China 144-Hour Transit Visa: How to Spend 6 Days in China Without a Visa

Turn your layover into an adventure with China’s 144-hour transit visa exemption. Updated for 2026.

Introduction

Did you know you can spend up to 6 days in China without any visa? China’s 144-hour (6-day) transit visa exemption is one of the most generous transit policies in the world, and it’s perfect for travelers who want a taste of China during an international layover.

Whether you’re flying from Europe to Southeast Asia or from Australia to Europe, a well-planned stopover in China can add an incredible dimension to your trip — at no extra cost and no visa paperwork.

What Is the 144-Hour Transit Visa Exemption?

The 144-hour transit visa exemption allows citizens of 53 countries to enter China for up to 144 hours (6 days) when transiting through specific Chinese cities on their way to a third country.

This is not a visa — it’s an exemption. You don’t need to apply in advance. Simply show up at the airport with the right documents, and you’ll be stamped in.

Who Qualifies?

Citizens of the following 53 countries are eligible:

Europe: All EU member states + UK, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, Russia, Serbia, Ukraine, Belarus

Americas: USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Uruguay, Jamaica, Bahamas, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, Dominica, Cuba, Suriname

Asia: Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait

Oceania: Australia, New Zealand

Important: You must hold a passport from one of these countries. Permanent residency in a qualifying country does not count.

The Golden Rules

To use the 144-hour transit exemption, ALL of these conditions must be met:

✅ You hold a valid passport from one of the 53 qualifying countries
✅ You’re transiting to a third country (different from both your departure and arrival countries)
✅ You have a confirmed onward ticket leaving within 144 hours
✅ You enter AND exit through one of the approved transit cities
✅ You stay within the approved region (usually the province)

Example Valid Itineraries:

✅ London → Shanghai → Tokyo (UK citizen, transiting China to Japan)
✅ Sydney → Beijing → Paris (Australian citizen, transiting China to France)
✅ New York → Guangzhou → Bangkok (US citizen, transiting China to Thailand)

Example Invalid Itineraries:

❌ Tokyo → Shanghai → Tokyo (returning to same country)
❌ London → Shanghai → London (returning to same country)
❌ London → Shanghai with no onward ticket

Approved Entry Points

Beijing Region

Entry/exit through: Beijing Capital (PEK) or Beijing Daxing (PKX)
Permitted area: Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei Province

Shanghai Region

Entry/exit through: Shanghai Pudong (PVG), Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA), Hangzhou (HGH), Nanjing (NKG), or Ningbo (NGB)
Permitted area: Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang Province

Guangdong Province

Entry/exit through: Guangzhou (CAN), Shenzhen (SZX), or other Guangdong airports
Permitted area: All of Guangdong Province

Sichuan Province

Entry/exit through: Chengdu (TFU or CTU)
Permitted area: All of Sichuan Province

Liaoning Province

Entry/exit through: Shenyang (SHE) or Dalian (DLC)
Permitted area: All of Liaoning Province

How to Apply (It’s Free!)

There’s no application process. Here’s what you do:

Step 1: Book Your Flights

Book an itinerary that transits through one of the approved cities with a stay of less than 144 hours.

Step 2: At the Airport

Upon arrival, go to the transit visa exemption counter (marked as “144-Hour Transit” or “过境免签”). This is separate from the regular immigration line.

Step 3: Present Your Documents

Show the immigration officer:

Your passport
Your onward flight ticket (printed or on your phone)
Your visa for the final destination (if required)

Step 4: Receive Your Stamp

The officer will stamp your passport with a transit entry permit valid for 144 hours.

144-Hour Itinerary Ideas

Shanghai Stopover (6 Days)

Day 1: Arrive, explore the Bund at night
Day 2: Yu Garden, French Concession, Shanghai Museum
Day 3: Day trip to Hangzhou (high-speed rail, 1 hour)
Day 4: Day trip to Suzhou (high-speed rail, 30 minutes) — classical gardens
Day 5: Zhujiajiao Water Town, Lujiazui observation deck
Day 6: Last-minute shopping, depart

Beijing Stopover (6 Days)

Day 1: Arrive, explore hutongs, Peking duck dinner
Day 2: Forbidden City, Jingshan Park, Temple of Heaven
Day 3: Great Wall at Mutianyu
Day 4: Summer Palace, 798 Art District
Day 5: Day trip to Tianjin (high-speed rail, 30 minutes)
Day 6: Last-minute shopping, depart

Chengdu Stopover (6 Days)

Day 1: Arrive, Jinli Ancient Street, Sichuan hotpot dinner
Day 2: Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, Wenshu Monastery
Day 3: Leshan Giant Buddha (day trip, 2 hours by train)
Day 4: Mount Qingcheng (day trip, Taoist mountain)
Day 5: Wide and Narrow Alleys, Sichuan Opera at night
Day 6: Tea house visit, depart

Important Rules to Remember

144 hours = exactly 6 days from the moment of entry. If you enter at 2 PM on Monday, you must leave by 2 PM on Sunday
You cannot extend the 144-hour period
You must exit from the same region you entered (not necessarily the same airport)
You cannot work or study during your transit stay
Hotel registration is mandatory — your hotel handles this automatically

Tips for Maximizing Your Transit

Book a long layover — Most airlines allow layovers of up to 6 days when transiting
Pre-book the Mutianyu Great Wall — It’s the best section near Beijing and books out fast
Use Alipay for everything — Set it up with your foreign card before arriving
Take the high-speed train — Shanghai to Hangzhou or Suzhou in under an hour
Pack light — You don’t want to drag heavy luggage around cities
Store luggage at the airport — Most Chinese airports have luggage storage for 20-50 RMB/day

Final Thoughts

The 144-hour transit visa exemption is one of China’s best-kept travel secrets. It effectively gives you a free 6-day visa to explore some of China’s most exciting cities. If your international travel route can accommodate a Chinese stopover, you’d be missing out by not taking advantage of this incredible policy.

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Planning a China layover? Share your itinerary in the comments!