Tianfu Airport’s customs control will NOT grant 24hr visa-free transit

Kelly Vu, it is important to know that every passenger transiting for less than 24 hours, has a right to travel through China based on 24 hour visa free transit absolutely visa free, but by the rules, they are supposed to stay in the airport transit area. So, you were not denied any right because you have accomplished your journey and a transit through China absolutely visa free.

A detail you were denied is called a temporary entry permit and this permit is based entirely on a discretionary right of the airport officials. This is not a passenger's right, but more like a bonus that is issued in certain specific situations. Usually it is granted to those having an overnight during a night hours or to those having a layover with small children, but as I have elaborated, this is not a passenger's right, but a goodwill of those in charge.

To conclude, all those flying on layovers (transit times) shorter than 24 hours cannot take for granted that they will be allowed to exit the airport because this is not their right as is the case in the largest majority of airports around the world. You can just hope that it will be granted. Now, I can tell you that in cases of more tense security circumstances the permits are not granted or similar, so everything that remains to you is to find some amusement before your next flight out of China. I hope I have explained the set of the rules as far as 24 hour visa free transit as well as of temporary entry permit are concerned.

Hi Borus, thank you for your reply. I understand and accept the situation. Just one more question, since I have checked baggage and my baggage is not checked through, since I am not gonna have temporary entry permit when transit at Tianfu Int’t Airport, is there any other way for me to retrieve my checked baggage then?

This is something different. When a passenger travels on separate tickets or on unrelated airlines, then a temporary entry permit has to be issued because there is no other way how a passenger could accomplish her/his journey. So, if this is the case, the first thing you will do is to print out your flight tickets and have them at hand, ready to be presented at check-in in the airport from where you will depart toward China and also at the moment when you land in China, in your case in Chengdu, where you will present the tickets at the transit counter at the time you will apply for a temporary entry permit.

So, you will be granted a permit because there is no other way how could you accomplish your journey and how could you collect and after that check-in your luggage and yourself for the new flight. You do not have to bother with every single detail because this will be resolved, but again, have those printouts at hand because this will speed up the entire process.