72-hour Visa-free Transit -- China

Since 2013, foreign nationals from *51 countries who are in transit in Beijing Capital International Airport, Guangzhou Baiyun Airport, Shanghai Pudong Airport & Hongqiao Airport, Chengdu Shuangliu Airport and Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport -- may stay in these cities for up to 72 hours without an entry visa to China.

Watch this quick video for some of the things you could do in your 72 hours in Guangzhou:

If video doesn't appear above, click here

For more on what you can do (and eat!) in your precious 72 hours in Guangzhou, you can read about my personal experience and suggestions on this Food Haven called Guangzhou!


Here's another programme I presented, on the things you can see and do while in Beijing, plus tips on getting around in your short 72 hours in the Northern Capital.

Click here to watch, if the video doesn't appear

Here are more insights to one of my favourite Asian cities – Beijing

OR read this - if you are tired of 'the usuals' in Beijing

The convenience of not having to apply for a Chinese visa to visit the aforementioned cities, has certainly boosted the number of visitors into those five Chinese cities and has led to more cities joining in the bandwagon.

In January 2014, Shenyang and Dalian implemented the 72-hour visa-free transit policy for foreign nationals from the *51 qualified countries traveling via Shenyang Taoxian International Airport and Dalian International Airport.  A few months later, Xi'an Xianyang International Airport adopted the policy, and shortly after that, Guilin Liangjiang International Airport followed suit on July 28, 2014.

I believe more Chinese cities will be implementing this 72-hour visa-free policy in the near future. So if you'd like a taste of a certain Chinese city for 72-hours, first find out if your nationality is part of the list of qualified countries (below), and then check if your desired city of transit embraces the 72-hour visa-free transit policy.

*List of Qualified Countries:

Argentina, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Montenegro, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States.

Don't forget to read up on the few terms to ensure this policy applies to you.
A common mistake is that - it is thought that passengers on a round trip flight (i.e. Singapore - Beijing - Singapore) can be qualified for this...  But the destination cannot be the place of departure, as it is meant to be a transit, hence the policy will apply if it were say, Singapore - Beijing - Switzerland.

To be sure, read the terms here.

**Information updated as of August 31, 2014.

Do check on the updated list of qualified countries for the 72-hour visa-free transit, and likely new additions of Chinese cities implementing the 72-hour visa-free transit policy.

For more tips and updates, you could also check out this link.

Here's wishing you Safe & Fun travels!