Arrive Qingdao (TAO) depart 13 hours later to Bangkok via TAO/KMG/BKK qualify for 72-hr visa?

Michael, the domestic flight going to Kunming disqualifies you for the 72-hr free transit. However, if your total transit time in China is not over 24 hours, you can enjoy the 24-hr direct transit policy.

Thank you Nancy. Just for clarification, my entire itinerary from the U.S. to Bangkok including the TAO/KMG/BKK legs are all on the same carrier. I'm not changing airlines in Kunming, just transiting to another flight on the same airline. So my onward ticket from TAO is to BKK and not Kunming. I won't be in Qingdao more than 24-hrs so I will use the 24-hr direct transit permit, but I would like to clarify for future trips. I'm assuming here that the disqualifier is I would be clearing immigration in Kunming? Or I'm making a transit stop for my onward flight and not flying directly from Qingdao to Bangkok? Any help you might offer is most appreciated. -- Michael

Yes, the disqualifier is that you will be clearing immigration Kunming. If you want to use it, you should take a direct flight from Qingdao to Bangkok.