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China's 240-hour visa-free transit
Yes — on China's 240-hour visa-free transit you can travel freely across all 24 permitted provincial-level regions, no matter which port you entered. As of July 2026, 55 nationalities can stop over visa-free for up to 240 hours (10 days) en route to a third country. That cross-province freedom is the big change from the old 144-hour rule, which kept you near your entry port. Check if you qualify and see exactly where you can go.
Don't see your country in the list? Then it isn't one of the 55 nationalities eligible for 240-hour transit — you'll need a visa unless you enter visa-free.
The three things that decide it
1. Your passport. Only the 55eligible nationalities can use it. If yours isn't one, check whether you enter visa-free or need a visa.
2. A real transit. You must be heading to a thirdcountry or region on a confirmed onward ticket within 240 hours. In → out to where you started doesn't count. Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan count as separate regions.
3. Where you stay. Enter at a designated port and stay within the 24 permitted regions. The clock starts at 00:00 the day after you land and runs 10 days.
Are you restricted to the port of entry? (No — that's the old rule)
The myth
Most older transit guides — and many that still rank today — say you must stay in the city or province around the airport you land at, or still quote the old 144-hour limit. Both are out of date.
The rule, as of July 2026
Under China's 240-hour policy (in force since late 2024), eligible travellers can move freely across all 24 permitted provincial-level regions, regardless of which port they entered through. You can fly into Shanghai and take the high-speed train to Beijing or Xi'an — as long as you stay within each region's permitted area and leave within your window. The stay is 240 hours (10 days), not 144.
Official source: China's National Immigration Administration states this explicitly — see the full quote and the region-by-region table below, sourced to nia.gov.cn.
Where you can go — all 24 permitted regions
The 240-hour policy lets you travel across provinceswithin these regions — you're not locked to the area around your entry port. Most are open province-wide; the ones marked limited only allow the named cities.
可在上述24个省（区、市）跨省域旅行，在允许停留的区域内自行安排行程“Travellers may make cross-province trips within the above 24 provinces, regions and municipalities, and arrange their own itinerary within the permitted areas.” (our translation)— National Immigration Administration, via nia.gov.cn
| Region | Where you can stay |
|---|---|
| Beijing | Whole municipality |
| Tianjin | Whole municipality |
| Hebei | Whole province |
| Shanxi | Taiyuan and Datong onlylimited |
| Liaoning | Whole province |
| Heilongjiang | Harbin city onlylimited |
| Shanghai | Whole municipality |
| Jiangsu | Whole province |
| Zhejiang | Whole province |
| Anhui | Whole province |
| Fujian | Whole province |
| Jiangxi | Nanchang and Jingdezhen onlylimited |
| Shandong | Whole province |
| Henan | Whole province |
| Hubei | Whole province |
| Hunan | Whole province |
| Guangdong | Whole province |
| Guangxi | 12 cities incl. Nanning, Guilin, Beihai, Liuzhoulimited |
| Hainan | Whole province |
| Sichuan | 11 cities incl. Chengdu, Leshan, Yibinlimited |
| Guizhou | Whole province |
| Yunnan | 9 cities/prefectures incl. Kunming, Dali, Lijianglimited |
| Shaanxi | Whole province |
| Chongqing | Whole municipality |
Transit through a specific city
Flying into one of China's big gateways? Here's what the 240-hour rule looks like from each.
Frequently asked questions
What is China's 240-hour visa-free transit?
It lets eligible travellers passing through China to a third country or region enter visa-free and stay up to 240 hours (10 days) within the permitted regions. It applies to citizens of 55 countries entering through any of 65 designated ports across 24 provincial-level regions.
Which nationalities are eligible for 240-hour transit?
55 countries, including most of Europe, the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, Japan, South Korea and Singapore. If your passport isn't on the list you can't use 240h transit — you'd need a visa, or visa-free entry if your nationality qualifies. Check your country on our visa pages.
Do I really need an onward ticket to a different country?
Yes. You must hold a confirmed onward ticket — with a set date and seat — to a third country or region, departing within 240 hours. The key word is third: flying in and back out to where you came from does not qualify as transit. Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan count as separate regions for this purpose.
Are you restricted to the port of entry on 240-hour transit?
No — that's a common myth carried over from the old 144-hour transit rules. Under the 240-hour policy you can travel freely across all 24 permitted provincial-level regions, regardless of which port you entered through, as long as you stay within each region's permitted area and leave within your 240-hour window. Most regions are open province-wide; six are limited to named cities. You can, for example, land in Shanghai and take the high-speed train to Beijing or Xi'an.
Can I travel between cities and provinces on 240-hour transit?
Yes — this is the big change from the old policy. Under the 240-hour rules you may travel across the 24 permitted provincial-level regions and arrange your own itinerary within the allowed areas, regardless of which port you entered through. Most are open province-wide, but six are limited to named cities: Shanxi (Taiyuan, Datong), Jiangxi (Nanchang, Jingdezhen), Guangxi (12 cities), Heilongjiang (Harbin only), Sichuan (11 cities incl. Chengdu) and Yunnan (9 incl. Kunming, Dali, Lijiang). You must stay within each region's permitted area — see the full table above.
How is the 240 hours counted?
The 240-hour (10-day) clock starts at 00:00 Beijing time on the day after you enter — not from your actual arrival time. So if you land any time on April 20, your window runs from 00:00 on April 21, and you must leave by the end of April 30.
Which ports can I enter through?
65 designated ports across 24 provincial-level regions, including all the major international airports — Beijing (Capital and Daxing), Shanghai (Pudong and Hongqiao), Guangzhou Baiyun, Shenzhen Bao'an, Chengdu (Tianfu and Shuangliu) and Xi'an Xianyang, among many others. You apply at the border inspection desk on arrival; there's no advance application.
Is 240-hour transit the same as the old 144-hour transit?
No — it replaced and expanded it. The stay went from 144 hours (6 days) to 240 hours (10 days), the eligible area grew to 24 provincial-level regions, and travellers can now move across provinces within the permitted zone instead of being limited to a single region around the entry port.
Where is this information from?
Verified 2026-07-06 against official Chinese government sources — the National Immigration Administration and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs / embassy announcements. Links are in the sources section below. Rules change, so confirm with the official sources before you travel.
Compiled from official sources by Henry · independent · based in China
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Official sources
Every policy on this page was checked against these official pages. Always confirm with the source before booking.
Disclaimer: This page is general information, not legal or immigration advice. The 240-hour transit rules, eligible countries, ports and permitted regions change — confirm with the official sources above or your nearest Chinese embassy or consulate before you travel. Ready Set China is an independent information site: not a travel agency, booking agent or government body.