China 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Guide: 10-Day Stopover Rules
China's visa process can feel challenging, but the 240-hour visa-free transit policy lets you stay up to 10 days without a visa. This guide explains the policy and helps you plan your trip.
If you are not sure whether your itinerary is transit, unilateral visa-free entry, or mutual exemption, start with the China visa-free entry overview.
Last policy verification: July 30, 2026. The National Immigration Administration still lists 55 eligible countries, 65 designated entry ports and permitted areas across 24 provincial-level regions.
What Is the 10-Day Visa-Free Transit Policy?
The 10-day visa-free policy is also called the 240-hour visa-free policy. Eligible travelers may take an international flight or cruise to 24 regions of China without a visa, stay up to 10 days, then continue to a third country. China is a stopover, not your final destination. During these 10 days, you may travel across provincial boundaries within the 24 eligible regions.
Itinerary examples:
- Valid: U.S. → Beijing → Guilin → Hong Kong
- Invalid: Hong Kong → Beijing → Guilin → Hong Kong (both origin and destination in China)
- Invalid: Hong Kong → Guilin → Hong Kong
- Valid: U.S. → Beijing → Shanghai → South Korea
- Valid: U.S. → Beijing → Zhangjiajie → Shanghai → Japan
55 Countries Eligible for the Policy
Europe（40 countries）
Americas（6 countries）
Oceania（2 countries）
Asia（7 countries）
Popular Visa-Free Transit Destinations
China has 24 transit visa-free areas with 65 entry ports, covering Beijing and Xi'an for history, Zhangjiajie for landscapes, Shanghai for modernity, Yunnan for ethnic cultures, and Chengdu for giant pandas.
| Province/City | Eligible Area | Port of Entry |
|---|---|---|
| Beijing | Beijing | Beijing Capital International Airport; Beijing Daxing International Airport |
| Shanghai | Shanghai | Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport; Shanghai Pudong International Airport; Shanghai Seaport |
| Shaanxi | Whole province (incl. Xi'an) | Xi'an Xianyang International Airport |
| Sichuan | 11 cities: Chengdu, Zigong, Luzhou, etc. | Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport; Chengdu Tianfu International Airport |
| Hunan | Whole province (incl. Changsha, Zhangjiajie) | Changsha Huanghua International Airport; Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport |
| Yunnan | 9 cities: Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, etc. | Kunming Changshui International Airport; Lijiang Sanyi International Airport; Mohan Railway Port |
Visa-Free Transit Destinations in Northern China
Northern China's visa-free areas have fewer tourists but offer scenic landscapes and unique local culture.
| Province/City | Eligible Area | Port of Entry |
|---|---|---|
| Tianjin | Tianjin | Tianjin Binhai International Airport; Tianjin Seaport |
| Henan | Whole province (incl. Zhengzhou, Dengfeng) | Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport |
| Liaoning | Whole province (incl. Dalian) | Shenyang Taoxian International Airport; Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport; Dalian Seaport |
| Shanxi | Taiyuan, Datong | Taiyuan Wusu International Airport |
| Hebei | Whole province (incl. Chengde) | Shijiazhuang Zhengding International Airport; Qinhuangdao Seaport |
| Heilongjiang | Harbin | Harbin Taiping International Airport |
| Shandong | Whole province (incl. Qingdao, Jinan, Qufu) | Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport; Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport; Yantai Penglai International Airport; Weihai Dashuibo International Airport; Qingdao Seaport |
Visa-Free Transit Destinations in Southern China
Southern China offers natural scenery including Huangshan, West Lake in Hangzhou, and Suzhou, the "Venice of the East." Guizhou has rich ethnic culture with Miao and Shui villages.
| Province/City | Eligible Area | Port of Entry |
|---|---|---|
| Guangxi | 12 cities: Guilin, Nanning, Liuzhou, etc. | Nanning Wuxu International Airport; Beihai Fucheng Airport; Guilin Liangjiang International Airport; Beihai Seaport |
| Zhejiang | Whole province (incl. Hangzhou, Wenzhou, Yiwu) | Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport; Ningbo Lishe International Airport; Wenzhou Longwan International Airport; Yiwu International Airport; Wenzhou Seaport; Zhoushan Seaport |
| Anhui | Whole province (incl. Huangshan) | Hefei Xinqiao International Airport; Huangshan Tunxi International Airport |
| Fujian | Whole province (incl. Xiamen, Fuzhou) | Fuzhou Changle International Airport; Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport; Quanzhou Jinjiang International Airport; Wuyishan International Airport; Xiamen Seaport |
| Hubei | Whole province (incl. Wuhan) | Wuhan Tianhe International Airport |
| Hainan | Whole province (incl. Haikou) | Haikou Meilan International Airport; Sanya Phoenix International Airport |
| Chongqing | Chongqing | Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport |
| Guizhou | Whole province (incl. Guiyang) | Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport |
| Jiangxi | Nanchang, Jingdezhen | Nanchang Changbei International Airport |
| Guangdong | Whole province (incl. Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Shantou) | Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport; Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport; Jieyang Chaoshan International Airport; Nansha Seaport; Shekou Seaport; Guangzhou Pazhou Passenger Terminal; Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge; Zhongshan Port; Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong West Kowloon Station; Hengqin Port |
| Jiangsu | Whole province (incl. Nanjing, Suzhou) | Nanjing Lukou International Airport; Sunan Shuofang International Airport; Yangzhou Taizhou International Airport; Lianyungang Seaport |
How to Tell 10-Day Transit From 30-Day Visa-Free Entry
The key question is not only how many days you can stay. It is whether China is your destination or a stopover on the way to a third country or region.
| Checkpoint | 30-Day Unilateral Visa-Free Entry | 10-Day Visa-Free Transit |
|---|---|---|
| Trip logic | China is your main destination. | China is a stopover before a third country or region. |
| Third-country itinerary | Not required. | Required. Your route must be origin → China → third country/region. |
| Typical route | France → China → France. | United States → China → Japan. |
| Stay length | Up to 30 days. | Up to 240 hours. |
| Activity area | Mainland China, with Tibet requiring a separate permit. | Limited to the approved 24 provincial-level areas. |
| Key documents | Passport, accommodation, and return or onward arrangements. | Passport plus confirmed onward ticket with date and seat to a third country or region. |
If China is your main destination, read the 30-day visa-free entry guide. If you are still unsure which policy applies, return to the China visa-free entry overview.
FAQs
What to prepare before entering China?
- Onward ticket to a third country with confirmed date and seat within 10 days
- Valid passport or other international travel document accepted for the journey
- Accommodation details and an itinerary that remains within the permitted areas
- Fill out the Arrival Card online before departure or at the port (National Immigration Administration: s.nia.gov.cn)
How are the 10 days calculated?
Counting starts at 00:00 on the day after arrival. E.g., arriving in Beijing at 14:00 on Oct 1 means your stay runs from 00:00 Oct 2 to 24:00 Oct 11. Delayed departure requires an extension application.
Can I visit Tibet under the transit policy?
No. Tibet is not among the 24 eligible regions. If eligible for the 30-day visa-free entry policy, you may apply for a Tibet Travel Permit separately.
Planning Your Visa-Free Trip
If your next trip takes you through China, you can use the 10-day window for one focused region or two slower-paced cities. Below are options by trip length: Beijing 4 days, Chengdu 5 days, Beijing-Xi'an-Shanghai 8 days, and Chongqing-Chengdu 10 days, all within the 240-hour window.
4-Day Explorer: Beijing – Great Wall & Forbidden City
4 days
8-Day Golden Triangle Private Tour: Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai
8 days
5-Day Shu Culture Explorer Private Tour: Chengdu – Panda Base, Sanxingdui & Dujiangyan
5 days
10-Day Sichuan & Chongqing Wonders Private Tour: Chongqing & Chengdu
10 days