Hangzhou Is 72-hour Visa-free for Transit Travelers

Hangzhou City in East China began to offer 72-hour Visa-free stays for international transit passengers on October 21, 2014. Hangzhou is the 11th city in China to offer 72-hour visa-free stays, following Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Kunming, Chengdu, Chongqing, Shenyang, Dalian, Xi'an and Guilin. 

Under the plan, transit travelers can stay up to 72 hours in Zhejiang Province after entering Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport, providing they have valid travel documents, third-country visas and onward tickets to leave for a third country or region within 72 hours. Visitors are allowed to leave Hangzhou and travel to other cities within Zhejiang Province. 

In addition to the requirements above, if visitors are unable to depart on time due to unavoidable reasons, such as flight cancellation or treatment of sudden disease, they need to apply for a visa from Municipal Public Security Bureau (PSB). Otherwise, they will get warned, fined, or detained.  Besides, pets are forbidden from entry. If foreigners carry a guide dog into the airport, they must provide the Certificate of Health and Certificate of Vaccination issued by the Department of Animal and Plant Inspection and Quarantine of their own country.

Attention: Transit travelers should put forward transit permit requests to the carrier airlines in advance so that the airlines can declare it to the airport customs before landing. Upon arrival, travelers will be led to register for a transit permit along with the required items.

The 51 countries include the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, New Zealand, Austria, Belgium, Singapore, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Bulgaria, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Ireland, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Montenegro, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine and the United Arab Emirates.

Hangzhou, famous for the West Lake, is a popular destination in China for both domestic travelers and international travelers. Check out tour ideas for a 72-hour visa-free stay in Hangzhou.