24h Visa for China for flights transiting in Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Xi'an to Europe
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🍀Post based on experience from 5 transit trips through various China airports in the past 6 months (24h visa photo below. Hope it solves the problem for you returning to Europe after Tet due to the war!
🍀First, for 1 transit flight, you can rest assured no 24h visa needed unless you want to go out and play.
🍀2 transits: high chance of retrieving checked baggage, and it's best to confirm retrieval to handle it quickly (if not needed, lucky).
=> No matter which airport—Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, or Xi'an—getting the 24h visa is very easy, just follow the incoming passenger flow and ask staff to get it.
=> After getting the visa, if you need to retrieve luggage, just do it, then proceed with onward flight check-in with no difficulties, follow the instructions on the electronic boards above, or grab airport staff to ask. If many don't speak English (Chinese), install a China eSIM, set up ChatGPT, Google Translate, and you're done => understand each other fully => problem solved.
=> For long transit, leave luggage at the airport and go play, no worries, luggage storage usually on floor 1, go out buy train tickets to the city and play, then return for next flight (or book hotel near train station to sleep).
=> Subway tickets are cheap, in Shanghai around 6-7 RMB line 2 (fast train more expensive), other cities all have trains/buses to city, don't worry when you have phone with internet.
=> Buy eSIM, install Alipay to buy food, pay for trains/buses. In China food is delicious, transport cheap, turn risk into opportunity to stay calm.
=> Note to book tickets with transit time not over 26h for safety (including domestic flights).
🍀Tip: At Pudong, leave luggage at T1 doors 7/8.
🍀In Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou there are free Trip tours you can take advantage of.
🍀In Shanghai, Yu Garden, Bund at night very beautiful.
Cre: Nguyen Minh Hien
