Here’s the best-kept secret in travel right now: citizens of 54 countries — including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and most of Europe — can enter China without any visa for up to 240 hours (10 days), as long as they’re transiting to a third country. It’s real, it’s generous, and travelers misunderstand it constantly.
How it works
You fly Country A → China → Country B, where A and B are different countries. On arrival, immigration stamps you in for up to 240 hours. No application, no fee, no embassy visit.
Example that works: London → Shanghai → Tokyo. Example that fails: London → Shanghai → London (that’s a round trip, not transit).
The rules that trip people up
- Your onward ticket must be confirmed. Have the booking ready on your phone — officers do check.
- Stay within the permitted area. The 240-hour policy covers wide regions (e.g., the entire Yangtze Delta around Shanghai, the whole Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area), but you can’t roam the entire country. Check the current zone list for your entry city.
- Register your accommodation. Hotels do this automatically. If you stay with friends or in an Airbnb-style rental, you must register at the local police station within 24 hours. This is the most commonly missed step.
- The clock starts at midnight after arrival, not the moment you land. A small but useful grace.
Don’t confuse this with the 15/30-day visa-free entry that China grants some nationalities (including several European and Asian countries) for direct visits. If your country has that, it’s simpler — no onward ticket needed. Check which policy applies to your passport before you fly.
Is 10 days enough?
For a first taste — absolutely. Our most popular visa-free route is 4 days Shanghai + 3 days Beijing (45-minute high-speed rail between them is not an option; it’s a 5.5-hour ride, or a 2-hour flight — plan accordingly), with an optional Zhangjiajie extension if you’re efficient.
And if 10 days leaves you wanting more, that’s what the concierge is for — we’ll build the full two-week version around a proper tourist visa.