rather than changing it independently.
How This Differs From 240-Hour Transit
The 240-hour policy requires an eligible nationality and transit to a third country or region through eligible ports. The GBA group policy begins in Hong Kong/Macau, requires a registered group operator and limits the mainland route to the named Guangdong cities.
| Situation | Better policy to investigate |
|---|---|
| Individual Hong Kong → Shenzhen → another country, eligible nationality | 240-hour transit |
| Hong Kong/Macau registered group touring Guangdong and returning together | 144-hour GBA group entry |
| Ordinary visa-free nationality visiting mainland independently | ordinary visa-free entry |
| Traveler wants Guangdong plus inland China without a qualifying transit | Chinese visa or another valid entry basis |
Hainan Is a Separate System
Do not confuse this with Hainan's 30-day individual policy or a separate Hainan group arrangement originating in Hong Kong/Macau. Hainan has different geographic boundaries and ports. A Guangdong group entry does not authorize a domestic flight to Hainan or the rest of mainland China.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the group return to Hong Kong?
The published policy requires group entry and exit through eligible ports in the named cities. The registered agency must confirm the complete route and exit as part of the filing.
Can I join the group in Shenzhen?
No. The policy requires entering from Hong Kong or Macau as part of the organized group. Joining after mainland entry does not create the exemption.
Does the 144-hour clock equal six hotel nights?
No. The official page states counting begins at 00:00 on the day after entry, but the border record and group schedule control. Leave before the filed deadline.
What should the contract show?
Registered agency identity, group roster process, exact entry/exit ports, cities, hotels, inclusions, cancellation if immigration rejects the arrangement and a no-forced-shopping clause.
Before You Pay
- verify the agency in Hong Kong or Macau;
- ask which authority confirms the group roster;
- obtain the exact entry and exit port in writing;
- reject an itinerary outside the named cities;
- keep a valid fallback visa/entry plan if the group is not formed;
- carry the original passport used for registration.