China 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit · end-to-end

Transit China,
from "Can I enter?" to making the most of it

From eligibility, Boarding Kit and arrival card to connectivity, lodging, transport, healthcare and local experiences after you land - a practical companion for China transit travelers. Free, no sign-up. Worried about the welcome? First-time visitors keep reporting the opposite.

55 countries 65 ports up to 10 days

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Transit China toward

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SAMPLE
Sample route PVG → Third place

Flight ·· / sample segment

ELIGIBLE
Planned stay ~119h / 240h
Sample permitted area Shanghai, Jiangsu
NIA policy excerpt

240-hour Visa-Free Transit Policy: Currently, China is implementing this policy for nationals of 55 countries including Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Nationals of these countries, who need to transit through China to third countries or regions, may enter visa-free through any of the designated 65 open exit-entry ports in 24 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government and stay in the permitted areas for no more than 10 days, provided that they hold valid international travel documents and onward tickets with confirmed seats and departure dates.

NIA · en.nia.gov.cn
Print or show at the airline counter See your real Boarding Kit
Core journey

Four steps, in the order you need them

Already booked your flight? Start with Step 1.

Step 1

Eligibility check

Passport and route first, then ports and stay time in the full checker.

Check eligibility Step 2

Boarding Kit

Printable and scannable transit credential for airline counter preparation.

Prepare documents Step 3

Digital arrival card

CDAC arrival card guidance so the landing step is not a surprise.

Arrival card guide Step 4

Trip planning

Linked-region city and high-speed rail planning templates for the next stage.

Plan the route
Digital Survival Kit / 数字生存包

Fix your phone before China fixes your plans

Don't spend your first 3-4 days as a digital refugee - one seasoned traveler did, fumbling with no mobile payment, no maps and a dead Google. Set up payment, access, maps, translation and local discovery before you fly.

Mobile Payment

Set up Alipay (支付宝) and WeChat Pay (微信支付) with a foreign card before departure. Prioritize Alipay as the super app for eating, riding and paying with less app-hopping.

Built into Alipay
Didi (滴滴) Meituan (美团) Transit card
Guide note

VPN

Install before departure so overseas apps, email and websites remain reachable when you need them.

Guide note

Maps

Use Apple Maps or Amap (高德). Do not rely on Google Maps for China routing.

Guide note

Translation

Keep a daily translation tool ready for directions, restaurants and quick conversations.

Guide note

Xiaohongshu (RED)

Use Xiaohongshu (RED) for food notes, attraction ideas and local discovery.

Guide note
Getting around

Getting around China

For cross-city travel, high-speed rail is usually the best option; flights come next, then city rides and metro inside Alipay.

Policy snapshot covers 24 provinces, regions and municipalities for transit planning.

High-Speed Rail

Best first choice for cross-city travel: city-center to city-center, predictable, and practical with a foreign passport.

Flights

Useful for longer jumps, but compare total airport time before choosing them over rail.

Didi ride hailing in Alipay

Use the Didi option inside Alipay for city rides, pickup points and payment continuity.

Metro transit card in Alipay

Use the transit card inside Alipay for metro and bus rides where supported.

City guides

Explore China city guides

A coming guide library for major and smaller Chinese cities, covering arrival, food, lodging, transport, healthcare and local experiences.

A growing guide library covering transit-friendly cities across China, from Beijing to Chengdu - arrival, food, stay, transport, healthcare and local experiences.

  • Arrival
  • Food
  • Stay
  • Transport
  • Healthcare
  • Local experiences
first wave · Coming soon

Beijing

First-wave preview for arrival, stay, transport and local-experience notes.

first wave · Coming soon

Shanghai

First-wave preview for arrival, stay, transport and local-experience notes.

first wave · Coming soon

Guangzhou

First-wave preview for arrival, stay, transport and local-experience notes.

first wave · Coming soon

Chengdu

First-wave preview for arrival, stay, transport and local-experience notes.

Coverage

Policy coverage snapshot

Data-driven counts from the current policy snapshot, with source links for verification.

55 Eligible passport countries
65 Open ports of entry
24 Covered provinces, regions and municipalities
Air · Rail · Sea Major air, rail and sea transit routes
Based on public NIA announcements Data as of: 2026-06-05
Travel setup

Set up before you land

Connectivity, lodging and arrival basics, clearly marked where partners may be involved.

eSIM

Connect on arrival with a travel data plan.

Partner

VPN

Prepare access to the apps and services you rely on.

Partner

Hotel booking

Keep a foreigner-friendly address ready for arrival paperwork.

Partner
Essentials

Practical basics for the first 72 hours

Non-commercial checklists for healthcare, insurance and documents before you travel.

Healthcare

Know how to ask for a hospital international department and keep 112 / 120 emergency calling options visible.

Guide note

Travel insurance

Carry insurance proof that covers medical care, delays and onward-trip disruption during transit.

Guide note

Luggage and documents

Keep passport, onward ticket, hotel address, arrival card details and printed backup copies together.

Guide note