China’s 240-hour transit, explained.

The route, not just the flight ticket

London → Beijing → Tokyo has a third-destination structure. Tokyo → Shanghai → Tokyo does not. These examples illustrate the route test only, not a complete eligibility decision.

Consider the actual country or region immediately before and after mainland China, including connections. Two differently named airports in the same country do not become two different countries.

Check every part of the journey

The NIA’s 20 August 2026 notice lists 57 nationalities, 65 designated ports and permitted areas across 24 provincial-level regions. Ordinary passports and confirmed onward travel are part of the published conditions.

Consult the official port and permitted-area table. A familiar city name does not mean every airport, rail terminal or route in that area is covered.

Be precise about time and area

Confirm the allowed stay and its calculation for your specific entry. Keep the departure comfortably within the permitted period instead of planning around its last possible minute.

Your allowed travel area matters even if you remain within the time limit. A domestic connection or a side trip can take you outside it.

Have the supporting details ready

Keep the passport, confirmed onward itinerary and intended accommodation details accessible for airline and immigration checks. Entry remains an immigration decision.

If your plan changes, get advice before changing the route or exceeding a limit. The checker on this website does not cover extensions, exceptions or a decision at the border.

Test the actual connections on your ticket

These examples test only whether the places immediately before and after mainland China differ. They do not establish nationality eligibility, acceptable tickets, permitted ports or admission.

Check the permit before building the sightseeing plan

Keep the permitted departure deadline and travel area with your onward booking. Do not extend the trip because a flight changes or assume that a train ticket allows you to leave the permitted area. Ask the immigration authority promptly if disruption affects compliance.

For the geographic check, compare every overnight stop and domestic connection with the official permitted-area table. The policy does not turn all of mainland China into a single unrestricted sightseeing zone.

A sensible stopover plan has an optional final activity, rather than a remote excursion immediately before the onward flight. The consequence of missing that departure can be much greater than losing a museum reservation.

Airport transit and a sightseeing stop are different plans

If you intend to leave the restricted transit area, collect baggage or stay in the city, clarify the required entry procedure before flying. Do not assume that permission to connect airside means permission to enter the city.

Ask the airline about baggage and boarding arrangements for your actual tickets. Separate tickets and a terminal change can add practical complications even when the countries in the route diagram look correct.