Transit Beijing and Shanghai transit

Question

Hi all, sorry if this has been asked a million times. We would like to fly to Bangkok from UK and have seen a flight going with a 14 hour connection in Beijing and on the return leg from Bangkok, a 19 hour connection in Shanghai.

Are we allowed to fly into 2 separate cities in China, one going and one coming back or have we got to fly onto the same city in China for a connection?

Also, with the connection times in the airport's, is it enough time to be granted a 24 hour transit visa to be allowed to explore the cities whilst on the layover?

Answer

Yes, you are allowed to have your inbound and outbound flights land in different Chinese cities. China’s 24/72/144-hour visa-free transit policies are city-specific, meaning you can enter Beijing on your inbound leg and Shanghai on your return leg without any issue, as long as each city’s rules are followed separately.

About the transit visa:

China offers a 24-hour visa-free transit (VFT) for many international travelers, which allows you to leave the airport and explore the city during your layover.
Since your layovers are 14 hours in Beijing and 19 hours in Shanghai, both exceed the 24-hour visa-free transit requirement comfortably.
Ensure that your airline tickets for the onward journey (to Bangkok and back to the UK) are confirmed and that you have all travel documents ready. Immigration officers may ask to see your onward boarding passes.

Tips for exploring the cities during layover:

Be mindful of airport transfer times. Beijing Capital (PEK) or Beijing Daxing (PKX) and Shanghai Pudong (PVG) airports are large, so allow 1–1.5 hours for transit from airport to city.
Use convenient public transport options such as the Airport Express in Beijing or Maglev/Metro in Shanghai to reach city highlights quickly.
Plan a short itinerary: for Beijing, Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, or a quick Great Wall visit; for Shanghai, The Bund, Yu Garden, or Nanjing Road. Avoid ambitious plans that risk missing your connecting flight.

Additional notes:

You do not need to fly into the same city in China for the connection; each layover is treated individually.
Check if your nationality is eligible for the 24-hour visa-free transit in Beijing and Shanghai. Most Western passports are eligible, but it’s worth confirming.
Keep travel times and airport check-in requirements in mind. Arrive back at the airport at least 2–3 hours before your onward international flight.

In summary, your plan is feasible. Both layovers are long enough to enjoy a city visit under China’s transit visa rules, and flying into different cities on inbound and outbound legs is allowed.

Transit Beijing and Shanghai transit

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