Quick Answer
If you hold a passport from one of the 55+ eligible countries (including the US, UK, EU states, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, the UAE and — since June 2025 — Indonesia) and a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region within 240 hours, you can enter China through Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport without a visa and stay up to 10 days. Your permitted area includes the whole of Chongqing municipality — the city, Dazu and Wulong included — and cross-province travel inside the policy's permitted areas is allowed. Separately, many passports (including Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore) get 30 days visa-free outright: check that first, it's simpler.
Which Rule Applies to You? (check in this order)
- 30-day visa-free entry — China grants unilateral or mutual 30-day visa-free entry to a growing list of countries (much of Europe, plus Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and others in Asia). If your passport is on it, just fly in. No onward-ticket-to-third-country requirement.
- 240-hour visa-free transit — for eligible passports transiting to a third country. Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan count as third regions. Your origin and onward countries must differ.
- 24-hour transit — most other passports can transit airside within 24 hours without a visa, but generally cannot tour the city.
- None of the above — apply for a tourist (L) visa before you travel.
Official source for the current lists: National Immigration Administration (nia.gov.cn) — the lists have expanded repeatedly, so check your passport there before booking. Last checked by us: October 2026.
The 240-Hour Rules, Plainly
- Ticket: confirmed seat, departure within 240 hours of arrival, destination = third country/region (not where you flew in from).
- Passport: valid at least 3 months beyond arrival.
- Port: Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport (CKG) is a designated port; you may enter and exit through different designated ports under the policy.
- Stay area: all of Chongqing municipality — which, usefully, includes the Dazu Rock Carvings and Wulong Karst, both UNESCO sites. The policy also permits travel across the designated areas of the participating provinces within your 240 hours.
- Activities: tourism, business, family visits. Work, study and journalism still require a visa.
- On arrival: complete the arrival card, present passport + onward ticket at the dedicated visa-free transit counter, receive the temporary entry permit stamp. Keep your onward booking accessible offline.
Spending Your Transit Hours in Chongqing
| You have | Realistic plan |
|---|---|
| 8–12 hours | City loop: Liziba → cableway → Jiefangbei → Hongyadong (lights if evening), with airport transfers guaranteed Chongqing City Day Tour |
| 1–2 days | Full city day + a slow food-and-old-town morning T2/ |
| 3–4 days | City + Wulong day + Dazu day — the complete region inside one permit Chongqing 3-Day Private Tour |
| Up to 10 days | Base in Chongqing, add the Wulong overnight and a Chengdu leg within the permitted areas Custom Tours |
Mistakes That Get People Refused (read this twice)
- Round trip tickets. A ticket back to your origin country is not a transit. Book onward to a third place — even a cheap hop to Hong Kong fixes it.
- Counting hours wrong. The 240 hours run from entry processing; tight connections plus a "quick look at the city" is how overstays happen.
- Wrong port fantasies. Land borders and non-designated ports don't count; fly in and out of designated ones.
- Assuming your neighbour's passport rules are yours. The lists differ by nationality and change; verify yours.
FAQ
- Can I leave the airport on a 10-hour layover without a visa? If you're eligible for the 240-hour policy or 30-day visa-free: yes, with onward ticket in hand. If only the 24-hour airside rule covers you: generally no.
- Do I need to register anywhere after entry? Your hotel registers you automatically. Staying in a private home requires police registration within 24 hours — almost no tourist needs this.
- Can I extend beyond 240 hours? No — plan your onward flight inside the window. Overstay is a real offence, not a fee.
This guide summarises public policy for trip planning and is not legal advice. Rules change; the National Immigration Administration's current lists govern.