37 guides · updated continuously
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Independently researched guides for a China layover, grouped by topic. Start with the visa-free transit rules, then pick the city and window that match your stop.
Visa-free transit & entry rules
- Updated Nov 8, 2026China Visa-Free Statistics 2026: Entries, Countries and PortsNIA figures on visa-free entries into China (30.08 million in 2025), the 57-country transit list, 65 ports, the 30-day list, and a policy timeline since 2023.
- Updated Nov 6, 2026Free Hotel on a Long Layover? China Airlines vs China EasternChina Eastern, Air China and China Southern give a free layover hotel if your ticket qualifies. China Airlines (Taiwan) works differently. How to apply.
- Updated Nov 6, 2026The Third-Country Rule for China Transit: A→B→C ExplainedChina’s visa-free transit requires an onward ticket to a third country or region. Here’s the A→B→C rule, when Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan count, and what gets rejected.
- Updated Oct 16, 202624-Hour vs 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit in China: What’s the Difference?China has two visa-free transit rules. Here’s how the 24-hour (airside and landside) and the 240-hour policies differ, and which one applies to your layover.
- Updated Oct 16, 2026China’s 240-Hour Transit: The 65 Ports and Permitted Areas (Reference)The complete reference to the 65 designated ports and the permitted areas for China’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy, organized by province.
- Updated Oct 16, 2026China’s 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit: The Complete GuideWho can use China’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy, what the rules are, and how to plan a layover trip without a visa.
- Updated Oct 16, 202630-Day Visa-Free Entry vs 240-Hour Transit: Which One Applies to You?China has two different visa-free schemes for short stays. Here’s how the 30-day visa-free entry and the 240-hour transit policy differ, and which one to use for your trip.
- Updated Oct 16, 2026Can I Leave the Airport During a China Layover?Usually yes, visa-free, at Shanghai Pudong, Beijing, Guangzhou and 60-plus other ports. What you need, and how many hours make leaving worth it.
- Updated Oct 16, 2026China’s Regional Visa-Free Schemes: Hainan, Bilateral Deals & Hainan 30 DaysBeyond the national rules, China runs regional and bilateral visa-free schemes: including 30 days in Hainan and mutual agreements with dozens of countries.
- Updated Oct 16, 2026China Transit Mistakes That Get Travelers Denied Boarding or EntryThe most common reasons visa-free transit travelers are refused at check-in or immigration in China, and how to avoid each one before you fly.
- Updated Oct 16, 2026China Visa-Free Countries: The Full List (2026)Which countries can enter China without a visa? The full 57-country list for 240-hour visa-free transit, plus how the 30-day, Hainan and bilateral schemes differ.
- Updated Oct 16, 2026Can You See the Great Wall on a Beijing Layover?Yes, if you land in the morning with enough hours. The hour-by-hour plan from PEK or PKX to Mutianyu, and the layover length where it stops being worth it.
- Updated Oct 16, 2026Is a China Layover Worth It? An Honest LookMost travelers assume a China layover is wasted time. Here’s the honest case for and against leaving the airport, and when staying put is the smarter call.
- Updated Oct 16, 2026Do You Need a Visa for China? Visa-Free Entry vs a Chinese VisaIf you don’t qualify for visa-free entry or transit, you need a visa. How to tell whether you need a Chinese visa, which type to choose, and what it costs.
City layover itineraries
- Updated Oct 16, 2026Things to Do in Guangzhou on a Layover: 6, 8, 10, 12 or 24 HoursThe best things to do in Guangzhou on a layover, window by window: how to get in from Baiyun Airport, the 6, 8, 10 and 12-hour plans hour by hour, why to eat dim sum first, and when a layover tour is worth it.
- Updated Oct 16, 2026Things to Do in Shanghai on a Layover: 6, 8, 12 or 24 HoursThe best things to do in Shanghai on a layover, by window: how much city time a 6, 8, 12 or 24-hour stop really gives you from PVG or SHA, the Maglev timings, and when a layover tour is worth it.
- Updated Sep 16, 2026Things to Do in Beijing on a Layover: 6, 8, 12, and 24-Hour PlansThe best things to do in Beijing on a layover at PEK or PKX, transfer times, what fits in each window, whether the Great Wall is possible, and the mistakes that eat your day.
- Updated Sep 16, 2026Things to Do in Chengdu on a Layover: Pandas in 6, 8, 12, and 24 HoursThe best things to do in Chengdu on a layover, from the giant pandas to what the Tianfu Airport transfer costs you, with realistic plans for each window.
- Updated Sep 16, 2026Xi’an Layover: Terracotta Army in 6, 8, 12, and 24 HoursCan you see the Terracotta Army on a layover? The honest timing math for Xi’an, plus what to do with each layover window and how to book tickets.
Payments & apps
- Updated Oct 16, 2026Alipay in China for Foreigners: Step-by-Step Setup with a Visa or MastercardHow to set up Alipay in China with a foreign card before you fly, identity verification, fees, spending limits, and why a small test payment matters.
- Updated Oct 16, 2026Do Apple Pay and Google Pay Work in China? What Tourists Should KnowMostly no: China pays by QR code, so tap-to-pay has little to talk to. Where a foreign Apple Pay or Google Pay tap still works, and what to set up instead.
- Updated Oct 16, 2026Do You Need Cash in China? (Yes, Here’s How Much)China is nearly cashless, but RMB cash is still worth carrying. How much to bring, what it’s actually for, and how ATMs and the law work for tourists.
- Updated Oct 16, 2026How to Pay in China: Alipay, WeChat Pay & TenPayGo for ForeignersVisa and Mastercard acceptance is limited in China. Here’s how to link your foreign card to Alipay, WeChat Pay, and TenPayGo so you can pay like a local.
- Updated Oct 16, 2026WeChat Pay in China for Foreigners (and Where TenPayGo Fits In)How to set up WeChat Pay with an international card, why you need WeChat even if you use Alipay, and what TenPayGo is for foreign travelers.
Shopping & deliveries
eSIM & connectivity
- Updated Oct 16, 2026eSIM China: Best Plans Compared (Airalo, Holafly & Nomad)The best eSIM for China for most travelers, plus how Airalo, Holafly, and Nomad compare on data, price, firewall routing, and support, and why it matters on a layover.
- Updated Oct 16, 2026China Airport Wi-Fi: Log In with Your PassportFree, and no Chinese phone number needed: PEK, PKX, PVG and CAN log you in with your passport. Each hub’s login, and the backup to set up before you land.
- Updated Oct 16, 2026China eSIM Setup: Do It Before You LandWhy a China travel eSIM keeps your usual apps working, how to choose a plan, and the exact setup steps to finish before your flight lands.
- Updated Oct 16, 2026VPN for China: eSIM vs VPN vs Roaming ComparedDo you need a VPN for China? How a travel eSIM, a VPN, and home-carrier roaming compare on blocked apps, cost, and setup, and which to use on a layover.
- Updated Sep 29, 2026Does Google Maps Work in China? (And What to Use Instead)Google Maps is unreliable in mainland China. Here’s what is blocked, what still works, and the map and translation apps that actually get you around.
- Updated Sep 16, 2026China Apps Checklist: What to Install Before You FlyGoogle Play is blocked in China, so install before you fly. The five kinds of app a layover needs, and which ones to set up at home.
Airport transfers & logistics
- Updated Oct 16, 2026China Airport to City: Transfers Compared for Every Major Layover HubHow to get from China’s main airports to the city center, costs, times, and the best option for PEK, PKX, PVG, SHA, CAN, TFU, XIY, and more.
- Updated Oct 16, 2026China High-Speed Rail for Tourists: Booking with a PassportBook on Trip.com or 12306 with your passport, and start 12306’s ID check days before you fly. Which gate to use at the station, and how early to arrive.
- Updated Oct 16, 2026DiDi and Ride-Hailing in China: A Guide for ForeignersHow to set up and use DiDi in China with a foreign phone number and card, plus the taxi alternative, price expectations, and the safety checks that matter.
- Updated Oct 16, 2026Hotel Registration for Foreigners in China: The 24-Hour RuleForeign visitors in China must register their accommodation within 24 hours. What hotels handle for you, what to do if you stay privately, and why it matters.
- Updated Oct 16, 2026Luggage Storage at China’s Airports: What It Costs and Where to Find ItWhere to leave your bags during a China layover, airport left-luggage, station lockers, hotel storage, and the option most travelers overlook.
- Updated Sep 16, 2026Is China Safe for Tourists? Scams, Risks, and What to Actually Watch ForChina is statistically very safe for travelers. Here are the real risks on a layover (taxi scams, tea-house cons, and pickpocketing) and how to avoid each.