Answered by ZUPAN
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Oct. 10, 2019 12:37
Dominika, the issue with Urumqi airport is very delicate one. In reality and as far as I know, only those flights that have 2 hours or less of layover in Urumqi are eligible for visa free transit. All other, at least according to Timatic (the most authoritative source for visa related issues, used by airport staff) should not be eligible. Anyway, you are right when you say that there are quite a number of examples of passengers who have successfully crossed Urumqi even with longer layovers. In reality, I can only can guarantee that China Southern CZ6022 flight (Vienna - Urumqi - Guangzhou) is definitely and undeniably eligible for 24 hour visa free transit, but even this flight will become doubtful because China Southern will extend the layover somewhere in November, from actual 2 hour to 2 hours and 10 minutes.
My suggestion in your case is to, unfortunately, obtain a transit (G) visa in advance although I'm quite confident that you will witness quite a number of passengers traveling without visa and even not knowing about 2 hour rule in Urumqi. Now, you have to choose whether you will take your chance or you will obtain a visa and travel with peace of mind. The choice has to be all yours.