Do I need a visa? Or can I get the 144 hour visa on arrival ?

The cheapest option is indeed 144 hours visa free transit. You are eligible for 24 hours visa free during your first transit in Shenzhen and for 144 hours visa free during your second transit. Basically, if your flights are non stop, you are perfectly eligible for visa free transit. By the way, you are not limited to Shenzhen only, but you can travel throughout Guangdong province as well.

Hi ,

Will the 144 hour visa still apply ? Technichally I think I am staying for slightly longer than 144 hours because I arrive at 8:45am on the 22nd June , and leave at 2pm on 28th June , which is like about 149 hours . Also what do you mean by non stop flights ? Yes my flights are non stop from Kuala Lumpur to shenzen and then shenzen direct to london . Thanks so much in advance ! Finally do I apply for this 144 hour visa on arrival ? I am worried about going to China without having anything prepared ! But I think you are putting my heart at ease .

To avoid confusion when you check-in, always refer to "transit without visa" and never say "visa on arrival" or "144 hour visa". The 144 hours starts at 00:01 on the day following entry, so 149 hours is not a problem. "Non-stop" flights means just that, the flight doesn't stop anywhere else (it's not the same as "direct", by the way). You don't have to worry about anything, just print out all your tickets on paper and be prepared to show them at check-in, boarding and arrival. Also print your hotel booking in Shenzhen on paper.

You are absolutely amazing ! Thank you so much ! So when I arrive in China from Kuala Lumpur I just ask for the transit visa ? Or when I check in from Kuala Lumpur to london (via shenzen for 6 days) ?

Also , with this transit visa , I am only allowed to stay in Guangdong ? Or am I allowed to take the train to Hong Kong and back ?

Don't say "transit visa". It is transit WITHOUT visa. Yes, you are allowed to take the train to Hong Kong but you would need a visa to take the train back to China. You will need to fly.