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Question: Asked by Jim from usa | Apr. 27, 2023 06:49

About:240-Hour Visa-Free Transit in Guangdong

144 hours

Does layover count too? NY to Guangzhou has no direct flights, need to layover some place like Taiwan or Seoul. My trip plan:

NY to Taiwan (layover) to Guangzhou to Hong Kong.

Hong Kong to Guangzhou to Taiwan (layover) to NY.

Any limits on how many 144hrs I can get within a month or year? I want to stay in Guangzhou for a total of 12 days in the above scenario. Also you tell the carrier (airline) in advance or when you get the ticket at the airport about the 144 hr transit? Some will give you trouble if don't have China Visa and make lots of calls or deny you entry to China. Thank you for the help.

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Answers (1): Answered by Borut | Apr. 27, 2023 11:31

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This is all possible and the Chinese provinces of Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau act as third countries, so they do not count into your total 144 hours that you will enjoy while staying in Guangdong province.

Your itineraries are eligible for 144 hour visa free transit both ways, but you should take several details in mind:

- Your itinerary Taiwan - Guangzhou - Hong Kong is fine but you will need to book a ferry (catamaran) ticket from Nansha port south from Guangzhou or Shekou port in Shenzhen for Hong Kong if you want to exit that way. Alternatively, you can also fly from Guangzhou to Hong Kong. If you decide for a ferry, you will have to buy a ticket through CKS (Chu Kong Passenger Transport) website, print out that ticket, have it with you and exit mainland China to Hong Kong by taking exactly that ferry you have bough the ticket for.
- Your itinerary Hong Kong - Guangzhou - Taiwan is also eligible, but please have in mind that in order to be eligible for 144 hour visa free transit, you will have to fly from Hong Kong to Guangzhou. In other words, exits can have different forms, but the entry into Guangdong province can only be by air.
- When eligible for 144 hour visa free transit, you are free to stay, explore, travel within the entire Guangdong province.

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144 hours