Answered by Borut
|
Jul. 22, 2025 22:58
Jellybean, you as a holder of 3 stars HKID are eligible for the Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macau Residents (Home Return Permit) with a validity of 5 years and that is the best way how you could travel all around mainland China, your itinerary included. Indeed, that would be the best option for you because if you do not issue one, you will be traveling into mainland China as a usual US citizen. If you travel as a US citizen your itinerary is not eligible for 240 hour visa free transit because the basic rule of 240 hour visa free transit requires that the immediate points before and after mainland China are located in two different countries or eligible territories (eligible territories are Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau). As you can see, both of your immediate points are locate in the same territory and that is Hong Kong. Also, if you travel as a US citizen, you cannot exit Hong Kong toward mainland China by train under 240 hour visa free transit. To conclude, if you plan to travel as a US citizen, you will have to introduce Macau into your itinerary and travel from Hong Kong to Macau first and then by ferry from Macau to Shekou port in Shenzhen. When you arrive in Shekou (Shenzhen), you can proceed with the rest of your original itinerary. Like this your itinerary will be eligible because you will have your immediate points in two different eligible territories - Macau and Hong Kong. I would suggest you to obtain the Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macau Residents (Home Return Permit) because it will make you more mobile and you will be free from these visa free transit rules. In any case, I wish you a nice journey.
2
0
Reply