The Complete Guide to China's 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit (2026)

The 144-hour visa-free transit is one of the best-kept secrets in travel. Visit Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou for up to 6 days WITHOUT a visa.

Eligibility

• Citizens of 53 countries (US, UK, Canada, Australia, most EU)
• Must be in transit to a THIRD country/region
• Must enter/exit through designated ports

Valid Itineraries

• USA → Beijing (6 days) → Thailand ✅
• UK → Shanghai (6 days) → Japan ✅
• Australia → Guangzhou (6 days) → Hong Kong ✅

INVALID

• USA → Beijing → USA ❌
• UK → Shanghai → HK → Shanghai → UK ❌

Cities Offering 144-Hour Transit

Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Xi'an, Chongqing, Kunming, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Tianjin, Qingdao, and more.

How It Works

1. Book flights: Origin → China → Third Country
2. Arrive, fill out arrival card with "144-hour transit"
3. Immigration gives temporary entry permit
4. Stay up to 144 hours (6 days)
5. Depart to third country

What You Need

• Passport valid 6+ months
• Confirmed onward ticket
• Hotel bookings (sometimes asked)

Payment Setup

Even for 6 days, you need Alipay. Cash barely works.

Setup before departure:

1. Download Alipay
2. Register + link card + verify (24 hours — do it BEFORE your flight)

If issues, aihubai.cn has free AI payment troubleshooter.

Is It Worth It?

Absolutely. 6 days is enough for highlights. And it's free.