I am flying to Shanghai for a 2 night stay before boarding a cruise ship. Do I need a visa?

Barbara, you will be eligible for 144 hour visa free transit and you don't need any kind of visa, but your itinerary has to fulfill the following conditions:

- Your flight from, I assume, UK to Shanghai is not allowed to have any additional landing in mainland China and in the country where your cruise will have its first port of call, immediately after Shanghai.
- Your cruise is not allowed to have its first port of call, immediately after Shanghai, in mainland China port.

If the above conditions are fulfilled, you will be definitely eligible for 144 hour visa free transit.

You will print out your flight and cruise tickets and a confirmation of your accommodation booking in Shanghai.