Where can you actually go on a 240-hour transit?
The 240-hour transit scheme grants time, not territory. Your permission is tied to the port where you enter, and each port has a defined area you must stay inside.
Understanding this before you book is the difference between a smooth ten days and an overstay violation caused by a domestic flight.
How stay areas work
China’s transit scheme operates 65 designated ports across 24 provinces. Each port maps to a stay area, generally the city plus the surrounding province or city cluster.
The three biggest gateways follow a predictable pattern: Beijing entry covers the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei cluster; Shanghai entry covers Shanghai with Jiangsu and Zhejiang; Guangzhou and Shenzhen entry covers Guangdong.
These areas are administrative arrangements that can change without much notice. If your itinerary depends on crossing a provincial border, confirm it with the exit-entry administration at your arrival port — not with a forum post.
Planning a route that works
- Pick your entry port first, then design the route inside its area. Doing it the other way round is how people end up with an illegal domestic flight.
- Keep intercity travel inside one region: Shanghai–Hangzhou–Suzhou works; Shanghai–Xi’an does not on a Shanghai-entry transit.
- If you want to see two distant regions, use two separate transits — or apply for a proper visa.
- Book the domestic legs after you know the area, not before.
The classic ten-day routes that stay legal
| Entry port | A workable route | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | Shanghai → Suzhou → Hangzhou → Shanghai | Beijing and Xi’an are outside the area |
| Beijing | Beijing → Tianjin → Chengde → Beijing | Shanghai is outside the area |
| Guangzhou / Shenzhen | Guangzhou → Shenzhen → Zhuhai → Hong Kong | Hong Kong counts as the onward third region, so it must be your exit |
| Chengdu | Chengdu → Leshan → Chongqing is generally outside the area | Confirm before booking Chongqing |
Leaving to Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan
Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan count as separate regions for transit purposes, so departing to Hong Kong satisfies the “onward to a third country or region” requirement.
That makes Hong Kong a very convenient exit: arrive in Shanghai from Europe, spend a week in the Yangtze Delta, fly to Hong Kong. Just make sure the Hong Kong flight is confirmed before you board in Europe.
If your plans change mid-trip
Stay-area rules do not bend because a flight was cheap. If you need to leave the designated area, go to the local exit-entry administration and ask about changing your stay permit — before you travel, not after.
Frequently asked
Can I fly domestically during a 240-hour transit?+
Yes, as long as both ends are inside your designated stay area. A domestic flight that crosses into another province without permission is a violation.
Is Hong Kong considered a third country for transit?+
Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan are treated as separate regions, so departing to Hong Kong normally satisfies the onward-travel requirement. Confirm with your airline when you check in, since they make the first judgement call.
Do all 65 ports offer the full 240 hours?+
The scheme is published as a 240-hour policy across the designated ports, but the practical stay area differs by port. Always check the specific port you are using.
Check your own passport
The guides explain the rules. The checker applies them to your nationality and shows the exact date your policy runs to.
Visa rules by nationality
The 30-day visa-free policy covers 18+ of these nationalities. Pick yours:
Read next
China’s 240-hour visa-free transit, explained
Ten days in China without a visa, if your itinerary is A → China → B. Here are the exact rules on tickets, ports, stay areas and what counts as transit.
Hainan visa-free entry: 30 days on the island
Hainan is visa-free for 61 countries (88 counting other agreements) for up to 30 days. The catch: you cannot continue to mainland China on this policy.
240-hour transit vs 30-day visa-free entry
Two different schemes, two different sets of rules. Picking the wrong one at check-in is the most common avoidable problem for China-bound travellers.
This guide is compiled from publications by China’s National Immigration Administration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Chinese visa application centres. Entry decisions rest with the border inspection authority. Confirm your own case with your airline and the nearest Chinese embassy before booking.