China changed these rules twice in the past year (more countries added Aug 2026). Everything below is checked against official announcements on 5 Sep 2026, with links at the bottom — but re-check before you book flights, and when in doubt call the immigration hotline on +86-12367 (English available).
01Two questions that decide your path
Don't read a wall of policy. Answer these two questions in order:
- Is China your final destination, or are you transiting to a third country? Transiting (with a connecting ticket) opens the 240-hour rule — and it can apply even if your country is not on the unilateral waiver list.
- Is your passport from one of the ~50 countries on the unilateral waiver list? If yes, you can often skip the transit logic entirely and simply enter visa-free for up to 30 days.
Both paths still require a valid passport (at least 3 months validity for the transit rule), and neither permits work, study or journalism — those need a proper visa, always.
02Path A — the 30-day unilateral waiver
| What it gives you | |
|---|---|
| Who | Passport holders of the countries on China's unilateral visa-free list — around 50 countries, covering most of Europe plus the UK, Canada, Australia and others. Russia is covered separately until 31 Dec 2027. |
| How long | Up to 30 days per visit |
| What for | Tourism, business, visiting friends or family, transit, exchanges |
| Do you need a third-country ticket? | No — China can be your final destination |
| Valid until | Mostly 31 Dec 2026 (UK & Canada joined from 17 Feb 2026; Russia extended to 2027) |
This is the simple path: land, show your passport, get up to 30 days. A Suzhou trip — or a Suzhou-plus-Shanghai-plus-Hangzhou trip — fits easily. Check whether your country is on the list before relying on it: the official list is linked at the bottom of this page.
03Path B — the 240-hour transit rule
| What it gives you | |
|---|---|
| Who | Passport holders of 57 countries (expanded Aug 2026 — most of Europe, North America, plus more) |
| The catch | You must be transiting: hold a connecting ticket to a third country/region within 240 hours, and enter through one of the 65 designated ports |
| How long | 240 hours = ten full days |
| Where you can go | Across the 24 provinces/regions covered — this is the one that matters for you: enter via Shanghai and you can travel on to Suzhou, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and beyond |
| Counted from | 00:00 the day after you arrive — not from the moment you land |
| Leaving | You must depart China within the window through a designated exit — overstay and you face fines and a possible entry ban |
Why this rule exists (and when it beats Path A)
It's designed for people flying Europe/Americas → Shanghai → somewhere else — say, London to Shanghai to Tokyo, or Los Angeles to Shanghai to Bangkok. If that's your shape of trip, you get ten days inside China without any visa paperwork. Many travellers combine it with a third-country hop exactly so they can spend a long weekend in Suzhou on the way.
Yes — under the 240-hour rule you may enter at Shanghai Pudong or Hongqiao airport and travel to Suzhou. The policy allows travel across the covered provinces (Jiangsu — where Suzhou sits — is fully inside the zone), and the immigration authority has confirmed this in its official Q&A. You do your entry formalities in Shanghai; the bullet train to Suzhou (25 minutes) is then ordinary domestic travel.
Timing, worked out: your 240 hours start at 00:00 the day after you land. Land on a Monday afternoon and you're free until the following Thursday midnight — ten full days, counted the way the officers count it. If you're only doing Shanghai + Suzhou, you'll use a fraction of it.
04Neither path fits? — Path C: the ordinary visa
If your passport isn't on either list and you're not transiting, you need an L (tourist) visa before you fly. Don't try to wing it at the border — the entry officer has no discretion to grant you a visa on arrival for tourism. Apply through the nearest Chinese visa application service centre; allow a few weeks. The good news: the unilateral list keeps growing, so check once more before you give up on Path A.
05The fine print travellers actually trip on
- Print the official announcement. Airline check-in staff abroad sometimes don't know the current China rules and have been known to refuse boarding. Carry a printout or screenshot of the official policy page (links below) and show it at check-in if challenged — it has settled many arguments.
- The entry card can be pre-filled online since late 2025 (via the National Immigration Administration's site, app or WeChat mini-program) — or just scan the QR code at the airport and fill it there. Keep your passport's arrival stamp page handy.
- Passport validity: the transit rule requires at least 3 months' validity. Check before you fly.
- No visa runs. Frequent back-to-back visa-free visits get you questioned at the border. This site will never coach you on stretching the rules.
- Hotel registration is automatic — hotels register you with the police as part of check-in. If you're in a short-term apartment rental, ask the host to register you (it's their obligation within 24 hours); don't skip it.
- Don't confuse the two rules. The 240-hour rule requires that third-country ticket. The 30-day waiver doesn't. Booking a return flight home does not qualify you for the transit rule — "home" isn't a third country.
06Quick answers
If you're on the 30-day waiver — anywhere in China. If you're on the 240-hour transit rule — yes: Zhejiang (Hangzhou's province) is inside the covered region, so Shanghai → Suzhou → Hangzhou → out works, as long as you leave within your 240 hours.
Land at Hongqiao and you're at the railway station's airport — the bullet train to Suzhou station takes about 25 minutes. Land at Pudong and it's roughly an hour to Hongqiao by metro or maglev + metro, then the same train. Full day-trip logistics on the day-trip page.
Minors travel on their own passports under the same rules — check the official list for any age-specific notes before you fly, and carry the child's documents even if they look young.
Yes — no visa fee, no application, no approval letter. That's the entire point of a unilateral waiver. You just present your passport at the border.
National Immigration Administration (English): en.nia.gov.cn
240-hour transit expansion to 57 countries (Aug 2026): nia.gov.cn announcement
Ports & stay-areas table with cross-province note: nia.gov.cn official table
Unilateral visa-free country list: nia.gov.cn list
Immigration hotline: +86-12367 (English-speaking operators)