144-Hour Transit Visa: New Cities Added
The 144-hour transit visa exemption is one of the best travel deals in Asia: six days in China with no visa application, no fee, and no embassy visit. And in 2026, it just got better, with several new cities added to the program.
If you’re flying through China on your way somewhere else — or if you’re willing to build a creative itinerary that turns a layover into a mini-vacation — here’s everything you need to know about the expanded 144-hour transit visa program.
What Is the 144-Hour Transit Visa?
The 144-hour transit visa exemption allows citizens of 54 countries to visit specific Chinese cities and their surrounding regions for up to six days without a visa. The only requirements are:
- You’re transiting through China to a third country (not returning to your country of origin)
- You have a confirmed onward ticket to that third country
- You enter and exit through a designated port in the same region
- You stay within the designated region for the duration of your visit
No application is needed. You simply declare your intention at immigration when you arrive, show your onward ticket, and receive a temporary entry stamp.
The New Cities Added in 2026
Four major new entry points have been added to the 144-hour transit program in 2026, significantly expanding the geographic coverage and opening up previously inaccessible regions.
1. Urumqi — Gateway to the Silk Road
Entry/Exit: Urumqi Diwopu International Airport (URC) Covers: Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region
This is the most exciting addition for adventurous travelers. Xinjiang is China’s largest and most culturally distinct region — a vast territory of deserts, mountains, Silk Road cities, and a blend of Uyghur, Kazakh, and Han Chinese cultures.
With 144 hours, you can visit:
- Urumqi: The regional capital, with the Xinjiang Regional Museum (home to the famous Tarim mummies) and the Grand Bazaar
- Turpan: An ancient Silk Road oasis city, two hours from Urumqi by high-speed train. Visit the Flaming Mountains, the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, and the Jiaohe Ruins — a 2,000-year-old city carved into a plateau
- Heavenly Lake (Tianchi): A stunning alpine lake in the Tianshan Mountains, about two hours from Urumqi
Why it matters: Xinjiang has been difficult for foreign tourists to visit due to complex permit requirements and security checkpoints. The 144-hour transit exemption simplifies this significantly — no special permits are needed for transit visitors staying within the designated time.
Getting there: Urumqi is a major transit hub for flights between Europe and East Asia. If you’re flying from London to Tokyo, you can easily route through Urumqi and spend six days exploring the Silk Road.
2. Hainan Island — China’s Tropical South
Entry/Exit: Haikou Meilan International Airport (HAK) and Sanya Phoenix International Airport (SYX) Covers: Hainan Province
Hainan is China’s only tropical province — think palm-fringed beaches, luxury resorts, and warm water year-round. It’s often called “China’s Hawaii,” and while that comparison is a stretch, the island does offer genuine tropical beauty.
Hainan previously had its own separate visa-free policy (allowing 30-day visa-free stays for citizens of 59 countries), but it required entering through a tour group or specific travel agency arrangements. The integration into the 144-hour transit program means independent travelers can now visit visa-free without any agency involvement.
With 144 hours, you can:
- Sanya: Beach resorts, surfing at Houhai, hiking in the Yanoda Rainforest
- Haikou: The provincial capital, with colonial-era architecture, volcanic parks, and excellent seafood
- Wanning: A quieter coastal area with some of China’s best surfing
Why it matters: Hainan is the easiest tropical destination to reach from mainland China, and the 144-hour program makes it accessible as a stopover on flights between Southeast Asia and East Asia/North America.
3. Nanning — Gateway to Guangxi’s Karst Landscapes
Entry/Exit: Nanning Wuxu International Airport (NNG) Covers: Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region
Nanning is the capital of Guangxi, the province famous for the karst landscapes of Guilin and Yangshuo. While Nanning itself is a modern, leafy city with a large parks system and excellent Southeast Asian-influenced food, the real draw is what’s nearby.
With 144 hours, you can visit:
- Guilin and Yangshuo: Take the high-speed train from Nanning (about 2.5 hours) to explore China’s most famous karst scenery. Cruise the Li River, cycle through rice paddies, and climb Moon Hill
- Detian Waterfall: The largest transnational waterfall in Asia, on the border with Vietnam (about 3 hours from Nanning by bus)
- Mingshi Scenic Area: A quieter karst landscape, less crowded than Guilin, with traditional Zhuang minority villages
Why it matters: Previously, visiting Guangxi on a transit visa required entering through Guilin, which has limited international flight connections. Nanning’s addition gives travelers much more flexibility, with better flight options from Southeast Asian cities.
4. Shenyang — Northeast China’s Imperial City
Entry/Exit: Shenyang Taoxian International Airport (SHE) Covers: Liaoning Province
Shenyang is the largest city in northeast China and was once the capital of the Qing Dynasty before it moved to Beijing. It’s a city of imperial palaces, Korean influence (due to proximity to the border), and a gritty industrial heritage that’s being transformed into cultural spaces.
With 144 hours, you can visit:
- Shenyang Imperial Palace: A UNESCO World Heritage site and the former imperial palace of the Qing Dynasty, smaller than Beijing’s Forbidden City but less crowded and equally beautiful
- Zhaoling Tomb: The mausoleum of the Qing Dynasty’s founder, set in a vast park
- Benxi Water Cave: One of the world’s largest underground water caves, about an hour from Shenyang
- Dalian: A coastal city with Russian and Japanese architectural influence, reachable by high-speed train (about 2 hours)
Why it matters: Northeast China (Dongbei) is one of the least-visited regions by international tourists. The 144-hour transit visa makes it accessible, and it offers a completely different experience from Beijing or Shanghai — colder, rougher, and with a distinct culture shaped by Manchu, Korean, and Russian influences.
The Complete List of 144-Hour Transit Visa Ports (2026)
With the new additions, the program now covers 22 ports of entry:
| Port | Airport Code | Region Covered |
|---|---|---|
| Beijing | PEK, PKX | Beijing Municipality |
| Shanghai | PVG, SHA | Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang |
| Guangzhou | CAN | Guangdong Province |
| Shenzhen | SZX | Guangdong Province |
| Chengdu | CTU, TFU | Chengdu Municipality |
| Chongqing | CKG | Chongqing Municipality |
| Xi’an | XIY | Shaanxi Province |
| Hangzhou | HGH | Zhejiang Province |
| Kunming | KMG | Yunnan Province |
| Wuhan | WUH | Hubei Province |
| Xiamen | XMN | Fujian Province |
| Tianjin | TSN | Tianjin Municipality |
| Dalian | DLC | Dalian City |
| Qingdao | TAO | Shandong Province |
| Harbin | HRB | Heilongjiang Province |
| Guilin | KWL | Guilin City |
| Changsha | CSX | Hunan Province |
| Nanjing | NKG | Jiangsu Province |
| Zhengzhou | CGO | Henan Province |
| Urumqi | URC | Xinjiang Region |
| Hainan | HAK, SYX | Hainan Province |
| Nanning | NNG | Guangxi Province |
| Shenyang | SHE | Liaoning Province |
How to Use the 144-Hour Transit Visa: Step by Step
Step 1: Plan Your Routing
Remember the golden rule: you must be traveling from Country A to China to Country B. Not Country A to China and back to Country A.
Valid routings:
- New York → Beijing → Seoul
- London → Shanghai → Bangkok
- Sydney → Guangzhou → Singapore
- Paris → Urumqi → Tokyo
- Los Angeles → Sanya → Hong Kong
Invalid routings:
- New York → Beijing → New York (round trip, not transit)
- London → Shanghai → London (same as above)
Pro tip: If you want to use the transit visa but don’t have a natural onward destination, book a cheap flight to a nearby country. A Shanghai-to-Osaka flight on a budget airline can cost as little as ¥400. This satisfies the transit requirement and gives you a mini-trip to Japan as a bonus.
Step 2: Book Your Flights
You need confirmed onward tickets before you arrive in China. Immigration will check them. Have your booking confirmation — printed or on your phone — ready when you land.
The onward flight must depart within 144 hours of your arrival. Build in a buffer — don’t book a flight that departs at exactly 143 hours, because any delay will result in an overstay.
Step 3: Arrive in China
When you land, look for the “144-Hour Transit Visa Exemption” lane at immigration. It’s usually marked with a sign in English and Chinese.
Present:
- Your passport (valid for at least 3 months beyond your stay)
- Your onward ticket to a third country
- Your arrival card (usually distributed on the plane)
The immigration officer will review your documents, ask a few questions (purpose of visit, where you’re staying), and stamp your passport with a temporary entry permit.
The whole process typically takes 10-15 minutes — longer than a regular visa entry, but much shorter than applying for a visa.
Step 4: Enjoy Your Stay
You’re now free to travel within the designated region for up to 144 hours. There are no restrictions on where you can go within that region — you can visit cities, towns, and rural areas as you please.
Important: You must stay within the designated region. Leaving the region (e.g., taking a train from Shanghai to Beijing when you entered through Shanghai) is not allowed and will be treated as a visa violation.
Step 5: Depart On Time
Leave through the same port (or any port within the same region) before your 144 hours expire. The clock starts from the scheduled arrival time of your incoming flight, not the actual time you clear immigration.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Booking a Return Flight Instead of a Transit
The most common mistake is booking a round-trip ticket (Country A → China → Country A). This doesn’t qualify for the transit exemption. You must be going to a third country.
2. Leaving the Designated Region
If you enter through Shanghai, you can visit Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang. You cannot go to Beijing, Xi’an, or any other region. Plan your itinerary accordingly.
3. Cutting It Too Close
Don’t book an onward flight that departs at hour 143. Flight delays, traffic, and long immigration lines can cause you to overstay. Leave a buffer of at least 6-12 hours.
4. Not Having Proof of Accommodation
While not always checked, immigration may ask where you’re staying. Have your hotel booking confirmation ready.
5. Forgetting to Print Documents
While digital copies are usually accepted, printing your onward ticket and hotel booking is a good backup. Phone batteries die; paper doesn’t.
144-Hour Itinerary Ideas for the New Cities
Urumqi: 5-Day Silk Road Experience
- Day 1: Arrive in Urumqi, visit Xinjiang Regional Museum
- Day 2: Day trip to Heavenly Lake (Tianchi)
- Day 3: High-speed train to Turpan, visit Flaming Mountains and Jiaohe Ruins
- Day 4: Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, Gaochang Ruins
- Day 5: Return to Urumqi, Grand Bazaar, fly out
Hainan: 5-Day Tropical Escape
- Day 1: Arrive in Sanya, beach time
- Day 2: Yanoda Rainforest hiking
- Day 3: Day trip to Nanshan Cultural Tourism Zone
- Day 4: Surfing at Houhai, or ferry to Wuzhizhou Island for snorkeling
- Day 5: Relax, depart
Nanning/Guangxi: 5-Day Karst Adventure
- Day 1: Arrive in Nanning, explore the city
- Day 2: High-speed train to Guilin, Li River cruise to Yangshuo
- Day 3: Yangshuo — cycling, Moon Hill, evening light show
- Day 4: Return to Guilin, Reed Flute Cave, Elephant Trunk Hill
- Day 5: Return to Nanning, depart
For full visa policy information, see our China Visa Policy Changes 2026 and Visa-Free Countries List 2026 guides.
Last updated: July 2026