China 24-Hour Visa-Free Transit

24-hour visa-free transit in China, also called the 24-hour transit without visa (24-hour TWOV for short), regulates that visa is not required for air, train, and cruise ship passengers from all over the world transiting in mainland China for a stay of no more than 24 hours before heading for a third country or region.
 

24-hour Direct Transit Rules

An eligible transit route goes like Country A → China → Country C.

A and C are different countries. Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan can be regarded as A or C in this respect. For instance, if a passenger travels like USA – Beijing – Hong Kong, there is no doubt that this route qualifies for China 24 hour TWOV.

Generally speaking, the 24-hour visa-free transit allows aliens to have multiple stops in China as long as they leave the country within 24 hours, therefore the route USA - Beijing - Shanghai - South Korea also counts as eligible.
 

Foreigners eligible for the 24-hour visa-free transit can be exempt from border inspection procedures at the following 9 airports: Beijing Capital Airport, Beijing Daxing Airport, Shanghai Pudong Airport, Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport, Xiamen Gaoqi Airport, Guangzhou Baiyun Airport, Shenzhen Bao’an Airport, Chengdu Tianfu Airport, and Xi’an Xianyang Airport.

With an interline ticket, passengers can transfer to the next international flight at above airports only after a simple security check, omitting border checks. 
 

 Passport valid for at least 3 months from the date of entry
 Onward air, cruise or train ticket with confirmed seat and date
 Visa for a third country or region (if needed)
 

Passengers wishing to get out of the restricted transit area to claim luggage, take a connecting flight, or do some sightseeing in the city can apply for the 24-hour visa-free entry permit, which is a stamp or sticker on passport showing the permitted stay length. 
 

Upon landing, you need to follow the direction signs to 24/240-hour visa free transit counter to apply for the entry permit. 

 Fill an Arrival / Departure Card at the border inspection counter
 Get the temporary entry permit stamp or sticker
 Claim the luggage (if needed)
 Go through the customs
 

Starting: scheduled arrival time
Ending: scheduled departure time 
 

This is not 24-hour transit visa, but 24-hour visa free transit, so there is no visa fee at all.
 

  

24-Hour TWOV	240-Hour Visa-Free Transit
For almost all countries	For 54 countries
Available in most Chinese cities	Available in 24 provinces, regions and municipalities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, 11 cities in Sichuan, Yunnan, Hainan, Shaanxi, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Tianjin, Guangxi, Shandong, Fujian, Anhui, Hubei, Henan, Hunan, Harbin of Heilongjiang, Jiangxi, Shanxi, Hebei, Guizhou, Anhui, Chongqing
By air, cruise, train	By air, cruise, train (Mohan Railway Port)
Counted from the landing time	Counted from 00:00 the day following the entry date
Multiple stops	Multiple stops

 Note:
Note that if 1) you lack any of the required documents listed above, 2) or your route does not qualify, 3) or you have the record of overstaying in a country or getting visa refusal before, your application for the 24-hour visa-free transit may be turned down. For fear of inconvenience caused by such case, please make sure that you are eligible or apply for a regular transit visa in advance.