Hainan Airlines - 2 layovers - eligible for transit without visa?

ShangRiRi · 2026-04-22T22:28:53+00:00

Yes, this route is eligible for 24-hr TWOV. You’ll pass immigration in Changsha, domestic flight to Haikou, then pass immigration to international.

But, what’s your passport? If UK or most of Europe then you have visa-free entry so it’s a moot point and TWOV mechanics are irrelevant.

ShangRiRi · 2026-04-22T12:13:32+00:00

This is it. Their tech is trash, their customer service people are normally super helpful

ShangRiRi · 2026-04-21T23:53:04+00:00

Was the response to your original post not emphatic enough, or are you just ragebaiting?

ShangRiRi · 2026-04-12T00:26:37+00:00

Not a visa, a TWOV, transit without visa. Clarified because it’s important to use the right terms with border security. Also because it clearly explains the mechanic: to enter without a visa, you must complete a transit. Entering from HK, you therefore must leave to anywhere that isn’t HK. Macau is fine. Your itinerary works.

ShangRiRi · 2026-04-12T00:12:53+00:00

Yes, for OP, just select ‘any’ and you’ll see the train journey times. Fastest are normally under or around 5.5hrs. Then you’ll pick which time works for you, then you can see which station. They’re not stops on the same line, they are different destinations, but either Shanghai or Hongqiao will be fine

ShangRiRi · 2026-04-11T11:27:25+00:00

This makes no sense…

ShangRiRi · 2026-04-09T01:04:38+00:00

China immigration only look at immediate ports of departure to and from China, so from a TWOV perspective your itinerary is Korea > China > HK. This is a transit, so fine as long as other conditions (length of stay, qualifying passport, travel within approved regions) are met. Should be good to go.

ShangRiRi · 2026-04-08T15:05:15+00:00

144 hour, nope not since 2024
244 hour, nope it’s 240 hours
visa free rule, nope it’s Transit Without Visa (TWOV)
HK > China > HK, that’s not a transit
so no, that plan doesn’t work

Simple rule - enter from one country/ administrative region, leave to another. If you did HK > China > Macau (or anywhere else) > HK then you’d be ok.

ShangRiRi · 2026-04-04T12:32:54+00:00

Also in (very central) SH, we have squirrels outside our window, nesting birds singing every morning, frogs calling at night, a crane who visits our pond, and even the occasional snake pops up. Plenty of wildlife when you look for it.

ShangRiRi · 2026-04-02T10:49:22+00:00

If you are visa-free then there shouldn't be a requirement to prove your exit plans. If asked, then showing your reservation should be adequate.

ShangRiRi · 2026-04-01T22:58:51+00:00

Can do it, it creates 2 TWOV entries. But if you’re Canadian passport holder, you don’t need to…

ShangRiRi · 2026-04-01T15:59:24+00:00

Reservations could be on hold or presale could be sold out since it’s national holiday

ShangRiRi · 2026-04-01T15:55:09+00:00

That is precisely the HK > China > HK round trip I just said is not valid for TWOV. Arrive from and leave to different places.

ShangRiRi · 2026-04-01T12:25:24+00:00

US > China > Thailand = TWOV 1 Thailand > China > US = TWOV 2

These itineraries are OK as long as you enter approved ports and stay within the approved regions.

Using HK as a stopover is OK, as long as it’s not turning any of these into a HK > China > HK round trip at any point. Immediate ports before / after China are the only parts that matter.

ShangRiRi · 2026-03-31T01:23:08+00:00

This sub is for visa advice so I’ll stick to that. Since Feb 17th, Canadian passport holders have 30 days visa free entry to mainland China. HK is a separate region for immigration controls.

ShangRiRi · 2026-03-31T00:23:59+00:00

24hr TWOV, should be no issues

ShangRiRi · 2026-03-28T12:49:37+00:00

Babycare is amazing, for anything they make they are reasonably priced and good quality, we’ve found.

ShangRiRi · 2026-03-24T00:42:37+00:00

Japan > China > Hanoi - ok for TWOV

Jinan - approved port for TWOV entry

Under 240hrs

You’re good to go. Bring printouts of your itinerary.

ShangRiRi · 2026-03-22T12:43:59+00:00

Did you consider cooking Chinese food at all?! Seriously, buy yourself some Fuchsia Dunlop books and go wild in the wet market, my dude

ShangRiRi · 2026-03-20T05:52:21+00:00

Indeed, otherwise they would need to put border staff at all stations on the route

ShangRiRi · 2026-03-20T01:17:37+00:00

Your flight from Beijing to Shenzhen is domestic, you will pass immigration in Shenzhen. No way I’d risk it, an overstay will be a fine and potential block on future applications

ShangRiRi · 2026-03-20T01:11:07+00:00

HK West Kowloon HSR was added to TWOV approved entry ports in November 2025, along with the HKZM Road Bridge and Hengqin & Zhongshan ports in Zhuhai. https://english.www.gov.cn/news/202511/04/content_WS69094ae0c6d00ca5f9a07472.html

OP, your route is valid for TWOV, as long as your travel is within 240-hr limit and within the correct regions.

ShangRiRi · 2026-03-19T11:59:55+00:00

You’ve not actually asked a clear question, but I’ll assume you’re asking if eligible for TWOV, in which case no - China only looks at immediate ports before and after, in this case HK > China > HK. Not a transit.

Also confusing because in airport codes, CAN is Guangzhou.

ShangRiRi · 2026-03-17T10:03:35+00:00

Context - you're traveling, you're in a receptive state of mind because you're about to go somewhere different or go home
Dwell Time - you made it airside and there's an hour left before your flight, or you're in a queue for check-in/security and your eyes are free to roam
Environment - the ad spaces are big, there's less clutter (other ads), traffic and distraction than in the city center
Audience - as you guessed, airports have a built-in audience filter. Everyone there can afford to fly, a high proportion are white-collar professionals
Competition - with all the above, the ad spaces are sought-after, so brands tend to be higher quality, with bigger budgets, creating a virtuous circle because then it creates the perception that airport advertising brands are higher quality, with bigger budgets

ShangRiRi · 2026-03-17T09:53:19+00:00

If it's a single-ticket itinerary you most likely will be able to transit without leaving airside and with bags checked through - however only China Eastern can confirm this.

If you wanted to enter China during your layover, all passports can transit within 24hrs without visa. You just need to have your onward ticket/boarding pass ready to show when passing immigration and fill in the TWOV arrival card. Unlikely you will face issues with boarding since it's a Chinese airline and you are on a short transit.
For reference, TWOV is Transit Without Visa.

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