240-hour visa-free transit for 57 countries at 65 ports
Turn your China layover into a real trip
Travelers from 57 countries can leave the airport visa-free for up to 240 hours and still make the flight.
- 57countries
- Passports eligible for visa-free transit
- 65ports
- Designated air, land, rail, and sea entry points
- 240hours
- Maximum stay, counting from 00:00 the day after entry
- 3months
- Minimum passport validity beyond entry
Figures from the National Immigration Administration’s current visa-free transit policy. Rules change. Every page carries its own sources and review date.
What a layover depends on
Get these in order and a stopover becomes a day out. Miss one and you spend it airside.
- 01Visa-free transitDo you even need a visa? Check 57 countries, 65 ports, and the third-country rule that decides most cases.
- 02eSIM and connectivityGoogle Maps, WhatsApp, and Gmail stop working when you land. Install an eSIM before you fly and they keep working.
- 03PaymentsHotels and big stores take a Visa card; small shops and taxis don't. Link your card to Alipay or WeChat Pay first.
- 04ShoppingOrder from Taobao before you fly, collect at your hotel front desk, and carry it home. The only thing it needs is a Chinese address for a few days.
- 05City tripsHour-by-hour plans for 12 Chinese cities, from a five-hour stop at Hongqiao to a full day in Beijing.
- 06Layover logisticsAirport transfers, luggage storage, hotel registration, and the return buffer that decides whether you make your flight.
How a smooth layover goes
Before you fly
Install and test
Install an eSIM, add your card to Alipay or WeChat Pay, and save your onward ticket offline: the airline will ask for it at check-in.
At immigration
Use the transit lane
Show your passport, arrival card, and onward ticket to a third country. The clock starts at 00:00 the day after you enter.
On the ground
Move, pay, return
Take the airport express or a DiDi, pay by QR code, and be back at the airport 2.5–3 hours before an international departure.
The four guides to read first
- eSIMOct 16, 2026eSIM China: Best Plans Compared (Airalo, Holafly & Nomad)The best eSIM for China for most travelers, plus how Airalo, Holafly, and Nomad compare on data, price, firewall routing, and support, and why it matters on a layover.
- LogisticsOct 16, 2026China Airport to City: Transfers Compared for Every Major Layover HubHow to get from China’s main airports to the city center, costs, times, and the best option for PEK, PKX, PVG, SHA, CAN, TFU, XIY, and more.
- PaymentsOct 16, 2026Alipay in China for Foreigners: Step-by-Step Setup with a Visa or MastercardHow to set up Alipay in China with a foreign card before you fly, identity verification, fees, spending limits, and why a small test payment matters.
- Transit visaOct 16, 202624-Hour vs 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit in China: What’s the Difference?China has two visa-free transit rules. Here’s how the 24-hour (airside and landside) and the 240-hour policies differ, and which one applies to your layover.