China’s 240-Hour Transit: The 65 Ports and Permitted Areas (Reference)
The complete reference to the 65 designated ports and the permitted areas for China’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy, organized by province.
Nora Li· Transit visas, city trips and shopping
Last updated
Verified against the sources linked at the foot of this page.
This reference was last reviewed on 2026-10-16. Port lists and permitted-area rules change: always confirm the current list with the National Immigration Administration (NIA) or the 12367 hotline before booking.
What this page is
China’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy operates through 65 designated ports across 24 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities. Once you enter, you can travel within the permitted areas of the participating provinces, and between them, but you cannot roam anywhere in China.
This page is the quick reference: what’s a designated port, which areas each province allows, and the handful of “restricted to certain cities” cases that most often trip people up.
How to read the permitted areas
Most provinces allow travel across the whole province. A few restrict travelers to specific cities. Those restricted cases are the most important rows in the table below:
| Province / area | Designated ports (main) | Permitted area |
|---|---|---|
| Beijing | Beijing Capital (PEK), Beijing Daxing (PKX) | Beijing municipality |
| Tianjin | Tianjin Binhai (TSN), Tianjin Port | Tianjin municipality |
| Hebei | Shijiazhuang Zhengding (SJW), Qinhuangdao Port | Hebei province |
| Liaoning | Shenyang Taoxian (SHE), Dalian Zhoushuizi (DLC), Dalian Port | Liaoning province |
| Shanghai | Shanghai Pudong (PVG), Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA), Shanghai Port | Shanghai municipality |
| Jiangsu | Nanjing Lukou (NKG), Sunan Shuofang (WUX), Yangzhou Taizhou (YTY), Lianyungang Port | Jiangsu province |
| Zhejiang | Hangzhou Xiaoshan (HGH), Ningbo Lishe (NGB), Wenzhou Longwan (WNZ), Yiwu (YIW), Wenzhou Port, Zhoushan Port | Zhejiang province |
| Anhui | Hefei Xinqiao (HFE), Huangshan Tunxi (TXN) | Anhui province |
| Fujian | Fuzhou Changle (FOC), Xiamen Gaoqi (XMN), Quanzhou Jinjiang (JJN), Wuyishan (WUS), Xiamen Port | Fujian province |
| Shandong | Jinan Yaoqiang (TNA), Qingdao Jiaodong (TAO), Yantai Penglai (YNT), Weihai Dashuipo (WEH), Qingdao Port | Shandong province |
| Henan | Zhengzhou Xinzheng (CGO) | Henan province |
| Hubei | Wuhan Tianhe (WUH) | Hubei province |
| Hunan | Changsha Huanghua (CSX), Zhangjiajie Hehua (DYG) | Hunan province |
| Guangdong | Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN), Shenzhen Bao’an (SZX), Jieyang Chaoshan (SWA), plus passenger/ferry ports | Guangdong province (exits at all open ports in the province) |
| Hainan | Haikou Meilan (HAK), Sanya Phoenix (SYX) | Hainan province |
| Chongqing | Chongqing Jiangbei (CKG) | Chongqing municipality |
| Guizhou | Guiyang Longdongbao (KWE) | Guizhou province |
| Shaanxi | Xi’an Xianyang (XIY) | Shaanxi province |
| Sichuan | Chengdu Tianfu (TFU), Chengdu Shuangliu (CTU) | 11 cities only (see below) |
| Yunnan | Kunming Changshui (KMG), Lijiang Sanyi (LJG), Mohan Railway Port | 9 cities/prefectures only (see below) |
| Guangxi | Nanning Wuxu (NNG), Guilin Liangjiang (KWL), Beihai Fucheng (BHY), Beihai Port | 12 cities only (see below) |
| Shanxi | Taiyuan Wusu (TYN) | Taiyuan and Datong only |
| Jiangxi | Nanchang Changbei (KHN) | Nanchang and Jingdezhen only |
| Heilongjiang | Harbin Taiping (HRB) | Harbin city only |
The restricted areas, spelled out
These six regions don’t allow whole-province travel. If your layover involves one of them, plan carefully:
- Sichuan, 11 cities: Chengdu, Zigong, Luzhou, Deyang, Suining, Neijiang, Leshan, Yibin, Ya’an, Meishan, and Ziyang.
- Yunnan, 9 cities/prefectures: Kunming, Yuxi, Chuxiong, Honghe, Wenshan, Pu’er, Xishuangbanna, Dali, and Lijiang.
- Guangxi, 12 cities: Nanning, Liuzhou, Guilin, Wuzhou, Beihai, Fangchenggang, Qinzhou, Guigang, Yulin, Hezhou, Hechi, and Laibin.
- Shanxi, 2 cities: Taiyuan and Datong.
- Jiangxi, 2 cities: Nanchang and Jingdezhen.
- Heilongjiang, 1 city: Harbin.
The cross-province rule
The current policy allows cross-province travel within the permitted areas of the participating provinces. In practice this means, for example, an entry via Beijing can combine with a stay in Shanghai, if you stay inside each area’s limits and exit through a designated port within 240 hours.
It does not mean free nationwide travel. The police and immigration checks still apply, and overstaying the 240-hour limit has serious consequences.
What counts as a “third country or region”
Your onward ticket must be to a destination different from where you arrived, departing within 240 hours. Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan each count as separate regions, so London → Shanghai → Hong Kong is generally a valid transit, while London → Shanghai → London is not.
How to use this page
- Find your arrival port in the table.
- Check whether its permitted area is whole-province or restricted-city.
- If you plan to visit a second province, confirm the cross-province rule applies to your routing.
- Confirm the current list with the NIA before you book anything non-refundable.
For the eligibility rules themselves, see the 240-hour visa-free transit guide, and for whether you might use the simpler 30-day visa-free entry instead.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
How many ports can I enter China through under the 240-hour visa-free transit policy?
There are 65 designated ports across 24 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities. Entry must be at a designated port, so check your arrival city against the current list before booking.
Can I travel between provinces on 240-hour visa-free transit?
Yes, within the permitted areas. Cross-province travel is allowed between participating regions, so an entry in Beijing can combine with a stay in Shanghai. You still cannot travel anywhere in China, and you must exit through a designated port within 240 hours.
What counts as a third country or region for China transit?
Your onward destination must differ from where you came from. Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan each count as a separate region, so London to Shanghai to Hong Kong is generally valid transit, while a round trip back to London is not.
How do I know which areas I am permitted to visit?
The permitted area depends on your port of entry. Many ports cover a whole province or region, while others are restricted to specific cities. Check the entry for your arrival port before planning any travel beyond the city.
Sources & official links
Every factual claim on this page traces back to one of these documents. They are the authority, not us.