240 Hours’ Visa-Free Layover in Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang
Notice on Latest Visa and Entry Policies for Foreigners Entering China - Updated on June 12, 2025:
1. China has launched a 30 Days Visa-free Policy for 36 eligible countries, including several European nations — Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Switzerland. In Oceania, Australia and New Zealand are listed, while in Asia, South Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain are included. Read more »
2. 240-Hour Visa Free Transit (10 days) has been lanched. 55 eligible countries include the US, UK, Canada, Indonesia, Brazil, etc. Eligible travelers can now travel across provinces, for example traveling from Beijing to Xian, then to Shanghai. Mohan Railway Port at China-Laos border can be used to enter/leave Yunnan. Hong Kong High-speed Rail West Kowloon Station has been added to Guangdong Province 240-hour transit visa-free. Read more »
3. As of now, China has established full visa exemption agreements with 28 countries, including Asian countries: Thailand, Singapore, Maldives, Kazakhstan, the UAE, Qatar, Armenia, Georgia, Brunei, Malaysia; European countries: Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, San Marino; African countries: Mauritius, Seychelles; Oceania countries: Fiji, Tonga, Solomon Islands; North American countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Ecuador, Grenada, Bahamas; South American country: Suriname.
4. Xishuangbanna in Yunnan Province is 6 days visa-free for tour groups (at least two persons) from ASEAN countries.
5. Booking of flights and hotels, China itineraries and invitation letters are not required for application of Chinese Tourist Visa for U.S.nationals.
6. Appointment is not required for visa application in many embassies and consulates.
China Discovery will keep focusing on the updates of the latest Chinese visa and entry policy! You can also call +86 010 12367 (Official telephone number of China National Immigration Administration) to check further information. Welcome to join in our Facebook Groups to catch up with the latest news!
Exceptional journeys, unforgettable memories! See what our recent happy travelers have shared about their private China tours with us.
The 240-hour visa-free transit policy applies to all cities within the Yangtze River Delta region, including Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui. Travelers can combine these destinations for a single trip under this policy. For specific policy details, please check the latest updated 240-hour Visa-Free Transit Policy page.
To help your transit tour go efficiently, below are our most inspiring travel itinerary listed for you.
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If You Transit in Shanghai
●Recommended Tour Itinerary 1: Shanghai Layover Tour (Classic Shanghai City Tour/In-depth Shanghai Tour) (2~3 Days)
If you take an international flight or cruise to Shanghai, you can get the 240 Hours Visa-Free Transit at the airport or cruise port. Then, it’s highly suggested take 2 full days to explore the modern and ancient, traditional and exotic culture of Shanghai first. You can stroll along the Bund, view lining European style historical buildings and cloud-kissing skyscrapers across the Huangpu River, wander around Yu Garden and taste local snacks in the bazaar, admire China’s splendid culture and history in Shanghai Museum, enjoy a leisurely walking in the Wukang Road, create happy family trip in Shanghai Disney Resort, etc.
For the rest days, you may take an in-depth Shanghai tour with 1 more day, visit more landmarks and join interesting local activities, like a Huangpu River Night Cruise. China Discovery can customize a longer Shanghai layover tour according to your personal preference.
☛ 2 Days Shanghai Classic City Tour (Most Time-Efficient) / ☛ 3 Days Shanghai Past & Present Contrast Tour
●Recommended Tour Itinerary 2: Shanghai City Tour with Side Trips to Suzhou/Hangzhou (3 ~5 Days)
Making a side trip to Suzhou and Hangzhou with 3 more days is the most recommended schedule. For you can both witness the modern bustle and hustle, and appreciate China’s outstanding poetic and scenic treasures. The best highlights are the classical gardens & silk culture in Suzhou, West Lake and tea culture in Hangzhou. Depending on your time and interests, you can visit one of them or both. Below are our well-selected Shanghai and Suzhou, Hangzhou tour packages. Feel free to use our private tailor-made tour service to design a transit tour if you have other ideas.
☛ 5 Days Shanghai Suzhou Hangzhou Highlights Tour / ☛ 5 Days Essence of Shanghai & Hangzhou Tour
☛ 4 Days Shanghai In-depth Tour with Sidetrip to Suzhou
▶ Useful Tour Ideas: ☛ Best Shanghai Suzhou Tours | ☛ Shanghai Hangzhou Tours | ☛ Top Shanghai Suzhou Hangzhou Tours
Paul and His Wife Visited The Bund Shanghai
Timothy Family Enjoyed Shanghai Tour with Yu Garden
If You Transit in Hangzhou
●Recommended Tour Itinerary 1: Hangzhou Layover Tour (Hangzhou City Tour) (2~3 Days)
Spending 2 days on discovering the best highlights of Hangzhou is the most recommended agenda. You can walk around the picturesque West Lake and take a cruise trip, immerse yourself in the quiet and old Lingyin Temple, visit a local tea village and learn Chinese tea culture, worship traditional Chinese medicine in Hu Qing Yu Tang, see the magnificent ancient waterway transfer project - Grand Canal, etc. You may travel at a slower pace and visit other notable attractions in Hangzhou.
☛ 2 Days Hangzhou Essence Tour / ☛ 3 Days Classic Hangzhou Tour
●Recommended Tour Itinerary 2: Hangzhou Tour with Water Town Visit (2~3 Days)
Except sightseeing the West Lake, Wuzhen Water Town and Xitang Water Town are two of the most remarkable Chinese historic water town near Hangzhou, which deserve your visits. Crisscrossed by rivers, they preserve a large area of Ming and Qing Dynasty residences, ancient stone bridges, lanes, workshops and traditional customs. A day trip is best for one water town.
☛ 3 Best Hangzhou Tour with Wuzhen Water Town / ☛ 3 Best Hangzhou Tour with Wuzhen Water Town
●Recommended Tour Itinerary 3: Travel Hangzhou and Suzhou and Shanghai (5 Days)
Shanghai, Suzhou and Hangzhou the top three destinations in Yangtze River Delta. We highly suggest you extend the layover tour to Shanghai and Suzhou with 3 extra days.
Our Customers visited Meijia Dock Longjing Tea Plantation, Hangzhou
Our Customers in Tiger Hill, Suzhou
If You Transit in Nanjing
●Recommended Tour Itinerary 1: Nanjing Layover Tour (2~3 Days)
If you happen to transit in Nanjing, then you can take 2 to 3 days to visit the major sites in Nanjing, sense its cultural glamour diffused around the city. The top places to visit are Zhongshan Ling, a majestic mausoleum of Sun Yat-sen built on mountain slope, Xiao Ling, the tomb of Zhu Yuanzhang, the founder of the Ming Dynasty, Confucius Temple, Nanjing Museum, Nanjing Ancient City Wall, Qinhuai River, etc.
☛ 2 Days Time-Efficient Nanjing Essence Tour / ☛ 3 Days Nanjing Highlights Tour Including Jaw-Dropping Niushoushan
●Recommended Tour Itinerary 2: Travel Nanjing with Shanghai (4~5 Days)
If You Transit in Ningbo
●Recommended Tour Itinerary 1: Ningbo Layover Tour (2 Days)
Ningbo, located in the southeast of Hangzhou and southeast Zhejiang, is a national cultural and historical city. During your stopover, you can take 2 days to contact with its best highlights, such as Tianyi Pavilion, the oldest private library in China, Ningbo Museum, a unique architecture from China’s first Pritzker Architecture Prize winner, Former Residence of Chiang Kai Shek, Xuedou Temple, etc.
●Recommended Tour Itinerary 2: Travel Ningbo with Hangzhou (3~4 Days)
Within 1 hour’s high speed bullet train journey, you can move forward to Hangzhou, continue your layover tour with West Lake, Lingyin Temple and a local tea planting village.
Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum (Zhongshan Ling) in Nanjing
Tianyi Pavilion in Ningbo
Enjoy Worry-free Layover Tour with China Discovery
China Discovery is a professional and experienced travel companion who offers high-quality and worry-free China tour packages. We not only design an ideal itinerary covering sightseeing, dining, transfer and hotel, but also can provide any visa support & help you need for a China travel. Except the 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit, with our help, you may take advantage of other visa-free rules or get a regular Chinese Visa to experience different kinds of landscape, culture and history of China.
Please feel free to find your favorite Shanghai layover tour, or contact us to customize a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou and other destinations in China for you.
Our Clients Visited Yu Garden
Shanghai Travel Guide
Recommended Shanghai Suzhou Hangzhou Tours
Top 3 Shanghai Suzhou Hangzhou tours chosen by most customers to explore Shanghai Suzhou Hangzhou in the best way. Check the detailed itinerary, or tailor your own trip now with us.
5 Days Shanghai Hangzhou Suzhou Highlights Tour
Shanghai / Hangzhou / Suzhou / Shanghai
2 Days Efficient Shanghai City Tour
Shanghai
Start planning your tailor-made holiday to China by contacting one of our specialists. Once inquired, you’ll get a response within 0.5~23.5 hours.
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