Question

Asked by Miles Julian from united kingdom | Apr. 01, 2025 14:41

About:240-Hour Visa-Free Transit

LHR-HKG-train to Guangzhou/Foshan-CAN-LHR

My wife and I (UK) wish to attend a wedding in Foshan, and hope to stay a few days in Hong Kong first. Can we fly to Hong Kong, spend a few days there, take a train/trains to Foshan, then explore Yangzhou, then fly Guangzhou-UK, using a 10-day tourist visa for mainland China?
If so, where do we apply for/obtain the necessary documents/stamps? Is it a quick, simple procedure?

Thank you for your useful website. We have spent hours trying to understand the regulations, trying various itineraries and visas, and don’t wish to make bookings then find that we are stranded somewhere, and have to abandon the trip without entering China.

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Answers (2)

Answered by Borut | Apr. 01, 2025 23:34

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You can do that, but there is one detail that you simply have to change within your itinerary. Taking a train from Hong Kong to mainland China is not eligible for 240 hour visa free transit, so an alternative is an imperative. Eligible ways how to enter mainland China from Hong Kong are by air or by taking a ferry on a direct line from Hong Kong to Nansha port (located south from Guangzhou and connected to it my metro) or to Shekou port in Shenzhen. So, you can choose between those two ferry lines. Even before you have taken one of the ferries, you will have to have your Guangzhou to UK flight ticket and, please, have in mind that your flight itinerary from Guangzhou to UK is not allowed to have Hong Kong as a layover. It has to be a direct, nonstop flight Guangzhou - UK. When you arrive at Hong Kong ferry port to take your mainland China bound ferry, you will declare that you are traveling to UK via mainland China using 240 hour visa free transit. You will present them your Guangzhou - UK ticket and you will be allowed to board the ferry. Upon your arrival in Nansha or Shekou, the first thing is that you will apply for a temporary entry permit at the transit counter (in reality immigration area) where you will again present your flight ticket for UK. This is all free of any charge. After a short check, you will be granted a permit and after that you will cross the immigration and exit the terminal building to proceed toward Foshan and to other places in mainland China of your choice. When a time for your flight arrives, you will take it from Guangzhou to UK. Also, I encourage you to use correct terminology because this is 240 hour visa free transit and not 240 hour visa or similar. Have a nice visit to China.

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Answered by Miles Julian | Apr. 02, 2025 06:35

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Thank you very much indeed, Borut! That is very clear and full of the essential details. Now I must convince my wife that it is not possible to do it by rail! Then look up those ferry routes and times. I imagine it is an interesting journey by boat: more to see and time to see it.

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