Getting to China: airports, direct flights and visa-free entry

Which city to enter through, how to plan an open-jaw route and what to check about visas and transit.

China's main international gateways are Beijing (PEK and PKX), Shanghai (PVG), Guangzhou (CAN) and Chengdu. From Central Asia there are flights to several Chinese cities, including Urumqi in the west, so check direct options from your city: they save time and nerves. The choice of arrival city shapes the whole route, so start with it rather than the date.

Route and internal flights

The country is huge, and returning the same way is often inconvenient. Try an open-jaw route: arrive in one city, leave from another, with a high-speed train or a domestic flight in between. High-speed trains in China are comfortable and cover the main routes, but tickets are bought with a passport through official services.

How to compare prices

Compare the final price with baggage, the length of the connection and the arrival time, not just the fare. Flexible dates and the low-price calendar help you save, and our converter makes it easy to work out the rate and total costs.

Entry and visa

Entry rules depend on citizenship and change: for a number of countries there is visa-free entry for a limited period, and transit passengers sometimes have preferential regimes, but the terms must be checked on official government sites and with the carrier. Do not get a visa through intermediaries with a mark-up. Below is a partner flight card (advertising).