Chengdu 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit (Now 240h)
Visa-free transit rules, entry steps, designated ports & routes — updated for the 240-hour (10-day) policy
Transit rules vary by nationality and route — check if you qualify in 30 seconds →
Is your route eligible? The A→B→C rule: your onward ticket must go to a third country or region — not back to where you came from.
Check my 240h eligibility →Requirements for 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit
- Valid ordinary passport
- Practical tip: passport validity should cover your stay and onward travel — some airline check-in systems apply their own rules, so confirm with your airline if your passport is close to expiry
- Confirmed onward ticket to a third country
- Hotel booking or accommodation address
- WeChat Pay activated for cashless payments
- Essential apps downloaded (WeChat, Alipay, Metro, Didi)
Two documents do the heavy lifting: a valid ordinary passport and a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region (with seat and date). The old 72-hour and 144-hour tiers have been consolidated into this single 240-hour policy.
Entry Process at Chengdu
- Before boarding: your airline checks the onward ticket — have the third-country booking ready.
- On arrival: go to the 240-hour transit inspection counter and fill in the arrival card.
- At border inspection: receive the temporary entry permit; the 240-hour clock starts at the moment of entry.
- During your stay: tourism, business, visits and family reunions are fine — work, study and news reporting still require a visa.
- Before 240 hours are up: exit through any designated port in China — it does not have to be Chengdu.
Permitted Area from Chengdu
240h visa-free transit available. You may enter and exit via any of the 65 designated ports across 24 provincial-level regions and travel across provinces within the permitted areas for up to 240 hours (10 days). Region: Sichuan.
Cross-province travel within the permitted areas is officially allowed — you can enter in one city and depart from another, as long as both are designated ports.
240h Transit Ports in Chengdu
| Port | Type | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport | Airport | CTU |
| Chengdu Tianfu International Airport | Airport | TFU |
Why Transit Through Chengdu?
Chengdu is one of China’s most livable cities and the gateway to Sichuan’s legendary food and giant pandas. With both of the city’s airports — Shuangliu (CTU) and Tianfu (TFU) — designated 240-hour transit ports, it has never been easier to build a visa-free stopover around hot pot, teahouses and pandas, with the Leshan Giant Buddha within day-trip reach.
240h Itinerary — Chengdu in Up to 10 Days
The 240-hour visa-free transit gives you up to 10 days in China. This two-day core itinerary works on any timeline — stretch it across the full permitted stay, or use it as-is.
Day 1: Pandas & Culture
Morning — Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Arrive at opening time (8:00 AM) to see the pandas at their most active. The base is home to over 80 pandas and also has red pandas. It’s a 45-minute Metro ride from downtown — take Line 3 to Panda Avenue (Xiongmao Dadao).
Midday — Jinli Ancient Street Chengdu’s most famous pedestrian street, adjacent to the Wuhou Shrine. Try the famous “san da pao” — sweet rice cakes tossed in sesame seeds — and shop for Sichuan spices and crafts.
Afternoon — Wuhou Shrine (Wuhouci) The temple dedicated to Zhuge Liang, the legendary statesman of the Three Kingdoms period. The gardens are beautiful, especially in spring when the azaleas bloom.
Evening — Bifengxia Panda Base (optional upgrade) If you’re a panda lover, this satellite base 140 km from Chengdu is where retired pandas live in a stunning mountain valley. Requires a full day.
Day 2: Food, Tea & Sichuan Opera
Morning — People’s Park & Morning Tea Chengdu’s most authentic morning experience. Join locals in People’s Park (Renmin Gongyuan) for a pot of jasmine tea and people-watching. The park has an old teahouse where you’ve been served the same way for 100 years.
Midday — Wide & Narrow Alleys (Kuanzhai Xiangzi) Two parallel alleys restored to showcase Qing dynasty architecture. Browse boutiques, try a traditional ear-cleaning service (¥50), and grab lunch at a hot pot restaurant.
Evening — Sichuan Opera Watch the famous “face-changing” (bianlian) performance at the Shufeng Yayun Teahouse. Tickets ¥150-300 — book through your hotel or at the venue. Includes tea and a seated show.
Hot Pot — Essential Chengdu
Don’t leave Chengdu without trying hot pot. Locals recommend:
- Zhong Hao Shuan: Upscale, English menu available
- Kong Liang: Classic chain, reliable quality
- Bajian Youpo: Spicy numbing (“ma la”) broth — for adventurous eaters
Before you fly, consider rounding out the itinerary: Klook carries Chengdu activity tickets and transfers — panda-base entry and Sichuan opera seats among them — so nothing depends on same-day availability.
Getting From the Airport
Chengdu has two international airports — confirm which one your flights use before planning ground transport:
From Chengdu Shuangliu Airport (CTU)
- Metro Line 10: From T1/T2 toward downtown, transfer at Taipingyuan for Line 3 — about 40 min total, ¥4-6
- Airport Bus: Routes to major hotels and Chengdu East Railway Station — ¥10-15, 40-60 min
- Taxi: ~30 min to city center, ¥60-90 (the airport is only ~16 km out)
From Chengdu Tianfu Airport (TFU)
- Metro Line 18 (through Line 19 service): ~50 min toward the city center, ¥10-13
- Airport Bus: Routes 1 & 2 to city center — ¥15-20, 50-70 min
- Taxi: ~50-60 min to city center, ¥150-200 (about 50 km south of downtown)
(Fares and times are approximate — verify on arrival.)
Getting Around Chengdu
Chengdu Metro is modern and uncrowded (Lines 1-18). Get a Tianfu Tong transit card at any station.
Key lines:
- Line 3: Panda Base
- Line 2: Chunxi Road (shopping), Shufeng Yayun Teahouse
- Line 4: Wide & Narrow Alleys
240h Extended Route: Sichuan Province
With 240h, cross-province travel is allowed within the permitted areas — and Sichuan alone holds more than a 10-day stay:
Leshan Giant Buddha (1 day) — 45 min by high-speed train The world’s largest carved stone Buddha at 71m tall. A UNESCO World Heritage site. Take the high-speed train from Chengdu East to Leshan (¥48, 45 min), then a taxi or bus to the site.
Emei Shan (1-2 days) — 2 hours by bus or train One of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains of China. The Golden Summit offers breathtaking views and temples. Take a bus from Chengdu Xinnanmen Bus Station (¥45-65, 2h).
Jiuzhaigou Valley (1-2 days) — flights or long drive A UNESCO Natural Heritage site with stunning turquoise lakes. Best visited May-October. Direct flights from Chengdu (¥400-800, 1h) or 6-8 hour drive.
Luggage Storage
| Location | Cost | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CTU & TFU Arrivals | ¥40-60/day | 24h |
| Chengdu Railway Station | ¥30-50/day | 7:00-21:00 |
Practical Tips
- Altitude: Chengdu is at 500m — no altitude concerns
- Spice Level: Sichuan food is spicy. Tell the waiter “bù yào là” (“no spice, please”) if you can’t handle heat
- WeChat Pay: Essential — available at both CTU and TFU arrivals
Emergency Contacts
- Chengdu Tourism Hotline: +86-28-12301
- Police: 110
- Ambulance: 120
Affiliate Disclosure: Some links in this article may be affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps keep ChinaNeighbor free. We only recommend services we believe are genuinely useful for China travelers.
Related Resources
Chengdu 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit — FAQ
Can I leave the airport during a 144-hour (240-hour) transit in Chengdu?
Yes — if your nationality is on the 57-country eligible list and you hold a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region. After border inspection at the 240-hour transit counter you receive a temporary entry permit for up to 240 hours (10 days), and you can leave the airport freely.
Which Chengdu airports support 240-hour visa-free transit?
Both: Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU) — the older airport, closer to downtown — and Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU), the newer hub about 50 km south of the city. You can enter through one and exit through the other, or leave mainland China from any other designated port. Check carefully which airport your airline uses before planning ground transport.
Can I visit the Chengdu Panda Base on a visa-free transit?
Yes — tourism is a permitted activity under the 240-hour policy. The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is about a 45-minute Metro ride from downtown (Line 3 to Panda Avenue). Arrive at opening time to see the pandas at their most active, and budget half a day.
Can I visit the Leshan Giant Buddha or Mount Emei during my transit?
Yes. Both sit in Sichuan, inside the permitted area, and the 240-hour policy also allows cross-province travel within the permitted areas. Leshan is roughly 45 minutes by high-speed train from Chengdu East (about ¥48 — verify when booking), and Emei Shan is a further short ride or a 2-hour bus; each deserves at least a full day.
How early should I arrive at TFU or CTU for the transit procedure?
The transit inspection happens after landing — factor in 1-2 hours at the 240-hour transit counter during peak arrivals. Ground time matters more than the queue: TFU is about 50 km from downtown (roughly an hour by Metro Line 18 or taxi), while CTU is much closer. Your airline checks the third-country ticket before boarding, so keep that booking handy at check-in.
Source: National Immigration Administration — Visa-Free Transit Policies, updated 2026-08-20. Data verified 2026-09-06.
Your trusted guide for life in China.
© 2026 China Neighbor ·Original article: · Last verified:Sep 6, 2026
Reproduction requires attribution with a link to the original.