Since December 28th, 2017, 144-hour visa-free transit policy has been introduced into Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. According to the policy, transiters coming from 54 countries with valid passport and connecting tickets to a 3rd country/region can enter from any eligible port in Beijing, Tianjin, or Hebei without a Chinese visa and enjoy a visa-free stay in the 3 areas for up to 6 days.
This article offers you detailed information about the transit policy as well as Beijing travel tips that can help you make the 6-day layover tour in Beijing memorable.
Basic Facts
Entry/Exit Port:
Beijing: Beijing Capital International Airport, Beijing Daxing International Airport, Beijing West Railway Station
Tianjin: Tianjin Binhai International Airport, Tianjin International Cruise Home Port
Hebei: Shijiazhuang Zhengding International Airport, Port of Qinhuangdao
Areas Permitted to Stay:
Beijing, Tianjin & Hebei Province
Stay Period:
Eligible visa-free transit starts from 00:00 the next day after entry to 24:00 on the 6th day
Eligible Transit Route:
Visitors must leave from any of the eligible ports within 144 hours for a 3rd country or a 3rd region (Hong Kong or Macau), which should not be the same as the departure country.
Eg:
US → Beijing → Australia √
US → Beijing → Tianjin → Australia √
US → Beijing → Hebei → Hong Kong → Australia √
US → Beijing → Shanghai → Australia ×
US → Beijing → Tianjin → US ×
Note: If you want to travel to other popular tourist destinations in China besides Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, it is highly suggested you apply for a Chinese tourist visa before departure.
Read How to apply for a China visa and China visa application requirements to get more details about the application procedure.
Requirements of 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit in Beijing?
- Transits must hold citizenship in the following 54 countries:
| 25 Schengen Agreement Countries | Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Estonia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia |
| 15 Other European Countries | Russia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Ukraine, Belarus, Monaco, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania |
| 6 American Countries | the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Argentina |
| 6 Asian Countries | Japan, Korea, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar |
| 2 Oceania Countries | Australia, New Zealand |
- Transits must hold valid passports or other international travel documents with at least 3 months’ remaining validity;
- Transits must hold connecting tickets with confirmed departure date and seat number to a 3rd country/region within 144 hours after visa-free entry in Beijing.
How to Apply for A 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit in Beijing?
- When boarding, inform the carrier of your intent to apply for a 144-hour visa-free transit;
- Upon arrival, find the dedicated counter that handles temporary entry applications. Fill out the Arrival Card and submit your passport as well as your visa and connecting ticket to a 3rdcountry/region. Once your information is verified, you will get a temporary entry seal on the passport;
- Claim the luggage and go through customs inspections;
- Leave the airport and start your travel in Beijing.
How Can I Get to the City Center from Transit Ports in Beijing?
1. From Beijing Capital International Airport
- By Airport Shuttle Bus:
There are 5 bus lines shuttling between downtown Beijing and the airport. You are recommended to take Beijing West Railway Station Line, which operates from 07:30 to 23:30, at Gate No.11, 1F of Terminal 2 or Gate No.1, 1F of Terminal 3. Get off at Qianmen East or Beijing Railway Station East in the city center after 1.5 hours’ bus ride.
- By Airport Express Train
Airport Express Trains are available from 6:30 to 23:00 and depart from the airport every 10 minutes. You can take the Express Train on B2 of Terminal 2 or 2F of Terminal 3 and transfer to metro line 2 at Dongzhimen.
*Metro line 2 stops at Beijing Railway Station, Qianmen, Gulou Dajie, and Yonghe Gong (Yonghe Lamasery) in the midway, all of which enjoy convenient transportation to major attractions and offer you a lot of accommodation choices.
- By Taxi
The taxi stands can be found at Gate No.5~9, 1F of Terminal 2 or B1 of Terminal 3. The taxi ride to the downtown area takes around 1 hour and costs CNY 100 or so.
2. From Beijing Daxing International Airport
- By Airport Shuttle Bus:
7 bus lines as well as 3 night lines run from Daxing Airport to downtown Beijing every day. Among them, the Beijing Railway Station Line is more recommended. It operates from 08:15~23:15. You can board the bus at Gate N.20, 1F of the terminal, and get off at Chongwenmen or Beijing Railway Station, from which you can have easy access to Tian’anmen Square and Forbidden City by metro line 2.
- By Metro Line
Take the Daxing Airport Metro Line (running between 06:00 and 23:00) on B1 of the terminal to Caoqiao, where you can transfer to metro line 10 or 19 according to your destination.
3. From Beijing West Railway Station
Beijing West Railway Station is within the Third Ring Road of the city. Around the station locate a variety of hotels that can meet different travel budgets. Major attractions, like Tian’anmen Square, Forbidden City, and Temple of Heaven, can be easily accessible from this region by public transportation, like bus and metro line.
√Read more: How to Visit China Without a Visa – Updates on China’s Visa-Free Policies
Top Things to Do During 144 Hours Visa-Free Stay in Beijing
1. Take on a Great Wall Hiking Tour
Having a glimpse of the grandeur of China’s Great Wall is considered a must-do activity by most visitors who travel to China. Beijing, housing the most representative Great Wall sections, is the best destination to experience the diverse charm of this ancient architectural wonder.
Visitors who travel with families are recommended to visit well-preserved sections like Badaling, Mutianyu, and Juyongguan to view classical views of the yellow ramparts crawling along the mountain ridges.
Experienced hikers and tourists with high energy may take a challenge to climb Simatai or Jinshanling, which offer a thrilling experience with steeper slopes and less-conserved beacon towers and ramparts, or even conquer wild sections like Jiankou to take in the unspoiled scenery of Great Wall.
2. Dig into the Glorious Past of this Imperial City
Serving as the imperial capital for over 870 years, Beijing has attracted numerous tourists who have great interest in the history of the ancient royal family and imperial Chinese architecture.
In Beijing, you can immerse yourself in the solemn atmosphere of the Forbidden City, with thousands of magnificent palaces orderly arranged along the central axis; spend leisure time in the Summer Palace, which was built for royal families to spend their free time; admire sacred worship buildings in the Temple of Heaven and gain insight into imperial sacrificial ceremony…
3. Explore Old Beijingers’ Way of Life in Hutongs
It is widely accepted that Beijing hutongs are not just lanes connecting ancient blocks in the city, but more like a living museum. By viewing quaint courtyards and old facilities, you can get to know traditional customs and habits that have been practiced by Beijingners for hundreds of years.
Today, some ancient hutongs around Qianmen, Shichahai and Houhai have become popular destinations for dining and shopping, with a variety of time-honored brands and restaurants, as well as handicraft shops lined up along the flagstone-paved lanes. If you want more delights, a rickshaw tour can take you to explore hutongs in a special way.
Extend Beijing Trips to Tianjin or Hebei for More Fun
According to the transit policy, foreign tourists are permitted to travel to Tianjin and Hebei as well during 144 hours of layover without a China visa. If you seek for more delights, a side trip to the neighboring Tianjin or Qinhuangdao (Hebei Province) will create more wonderful memories for your Beijing tours. There are frequent high-speed trains leaving for the 2 cities every day and you will arrive in around 30 minutes and 2 hours respectively.
In Tianjin, you may wander around the Italian-style town or Five Great Avenues to admire European architectural complexes and be amazed by the splendid Porcelain House – a French-style mansion decorated by nearly 1 billion ceramic pieces.
If you travel to Qinhuangdao, you should never miss the chance to enjoy sunbathing on the golden beach with azure sea stretching to the horizon before your eyes. Here, the Great Wall reaches its eastern end at Laolongtou and Shanhaiguan. With waves dashing against the ramparts, the Great Wall presents a totally different scene in front of you.
