China Layover Statistics & Facts 2026: The Numbers That Matter

A citable reference of China layover and visa-free transit figures, countries, ports, time limits, transfer times, and airport data for 2026.

Nora Li· Transit visas, city trips and shopping

Last updated October 16, 2026

Verified against the sources linked at the foot of this page.

The short answer

China’s 240-hour visa-free transit covers 57 countries through 65 ports in 24 provinces, for up to 10 days. A separate 30-day visa-free entry scheme covers 50 countries. This page collects the numbers so you can cite or check them.

Visa-free transit (240-hour)

Fact	Figure
Eligible countries	57
Maximum stay	240 hours (10 days)
Designated ports	65
Provinces / regions covered	24
Clock starts	00:00 the day after entry
Minimum passport validity	3 months
Onward ticket	Confirmed ticket to a third country or region

Visa-free entry (30-day)

Fact	Figure
Countries with unilateral 30-day entry	~50
Maximum stay	30 days
Third-country requirement	None
Notable additions	UK and Canada (February 2026)
Notable exception	The US is not on the 30-day list

24-hour transit

Fact	Figure
Available to	Almost all nationalities
Maximum stay	Under 24 hours
Clock starts	From scheduled arrival
Airside transit	No permit needed
City visit	Requires a temporary entry permit

Airport transfer times (indicative)

Route	Time	Cost
Shanghai PVG → city (Maglev + Metro)	~40–55 min	~¥54 (¥44 with boarding pass)
Shanghai PVG → city (Metro Line 2)	60–90 min	¥7–9
Shanghai SHA → city (Metro)	30–50 min	¥3–7
Beijing PEK → city (Airport Express)	25–35 min	¥25
Beijing PKX → city (Airport Express)	30–40 min	¥35
Guangzhou CAN → city (Metro Line 3)	~45–55 min	~¥8
Chengdu TFU → city (Metro Line 18)	35–40 min	¥7–10

Transfer times and fares change, verify on the airport’s own site before relying on them. See the full airport-to-city transfer guide.

The numbers we repeat most

10 days: the practical length of the 240-hour transit window.
65 ports, 24 provinces, where the 240-hour policy applies.
50 vs 57: the 30-day entry list and the 240-hour transit list are not the same, and they overlap heavily but differ (the US is transit-only).
3 months: the NIA’s minimum passport validity for the transit policy; airlines may ask for six.
2.5–3 hours: the buffer to be back at the airport before an international departure.

How to use this page

If you are writing about China layovers or quoting a figure, the visa-free numbers trace to the NIA’s Visa-Free Transit Policies page (revised 2026-08-20) and the 30-day list to the NIA compilation of 2026-02-17. Everything else (fares, transfer times, opening hours) is indicative and should be re-checked against the operator.

Bottom line

57 countries, 65 ports, 24 provinces, 10 days. Those are the core figures. For how to use them, see 240-hour visa-free transit and 30-day vs 240-hour transit.

Frequently asked questions

How many countries can use China’s 240-hour visa-free transit?

57 countries, as of the NIA’s Visa-Free Transit Policies page revised 2026-08-20. Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam were added on 20 August 2026, bringing the total from 55 to 57.

How many ports allow 240-hour visa-free transit?

65 designated ports across 24 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities.

How long is 240 hours in days?

240 hours is 10 days. Because the clock starts at 00:00 on the day after entry, most travelers effectively get close to 10 full calendar days.

How many countries get China’s 30-day visa-free entry?

Around 50 countries hold ordinary passports eligible for the unilateral 30-day visa-free entry, with the United Kingdom and Canada added in February 2026. The list is updated periodically.

Sources & official links

Every factual claim on this page traces back to one of these documents. They are the authority, not us.