Chongqing 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 Chongqing
- 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 Chongqing.
Permitted Area from Chongqing
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: Chongqing.
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 Chongqing
| Port | Type | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport | Airport | CKG |
Why Transit Through Chongqing?
Chongqing — the mountain city of 30 million, where the Yangtze and Jialing rivers meet beneath elevated highways and the cliff-side Hongyadong complex — is unlike anywhere else in China. With Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport (CKG) designated as a 240-hour transit port, it’s a dramatic visa-free stopover in its own right, with the Dazu Rock Carvings UNESCO site and Chengdu both within reach.
240h Itinerary — Chongqing 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: Classic Chongqing
Morning — People’s Liberation Monument (Jiefangbei) Chongqing’s symbolic center. The octagonal plaza surrounded by shopping malls is where the city converges. Take Metro Line 1 or 2 toward Jiefangbei.
Midday — Jiefangbei Pedestrian Street & Yangtze River Walk the pedestrianized Jiefangbei, then head to the riverfront. The Qiansimen Jialing River Bridge offers the best views of Hongyadong across the river.
Afternoon — Hongyadong (Hongya Cave) The 11-story cliff-side complex looks like a page from a martial arts fantasy. The best photos are from the Jialing River bridge at night — come back after dark.
Evening — Eling Park Take the cable car (¥5) or walk up to the park for panoramic views of the city at sunset, where the rivers and thousands of buildings create an unforgettable scene.
Day 2: Culture & River Crossing
Morning — Ciqikou Ancient Town A 1,000-year-old riverside town turned tourist bazaar. Get lost in the winding alleys, try the local “máoxuèwàng” (spicy blood curd stew), and sample Chongqing’s famous noodles.
Midday — Three Gorges Museum & People’s Hall The Three Gorges Museum tells the story of the Yangtze through artifacts and interactive exhibits. Free entry. The adjacent People’s Hall is one of China’s most striking mid-century buildings.
Afternoon — Yangtze River Cableway The vintage cross-river cable car has carried commuters over the Yangtze since 1987 and is the best moving viewpoint over the city’s river canyon geometry (about ¥20 one way — verify on site).
Before you fly, consider locking in the big outings: Klook carries Chongqing guided tours and private transfers — Dazu day trips included — so the train-and-taxi legs don’t depend on same-day availability.
Getting From the Airport
From Chongqing Jiangbei Airport (CKG)
- Metro Line 3: Toward downtown — about 40 min, transfer to Line 1 for Jiefangbei, ¥5-7
- Airport Bus: Routes to Jiefangbei and others — ¥15-20, 50-60 min
- Taxi: ~40 min to city center, ¥90-120
Getting Around Chongqing
Chongqing Metro is extensive (500+ km). Be warned: the city is extremely hilly — the metro has very long escalators.
Key lines:
- Line 1: Jiefangbei (Jiaochangkou), Ciqikou
- Line 2: Hongyadong area (Linjiangmen), Eling Park
- Line 3: CKG Airport, Jiangbei
240h Extended Route: Chongqing & Beyond
With 240h, cross-province travel is allowed within the permitted areas — Chengdu pairs naturally with Chongqing:
Dazu Rock Carvings (1 day) — high-speed train + taxi, 90 km A UNESCO World Heritage site: 50,000 Buddhist carvings dating back to the 9th century. Take a high-speed train from Chongqing North to Yongchuan (¥30, 30 min), then taxi (¥60, 40 min).
Chengdu (1-2 days) — 1-2 hours by high-speed train Sichuan’s capital and the giant panda’s home city, on the Chengdu-Chongqing high-speed corridor (train types and times vary — recheck when booking). Enter at CKG, finish in Chengdu — or the reverse.
Luggage Storage
| Location | Cost | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CKG T2/T3 Arrivals | ¥40-60/day | 24h |
| Chongqing North Station | ¥30-50/day | 7:00-21:00 |
Practical Tips
- Hot Pot: Try “jiǔgōnggé” (nine-grid) hot pot — each square has a different temperature
- WeChat Pay: Essential
- Hills: Wear comfortable shoes — the city has significant elevation changes
- Language: Local dialect (Chongqing hua) is quite different from Mandarin
Emergency Contacts
- Chongqing Tourism Hotline: +86-23-12301
- Police: 110
- Ambulance: 120
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Related Resources
Chongqing 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit — FAQ
Can I leave Chongqing Jiangbei Airport (CKG) during a 144-hour (240-hour) transit?
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.
Is Jiangbei Airport the only Chongqing port for 240-hour visa-free transit?
Yes — Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport (CKG) is the municipality's designated port for the policy. You can enter at CKG and exit through any other designated port in China, or the reverse; your exit city does not have to match your entry city.
Can I visit the Dazu Rock Carvings on a visa-free transit?
Yes — tourism is a permitted activity under the 240-hour policy. The UNESCO site is about 90 km away, in Chongqing municipality itself: high-speed train from Chongqing North to Yongchuan (about 30 min), then a 40-minute taxi. Allow a full day.
Can I visit Chengdu during my Chongqing transit?
Yes. Under the 240-hour policy, cross-province travel within the permitted areas is officially allowed, and Chengdu is roughly 1-2 hours away by high-speed train on the Chengdu-Chongqing corridor (train types and times vary — recheck when booking). Hot pot in Chongqing, pandas in Chengdu is a classic 240-hour pairing.
How early should I arrive at CKG 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 too: CKG sits about 20 km north of downtown, roughly 40-60 minutes by Metro Line 3 (with a transfer for Jiefangbei). 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.
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© 2026 China Neighbor ·Original article: · Last verified:Sep 6, 2026
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