Entry rules · 4 Nov 2026
Visiting China from the US: tourist visa or 240-hour transit?
The United States is not on China’s 30-day visa-free list, so Americans have two ways in. Both work; the right one depends on your flights and where you want to go.
Option 1: 240-hour visa-free transit. You can stay up to 10 days without a visa if you arrive from one country and leave for a different one, for example Los Angeles to Shanghai, then Shanghai to Tokyo. A round trip back to the US doesn’t qualify. You must enter through one of the designated ports and stay within the provinces allowed for that port, so it suits trips that stay in one region, like Beijing or Shanghai and the cities nearby.
Option 2: a tourist (L) visa. It takes a little paperwork and a fee, but it removes the routing rules and allows longer stays. It is the simpler choice for multi-region trips and for our Northwest road trips, which cross several provinces. When you book with us, we send an invitation letter and a day-by-day itinerary, which are the documents most applicants struggle with.
Is it safe to go? The US State Department’s advisory for mainland China is currently Level 2, “exercise increased caution”, the same level as many European countries. Millions of foreign visitors travel each year without problems. We recommend you read the advisory yourself, carry your passport, and register with the STEP program.
Flights: direct flights between the US and China are still limited, so many travelers connect through Seoul, Tokyo, Hong Kong or Doha, which can also make 240-hour transit possible on the way home. Tell us your dates and we’ll suggest the simplest routing.