Guides
240h transit guides — for the edges that get people stuck
The 4 main flows handle the common path. These articles cover the situations that trip up real travelers: airline staff that don't know the policy, third-region exits, the new arrival card, and how to decide between 240h and other entry options.
At the airline counter
Denied boarding on China 240h transit — fixesAirlines refuse boarding to qualifying 240h transit travelers because IATA's Timatic database returns 'visa required' as the first hit, and check-in agents stop reading before the transit-override clause. Below are documented cases (Air France, Qatar, Qantas, Air Canada) and the exact proof to carry.9 min read · Updated 2026-05-22Airline doesn't know China 240h transit — fixIf an airline check-in agent refuses your 240h transit boarding, ask them to look up the Timatic transit-override clause and escalate to the duty manager — don't leave the counter. Below is the exact escalation script, the Timatic codes that prove eligibility, an airline-by-airline familiarity report, and a pre-flight checklist that reduces refusal risk.10 min read · Updated 2026-05-16
Eligibility & edge cases
Hong Kong as third region for China 240h?Yes. Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan count as separate regions for China's A-to-mainland-China-to-B 240h routing rule. See valid examples, invalid round trips, and what proof to carry.6 min read · Updated 2026-05-22Exit China to Hong Kong by HSR (WKL · 240h)The rail exit through Shenzhen Futian or Guangzhou South to Hong Kong West Kowloon is a fully valid 240h exit — and an underused one. How it works, the airline-counter friction, and step-by-step travel day instructions.8 min read · Updated 2026-05-16
Arrival & in-country
CDAC scam sites — how to spot them and recoverThe only official China Digital Arrival Card portal is s.nia.gov.cn, and it is free. Any site charging a fee for CDAC submission is a scam — the NIA issued an urgent warning about these in December 2025. Below: how to verify the real portal, the red flags on copycat sites, and what to do if you already paid.8 min read · Updated 2026-05-16China Arrival Card hotel address — what to enterEnter your first-night hotel address exactly as it appears on your booking confirmation — English/Pinyin is accepted by the CDAC form, but carrying the Chinese version on your phone helps at immigration. Below: how to handle Chinese-only addresses, why this matters for the 240h policy, and how to keep your airline papers consistent.9 min read · Updated 2026-05-19Confirmed Departure Itinerary — China Arrival Card meaning“Confirmed Departure Itinerary” on China Arrival Card Step 4 asks one thing: do you already hold a booked ticket out of mainland China? On 240h visa-free transit the answer must be Yes, with your exit details. With a visa, or ordinary visa-free entry and no booked exit yet, the form accepts No. Below: what each answer triggers, what counts as “confirmed”, and the mistakes that cause airport friction.7 min read · Updated 2026-07-03