Hangzhou 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 Hangzhou
- 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 Hangzhou.
Permitted Area from Hangzhou
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: Zhejiang.
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 Hangzhou
| Port | Type | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport | Airport | HGH |
Why Transit Through Hangzhou?
Hangzhou — the city Marco Polo called “the most beautiful and elegant in the world” — anchors the classic Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Shanghai travel loop. With Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport (HGH) designated as a 240-hour transit port, it’s a natural visa-free entry point for the Yangtze Delta: West Lake, Longjing tea country and Shanghai are all within easy reach.
240h Itinerary — Hangzhou 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: West Lake
Morning — West Lake Walk Start at Lingering Snow Pagoda (Canxue Ta) and walk the 2.5 km causeway in the morning mist. The lake’s pagodas, bridges, and islands are best seen on foot or by bike. Rent a bike at the North Mountain Road entrance (¥20/hour).
Midday — Lingyin Temple & Feilai Feng Hangzhou’s most famous Buddhist temple complex. The Feilai Feng rock carvings behind the temple are over 1,000 years old. Take Metro Line 1 to Lingyin Station.
Afternoon — Tea Fields of Longjing (Longjing Village) A short bus or taxi ride west to the Dragon Well tea village. Walk through terraced tea fields, visit a tea house, and taste the freshest Longjing tea (¥200-500 per 50g for the best grades).
Evening — Hefang Street (Hefangjie) Hangzhou’s most famous pedestrian food street. Try “Dongpo Pork” (Dōngpō ròu) — braised pork belly named after poet Su Dongpo — and West Lake wine (Xi Hu Jiu).
Day 2: Modern Hangzhou
Morning — Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal The world’s longest artificial river, built during the Sui dynasty. Take a boat from Wulin Gate to Xiangji Temple — a 45-minute journey through 1,000 years of history.
Midday — Song Dynasty City & Songcheng A theme park recreating Song dynasty culture. The “Everlasting Sorrow” show is excellent. Take Metro Line 1 to Songcheng Road.
Afternoon — Xixi National Wetland Park A serene escape from the city — lotus flowers, water villages, and bird watching. Take Metro Line 19 to Xixi Wetland North.
Getting From the Airport
From Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport (HGH)
- Metro Line 1: Connects to city center — 40 min to Yongjin Gate (lakeside), ¥7
- Airport Bus: Routes to train station and city center — ¥20, 50-60 min
- Taxi: ~35 min to West Lake area, ¥100-130
Getting Around Hangzhou
Hangzhou Metro is modern and clean. West Lake area is best explored on foot or by bike.
240h Extended Route: The Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Shanghai Loop
With 240h, cross-province travel is allowed within the permitted areas — Shanghai, Suzhou, Nanjing and the rest of the Yangtze Delta are easy add-ons:
Shanghai (1-2 days) — 45 min by high-speed train G-trains run from Shanghai Hongqiao to Hangzhou East (¥73, 45 minutes, every 15-30 minutes). Enter at HGH, finish in Shanghai — or the reverse.
Suzhou (day trip) — 1-1.5 hours by train Classical gardens and canal lanes, on the same Shanghai-Hangzhou high-speed corridor.
Luggage Storage
| Location | Cost | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HGH Arrivals | ¥30-50/day | 24h |
| Hangzhou East Station | ¥30-50/day | 8:00-20:00 |
Practical Tips
- WeChat Pay: Essential
- Bike Sharing: Hangzhou has excellent docking bike infrastructure (Mobike, Hello)
- Best Season: Spring (March-May) for flowers, Fall (Sept-Nov) for foliage
Emergency Contacts
- Hangzhou Tourism Hotline: +86-571-12301
- Police: 110
- Ambulance: 120
Related Resources
Hangzhou 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit — FAQ
Can I leave Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport (HGH) 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 Xiaoshan Airport the only Hangzhou port for 240-hour visa-free transit?
Yes — Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport (HGH) is Hangzhou's single designated port. Elsewhere in Zhejiang, Ningbo, Wenzhou, Yiwu and Zhoushan each have their own designated ports, and you can enter through one and exit through another, or leave mainland China from any designated port nationwide.
Can I visit Shanghai or Suzhou during my Hangzhou transit?
Yes. Under the 240-hour policy, cross-province travel within the permitted areas is officially allowed. Shanghai is 45 minutes by high-speed train from Hangzhou East, and Suzhou sits on the same Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Shanghai loop — the classic pairing is West Lake one day, the Bund the next.
Can I enter at HGH but fly out of Shanghai or another city?
Yes. Your exit does not have to be the port you entered — any designated port works, which makes one-way Hangzhou → Shanghai itineraries popular (enter at HGH, take the 45-minute high-speed train, fly out of PVG or SHA). Just remember the A→B→C rule: your onward ticket must leave for a third country or region, not back to where you came from.
How many days do I actually get in Hangzhou?
The 240-hour policy equals 10 full days. Official rules do not specify exactly when the clock starts; our departure deadline calculator uses the most conservative reading — 240 hours from your entry moment — so any other interpretation only gives you more time.
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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