Updated June 2025 · 240-Hour Visa-Free Now Active

Discover the Real China — Without a Visa

China just opened its doors wider than ever. Explore ancient dynasties, futuristic cities, mind-blowing food, and landscapes that defy imagination — all on a 240-hour transit visa.

Visa-Free Guide → Explore Destinations
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Visa Policy

China's 240-Hour Visa-Free Policy

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As of 2025, China has extended its transit visa exemption to 240 hours (10 days) for citizens of 54+ countries — making spontaneous China trips easier than ever.

🛂 240-Hour Transit Policy

10 Full Days to Explore China — No Visa Required

Travelers from eligible countries transiting through designated Chinese ports of entry may now stay up to 240 hours without a visa. This applies to stays entirely within the permitted region (usually a single province or municipality group).

  • Covers 54+ countries including USA, UK, EU nations, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea
  • Valid entry via air, sea, or rail at designated ports
  • Stay must be within the permitted geographical area
  • Must hold confirmed onward ticket to a third country
  • Passport valid for at least 6 months
  • Completely free — no application fee
✈️

Eligible Entry Points

Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Xi'an, Chongqing, Harbin, Tianjin, Wuhan, and more. Always check if your entry city is on the current approved list before booking.

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Permitted Stay Zones

Each entry port has a defined stay zone. For example, Beijing entry allows travel within Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei. Shanghai permits travel throughout Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai.

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What You'll Need at Customs

Valid passport (6+ months), confirmed onward flight or train ticket to a third country, accommodation details, and sufficient funds for your stay. No visa application required in advance.

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Pro Tip: Layer Stopovers

Many travelers are combining two or three 240-hour windows by routing through different entry cities — for example, entering via Shanghai, flying to Guangzhou, then exiting via Hong Kong.

Where to Go

Top Destinations for Foreign Travelers

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From the Great Wall to karst mountains and neon-lit megacities — China's diversity rewards every type of traveler.

a large building with a lot of people walking around it
#1 Most Visited
Beijing Municipality

Beijing — The Imperial Capital

Stand before 600 years of history at the Forbidden City, walk the Great Wall at Mutianyu, and end your night with Peking duck in a century-old hutong courtyard. Beijing rewards slow exploration like nowhere else in China.

Great Wall Forbidden City Temple of Heaven Peking Duck Summer Palace
architectural photograph of lighted city sky
#2 Trending
Shanghai Municipality

Shanghai — The Future City

Art Deco riverfront meets 632-meter skyscrapers. Stroll the Bund at night, explore French Concession cafés, and take the world's fastest train to Pudong in 7 minutes.

The Bund Yu Garden Pudong
a group of people wearing white hats with Terracotta Army in the background
#3 History
Shaanxi Province

Xi'an — Start of the Silk Road

The Terracotta Warriors alone make Xi'an worth the journey. Add ancient city walls you can bike around, a vibrant Muslim Quarter, and biangbiang noodles so good they'll rewire your brain.

Terracotta Army City Wall Muslim Quarter
walking panda front of concrete building
Sichuan Province

Chengdu — Panda Capital

Meet giant pandas at the world's best conservation center, then eat the spiciest hot pot on earth. Chengdu perfected the art of leisurely city life.

Giant Panda Base Hot Pot Sichuan Cuisine
silhouette of rock formation and river during daytime
Guangxi Province

Guilin — Nature's Masterpiece

The Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo passes through karst limestone peaks so surreal they appear on the 20 yuan note. Cycle through Yangshuo's rice paddies at dusk.

Li River Yangshuo Longji Rice Terraces
high-angle photography of city during nighttime
Chongqing Municipality

Chongqing — The Cyberpunk City

A city built on mountains with a metro that passes through buildings and bridges stacked 10 levels high. Chongqing is utterly unlike any city on Earth — and went viral globally for good reason.

Hongyadong Jiefangbei Hot Pot
What to Eat

Must-Try Foods by City

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Chinese cuisine is not one cuisine — it's 35+ regional culinary traditions. Here's where to eat what.

Beijing

Peking Roast Duck

Crispy lacquered skin, tender meat, wrapped in thin pancakes with plum sauce. A 600-year-old imperial dish. Go to Quanjude or Da Dong.

Beijing

Jiaozi (Dumplings)

Pan-fried or steamed, filled with pork and cabbage or lamb and onion. Hit the hutong alley stalls for the most authentic experience.

Shanghai

Xiaolongbao (Soup Dumplings)

Thin-skinned parcels filled with pork and scalding-hot broth. The pinnacle of Shanghai street food. Din Tai Fung is famous but local spots beat it.

Shanghai

Hairy Crab (Seasonal)

A September–November delicacy. Steamed whole, eaten slowly with ginger tea and rice vinegar. A rite of passage for any serious food traveler.

Xi'an

Biangbiang Noodles

Belt-wide hand-torn wheat noodles, doused in chili oil and vinegar. The character "biang" is so complex it's not in any digital font. Worth eating twice daily.

Xi'an

Roujiamo

China's original burger: slow-braised pork belly stuffed into a crispy flatbread. Available at every street corner in the Muslim Quarter for under ¥15.

Chengdu

Sichuan Hot Pot

A simmering cauldron of numbing-spicy broth loaded with everything: tripe, tofu, lotus root, and thinly sliced beef. Bring milk. You'll need it.

Chengdu

Mapo Tofu

Silken tofu in a fiery, tongue-numbing sauce of doubanjiang, ground pork, and Sichuan peppercorn. A vegetarian nightmare but a flavor masterclass.

Chongqing

Chongqing Hot Pot

Spicier and oilier than Chengdu's version. The broth is darker, richer, and absolutely unapologetic. Locals eat it in 35°C summer heat. Respect.

Chongqing

Mala Tang Skewers

Pick your ingredients on skewers — mushrooms, meat, vegetables — then watch them cooked in a communal spicy broth. The ultimate social street food experience.

Guilin

Guilin Rice Noodles

Silky rice noodles in a 12-hour pork bone broth, topped with a choice of meats. Guilin locals eat this for breakfast. After one bowl, you will too.

Guilin

River Fish Dishes

Fresh Li River fish steamed with pickled vegetables or braised in a tangy sauce. Try it in Yangshuo's local restaurants — avoid the tourist-facing ones on West Street.

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Getting Around

Public Transport in China

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China has the world's most advanced public transit infrastructure. Once you understand the system, getting around is fast, cheap, and surprisingly easy.

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High-Speed Rail (HSR)

China's 60,000km+ HSR network is the world's largest. Trains hit 350km/h and connect all major cities. Beijing to Shanghai: 4.5 hours, from ¥553. Booking via the 12306 app (requires registration) or Trip.com for foreigners.

💡 Book 30 days ahead for holiday periods. Bring your passport — it's required for ticket collection.
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Urban Metro Systems

Beijing (27 lines), Shanghai (20 lines), and Chengdu (14 lines) have world-class metros covering virtually every major attraction. Fares start from ¥2–4. All signs are bilingual Chinese/English in major cities.

💡 Use Alipay, WeChat Pay, or a UnionPay travel card to tap in — no cash needed at most stations.
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Ride-Hailing: Didi

Didi is China's dominant ride-hailing app (like Uber). Download the international version before arriving. Accepts international cards. Most drivers won't speak English — share your destination as a screenshot in Chinese characters.

💡 Save your hotel address in Chinese in your phone's notes app. Copy-paste into Didi for every ride.
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Payment: Alipay & WeChat

Cash is rarely accepted now. You need either Alipay or WeChat Pay. Since 2023, both apps accept international credit cards linked to a foreign account — setup takes about 10 minutes after landing. Essential for transit, food, and shopping.

💡 Set up Alipay International before your trip. Link Visa/Mastercard in the app's "international card" section.
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City Buses & BRT

Buses are extremely cheap (¥1–2) but harder to navigate without Chinese language skills. Great for scenic routes — Shanghai's Line 26 along the Bund is a traveler favorite. Google Maps works in China for transit directions via VPN.

💡 Download Maps.me or Baidu Maps (offline-capable) as a backup navigation tool.
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Bikes & E-Scooters

Mobike and Hello Bike offer dock-less bicycle rental in most cities from ¥1.5/30 min. E-scooters require a Chinese license — skip these. In Yangshuo and other scenic areas, renting a regular bicycle is the best way to explore local villages.

💡 Mobike app accepts international cards. Perfect for short hops between metro stations and attractions.
Where to Stay

Hotel Recommendations by City

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From design boutique hotels in converted hutongs to world-class five-star towers — China's hospitality range is extraordinary at every price point.

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Luxury

The Peninsula Beijing

Beijing

Steps from the Forbidden City, The Peninsula blends imperial grandeur with modern luxury. Its fleet of Rolls-Royces and iconic Jing bar are Beijing classics.

From ¥2,800 / night
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Boutique

Shichahai Shadow Art Hotel

Beijing

A converted courtyard hutong hotel beside Drum Tower Lake. Quiet, atmospheric, within walking distance of the Bell & Drum Towers. Authentic old-Beijing experience.

From ¥680 / night
🌃
Design

The PuLi Hotel & Spa

Shanghai

Tucked beside Jing'an Park, this award-winning design hotel has a world-class spa and Ultraviolet-caliber restaurant partnerships. One of Asia's great hotels.

From ¥1,900 / night
🏙️
Mid-Range

The Waterhouse at South Bund

Shanghai

Industrial-chic warehouse conversion in the emerging South Bund district. Neri & Hu–designed interiors, rooftop views, and one of Shanghai's best restaurant downstairs.

From ¥1,100 / night
🐼
Unique

Niccolo Chengdu

Chengdu

Situated in a 100-floor supertall, Niccolo offers panoramic Chengdu views. Within easy reach of the Panda Base and Jinli Ancient Street. The infinity pool is stunning.

From ¥1,200 / night
🗿
Budget-Friendly

Han Tang House — Xi'an

Xi'an

A warm, foreigner-friendly guesthouse 10 minutes from the Bell Tower. Excellent English-speaking staff, free bike rental, and the best local food tips in town.

From ¥260 / night
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Practical Tips

Essential Tips for First-Time Visitors

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01

Get a VPN Before You Arrive

Google, Instagram, WhatsApp, and most Western apps are blocked in China. Download and activate a reliable VPN (ExpressVPN or NordVPN) before boarding your flight — you cannot access foreign app stores once inside China's firewall.

02

Set Up Mobile Payment Early

Alipay International now accepts foreign cards. Set it up before traveling, and link your Visa or Mastercard. This single app pays for metro, taxis, food, hotels, and shopping. It's not optional — it's essential.

03

Get a Local SIM or eSIM

China Unicom and China Mobile offer tourist SIM cards at airports from ¥100 for 30 days. Alternatively, activate a Airalo or Holafly eSIM before arrival. Reliable data connection is critical for navigation and payments.

04

Register at Your Hotel (Police Reporting)

All foreign visitors must register their accommodation with local police within 24 hours. Hotels do this automatically. If staying with friends or in an apartment, you need to visit a local police station yourself — don't skip this.

05

Download Offline Maps

Google Maps works via VPN but is unreliable. Download MAPS.ME with China maps before departure. For transit specifically, the Baidu Maps app has the most accurate subway and bus data — the interface works in English.

06

Embrace the Food Culture

Chinese dining culture is communal — dishes are shared, ordered together, and eaten family-style. Don't be afraid to point at what looks good on neighboring tables. Most restaurants have picture menus, and Google Lens translates instantly.