China's Regional Visa-Free Entry Policies — Hainan, Cruise Groups, HK/Macao Tours & More
Beyond the headline 240-hour transit rule, China runs six regional visa-free policies — Hainan's 61-country scheme, cruise tour groups, HK/Macao tour groups into Guangdong and Hainan, and ASEAN tour groups into Xishuangbanna and Guilin. This page lines up all of them from the National Immigration Administration's official policy interpretation: who qualifies, where you can enter, how long you can stay, and when the 240-hour transit rule is the better fit.
The six policies at a glance
Everything below comes from the NIA's official policy interpretation (updated 2026-08-20). Stay periods are always "maximum" figures and — for every policy on this page — counted from 0:00 on the day after entry (see the stay-period rule).
| Policy | Who qualifies | Where you enter | Max stay & area | Purpose / conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hainan 30-day visa-free entry | Ordinary passport holders from 61 countries (incl. US, UK, most of the EU, Japan, Korea, Australia…) | Any open port in Hainan | 30 days, within Hainan Province only | Tourism, business, visits, family visits, medical treatment, conferences & exhibitions, sports competitions — not work or study |
| Cruise tour groups | Any nationality, in a group of 2+ organized and received by a China-registered travel agency | One of 13 cruise ports (Beihai, Dalian, Guangzhou, Haikou, Lianyungang, Qingdao, Sanya, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Tianjin, Wenzhou, Xiamen, Zhoushan) | 15 days, in Beijing + 11 coastal provinces; must depart on the same cruise ship | Cruise itinerary as scheduled |
| HK/Macao tour groups → Guangdong | Ordinary passports from countries with diplomatic relations with China; group organized by a travel agency registered in Hong Kong or Macao | Enter Hong Kong or Macao SAR first, then Guangdong with the group | 6 days in 10 cities: the 9 Greater Bay Area cities + Shantou | Tourism with the tour group |
| HK/Macao tour groups → Hainan | Same as above — diplomatic-relations countries, HK/Macao-registered agency group | Enter Hong Kong or Macao SAR first, then Hainan with the group | 6 days, within Hainan Province | Tourism with the tour group |
| Xishuangbanna ASEAN tour groups | ASEAN nationals, 2+ ordinary passport holders per group, China-registered travel agency | Xishuangbanna Gasa International Airport, Mohan Railway Port, or Mohan Highway Port | 6 days, within Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture; enter and leave with the group | Tourism with the tour group |
| Guilin ASEAN tour groups | ASEAN nationals, 2+ ordinary passport holders per group, China-registered travel agency | The airport in Guilin | 6 days, within Guilin; enter and leave with the group | Tourism with the tour group |
1. Hainan: 30 days visa-free for 61 countries
Foreign nationals holding ordinary passports from 61 countries may enter and stay within the administrative region of Hainan Province for a maximum of 30 days without a visa, for short-term stays for purposes associated with tourism, business, visits, family visits, medical treatment, conferences and exhibitions, sports competitions, etc. The policy does not apply to those who intend to enter for working or studying. You may enter through any open port in Hainan.
The 61 countries are:
Albania · Argentina · Australia · Austria · Belarus · Belgium · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Brazil · Brunei · Bulgaria · Canada · Chile · Croatia · Cyprus · the Czech Republic · Denmark · Estonia · Finland · France · Germany · Greece · Hungary · Iceland · Indonesia · Ireland · Italy · Japan · Kazakhstan · Kyrgyzstan · Latvia · Lithuania · Luxembourg · Malaysia · Malta · Mexico · Monaco · Montenegro · the Netherlands · New Zealand · North Macedonia · Norway · the Philippines · Poland · Portugal · Qatar · the Republic of Korea · Romania · Russia · Serbia · Singapore · Slovakia · Slovenia · Spain · Sweden · Switzerland · Thailand · Ukraine · the United Arab Emirates · the United Kingdom · the United States · Vietnam
Three limits people miss: the policy covers stays within Hainan Province only — not the rest of mainland China; it does not cover work or study purposes; and it is a different scheme from China's unilateral visa-free entry policy (see the FAQ).
2. Cruise tour groups: 15 days from 13 cruise ports
Any foreign tourist group consisting of two or more individuals, organized and received by a travel agency registered in China, may enter China without a visa by cruise ship via one of the cruise ports in 13 cities:
| Cruise port city | Province / region |
|---|---|
| Beihai | Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region |
| Dalian | Liaoning Province |
| Guangzhou | Guangdong Province |
| Haikou | Hainan Province |
| Lianyungang | Jiangsu Province |
| Qingdao | Shandong Province |
| Sanya | Hainan Province |
| Shanghai | Municipality |
| Shenzhen | Guangdong Province |
| Tianjin | Municipality |
| Wenzhou | Zhejiang Province |
| Xiamen | Fujian Province |
| Zhoushan | Zhejiang Province |
Groups may stay up to 15 days in Beijing and the 11 coastal provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities (Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Hebei, Jiangsu, Liaoning, Shandong, Shanghai, Tianjin, Zhejiang). All eligible groups must continue the scheduled journey and depart China on the same cruise ship — this is a group itinerary policy, not an open entry permit.
3. Tour groups from Hong Kong / Macao: 6 days in Guangdong or Hainan
Foreign nationals holding ordinary passports from countries with diplomatic relations with China can use these two policies if they enter Hong Kong or Macao first, then enter the mainland as part of a tourist group organized by a travel agency registered in either SAR:
- To Guangdong: a maximum of 6 days in nine Greater Bay Area cities plus Shantou — Dongguan, Foshan, Guangzhou, Huizhou, Jiangmen, Shantou, Shenzhen, Zhaoqing, Zhongshan, Zhuhai. The group enters and exits the mainland through any of the exit-entry ports in these 10 cities.
- To Hainan: a maximum of 6 days in Hainan Province, entering and exiting with the group through any of the exit-entry ports in Hainan.
Both policies hinge on the group mechanics: arrive in the SAR first, join the SAR-registered agency's tour, and travel in and out with the group.
4. Xishuangbanna: ASEAN tour groups, 6 days
Tourist groups of two or more ordinary passport holders from ASEAN member states, organized and received by a China-registered travel agency, may enter and exit through Xishuangbanna Gasa International Airport, Mohan Railway Port, or Mohan Highway Port, and stay within the Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture (Yunnan Province) for a maximum of 6 days. Travelers must enter and leave China as part of their tourist group.
5. Guilin: ASEAN tour groups, 6 days
Same group rules as Xishuangbanna — 2+ ordinary passport holders from an ASEAN member state, organized and received by a China-registered travel agency, entering and leaving as part of the group — but through the airport in Guilin (Guangxi), staying within the administrative region of Guilin for a maximum of 6 days.
The 10 ASEAN member states covered by both policies: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam.
How the stay period is counted: 0:00 the day after entry
For every policy on this page, the official rule is the same: the stay period is calculated from 0:00 on the day after the day of entry. Your arrival day itself doesn't count — the clock starts at midnight.
The same official notice closes with a precedence rule: for individuals who meet the requirements of China's bilateral visa exemption agreements or unilateral visa-free policies, the relevant regulations prevail. In practice: if you qualify for a broader national scheme, you travel under those rules; the regional policies above are the region-specific paths for everyone else they cover.
Regional visa-free vs. 240-hour visa-free transit
The regional policies overlap with — but are not the same as — China's 240-hour visa-free transit policy for nationals of 57 countries (transiting to a third country or region, entering at any of the designated 65 ports in 24 provinces, staying in permitted areas up to 10 days with a confirmed onward ticket). Work, study and news reporting still require prior approvals and appropriate visas under the transit policy; its official port-and-area table is published by NIA as an image, so we don't reproduce a port list here.
| Requirement | Regional visa-free (this page) | 240-hour visa-free transit |
|---|---|---|
| Nationality | Varies by policy: 61 named countries (Hainan), any nationality (cruise groups), ASEAN 10 (Xishuangbanna/Guilin), diplomatic-relations countries (HK/Macao groups) | 57 named countries (incl. US, UK, Russia, most of the EU, Japan, Korea, Australia) |
| Where you enter | Policy-specific: any open port in Hainan, 13 cruise ports, SAR-then-Guangdong/Hainan group ports, Xishuangbanna's 3 ports, Guilin airport | Any of the 65 designated open ports in 24 provinces/regions/municipalities |
| Travel format | Tour group with a registered agency — except Hainan's 61-country policy, which works for individual travelers | Independent travel allowed; no agency required |
| Onward travel proof | Not a stated condition of the regional policies (group itineraries are fixed by the agency) | Onward ticket to a third country/region with confirmed seat and departure date |
| Where you can stay | The policy's region: Hainan, Beijing + 11 coastal provinces, 10 Guangdong cities, Xishuangbanna, or Guilin | Permitted areas around the transit route (official detail table published as an image) |
| Max stay | 30 days (Hainan) · 15 days (cruise) · 6 days (HK/Macao and ASEAN groups) | 10 days (240 hours) |
Which path is yours? If you're from one of the 57 transit countries and your route enters and leaves through allowed ports, the 240-hour transit rule usually covers an independent trip with less paperwork — check your route in two minutes. If your destination is specifically Hainan, a cruise, or a group tour from Hong Kong/Macao, the regional policies above are the fit — and if neither works, our US and UK entry guides walk through the regular visa route.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can US citizens visit Hainan without a visa?
Yes. The US is on the 61-country list for Hainan's 30-day visa-free policy. Americans can enter through any open port in Hainan and stay up to 30 days for short-term purposes like tourism, business, family visits, medical treatment, conferences and sports — the policy does not cover working or studying. Remember the stay is counted from 0:00 on the day after you enter, and you must stay within Hainan Province.
Does the Hainan 61-country policy let me travel anywhere in China?
No. The 30-day policy keeps you within the administrative region of Hainan Province. If you want to see Beijing, Shanghai or anywhere else in mainland China on a visa-free trip, the closer fit is usually the 240-hour visa-free transit policy — check your route with our visa-free transit checker.
Which countries are on China's regional visa-free lists?
It depends on the policy. Hainan's 30-day policy uses a named list of 61 countries (the full list is on this page). The ASEAN group policies for Xishuangbanna and Guilin cover the 10 ASEAN member states. The HK/Macao group policies for Guangdong and Hainan are open to ordinary passport holders of countries with diplomatic relations with China (no named list published on the policy page). Cruise groups have no nationality list at all — the conditions are the group size and the China-registered travel agency.
How do cruise passengers enter China without a visa?
Your cruise tour group needs two or more travelers and must be organized and received by a travel agency registered in China. You enter by cruise ship at one of the 13 cruise ports (Beihai, Dalian, Guangzhou, Haikou, Lianyungang, Qingdao, Sanya, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Tianjin, Wenzhou, Xiamen or Zhoushan), may stay up to 15 days in Beijing and the 11 coastal provinces, and must continue on the scheduled itinerary and leave China on the same cruise ship.
Can I enter Guangdong or Hainan from Hong Kong without a visa?
Yes, under the two HK/Macao tour-group policies — if you hold an ordinary passport from a country with diplomatic relations with China, enter Hong Kong or Macao first, and join a tour group organized by a travel agency registered in either SAR. The Guangdong version allows 6 days in the 9 Greater Bay Area cities plus Shantou (Dongguan, Foshan, Guangzhou, Huizhou, Jiangmen, Shantou, Shenzhen, Zhaoqing, Zhongshan, Zhuhai); the Hainan version allows 6 days in Hainan Province. You enter and exit the mainland with the group.
How is my stay counted under China's regional visa-free policies — does the entry day count?
No. For all of these policies, the stay period is calculated from 0:00 on the day after the day of entry — the day you arrive doesn't eat into your allowance. The same official notice adds that if you qualify under China's bilateral visa exemption agreements or unilateral visa-free policies, those regulations prevail instead.
Regional visa-free entry or 240-hour visa-free transit — which one applies to my trip?
Ask two questions. Where do I enter? Regional policies are tied to specific places (Hainan, cruise ports, Xishuangbanna, Guilin, or a HK/Macao-then-Guangdong/Hainan group trip), while 240-hour transit accepts entry at any of the designated 65 ports in 24 provinces. Who am I traveling with? Except for Hainan's 61-country policy, the regional rules above are tour-group policies requiring a registered travel agency; 240-hour transit works for independent travelers from 57 countries who hold onward tickets to a third country or region. Run your nationality and route through the 144/240-hour transit checker to see if the transit path already covers you.
Is Hainan's 61-country list the same as China's unilateral visa-free entry list?
No — they are different schemes. China's unilateral visa-free entry policy is a national scheme covering ordinary passport holders visiting mainland China, with its own country list — not the list on this page. The Hainan policy is a regional scheme limited to Hainan Province, with its own 61-country list. The official notice closing the regional policies states that where a traveler meets the conditions of China's bilateral agreements or unilateral policies, those regulations prevail — so you always travel under the most specific applicable rules, and you can compare the national schemes in our China entry guide.
Source & verification
Source: National Immigration Administration — Regional Visa-Free Entry Policies, updated 2026-08-20. https://en.nia.gov.cn/n147418/n147463/c180637/content.html
Source: National Immigration Administration — Visa-Free Transit Policies, updated 2026-08-20. https://en.nia.gov.cn/n147418/n147463/c183412/content.html
Last verified: 2026-09-06
All policies, lists and figures on this page are distilled from the two official NIA pages above (61-country list, 13 cruise ports, ASEAN members, city lists, stay durations and the 0:00 next-day counting rule). The 240-hour transit column cites only the figures stated in that page's text; NIA publishes the transit port-and-area table as an image, so no port list is reproduced here. Country lists are notice-based and can change — always confirm against the official source before booking.