Guides
Guides for the situations that get travelers stuck
Entry and transit edge cases (airline staff that don't know the policy, third-region exits, the arrival card), plus practical questions about transport and where to stay. For decision-organised lists, start from Getting Around, Where to Stay or Before You Go.
Practical trip questions
GuideLanding late at Pudong: airport hotel or a city hotel for the first night?A decision frame for late PVG arrivals: when a hotel near the airport is the simpler first night, when going into the city is worth it, and what has to be confirmed before booking either.Pudong Airport (PVG) · ShanghaiGuideSuzhou from Shanghai: day-trip routes and an overnight planA garden-and-museum day, a slower overnight stay, or an outdoor canal walk: choose a Suzhou route from Shanghai and keep its reservations, station names and return journey together.Suzhou Station · Shanghai Railway Station
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 2026-05-16Hotel address for your China arrival cardCopy the full address of your first-night stay. A clear example, field explanations and the exceptions to check before you submit.3 min read · Updated 2026-09-11Confirmed Departure Itinerary: Meaning, Yes or No?A confirmed departure itinerary is a booked journey out of mainland China. Find the Yes/No guidance for your entry type and the details to copy from your ticket.7 min read · Updated 2026-09-11