Is it possible to return to China after a stay in Taiwan with the visa-free entry?

Hi, I'd like to know—I'm planning to go to Taiwan and would like to make a stop in China, then another stop in China on my way back from Taiwan.

In total, I'd stay less than 30 cumulative days in China, but would I still be allowed to return after coming back from Taiwan (while still benefiting from the visa exemption)?

Thanks! ^^

Hello, Yes, you’re starting over from scratch—even if you go to Hong Kong, you’ll be starting over. You’ll get an exit stamp that counts, and there’s no limit on entries/exits as long as the 30-day rule (entry/exit included in the 30 days) is respected. We’ll do it again in the spring.

Awesome, thanks!

I was thinking of taking a break along the way and doing part of my trip in China before heading to Taiwan, and then the same on the way back...

And since I don’t know if the visa-free policy will be extended in 2027, I’d rather do it now ^^

Yes, we took advantage of it twice in 2025, so we fell in love with China. We did two 30-day stays, split up and alternating with Taiwan, Vietnam, and Japan. No visa required for these countries. 😉

Haha, this time I’ll stick to China–Taiwan, since I don’t feel like taking too many flights… and the region’s huge…

Yes, there’s plenty to do in China alone. Have a great trip!

yeah, I'm fine-tuning... haha

By the way, while I'm at it, if I come back to China from Hong Kong (train trip to Guangzhou), should I put Guangzhou or Shenzhen as the port of entry?

I didn’t have this virtual arrival card last time I was in China oO

Hi there, If you go directly to China from Hong Kong by train, the formalities are handled at the departure from HK before boarding the train—everything is clearly indicated on-site, just like at an airport. After that, you can put any city as your arrival destination based on your itinerary. We’re doing the reverse: Guangzhou first, then staying a week in Shenzhen, then leaving to catch our flight to Japan from HK. After that, we’ll return to China in early July, but from Vietnam—lol, we just can’t stay put!

Don’t forget to get your QR code before entering China.

Okay, thanks. If worse comes to worst, I’ll just put Guangzhou as my entry point... You guys sure get around a lot! ^^

On the other hand, I’m disappointed about booking trains—you need a Chinese phone number to register, and the site’s email verification doesn’t even work. I’ll try with Trip... because I’m never setting foot in a train station ticket office again—what a nightmare! oO

Hi,

I didn’t have any issues downloading the Chinese railway network app, but I did it while in China—not from France—using the hotel’s Wi-Fi last year. Honestly, it’s amazing: totally free, easy to use, and you pay the right price. Trip.com is great for securing seat choices, and it’s also really good for hotels in China, with an incredible selection and prices that are really cheap.

well, here you need a Chinese phone number and an email that works, so signing up isn’t possible... and since you have to book trains in advance, no choice!

Bad memories of train stations in China...

Hi, Yes, at the train station it's chaos—people cutting in line, shouting, and usually the agent at the counter doesn’t speak English. Go through Trip; it’s really good.

Yeah, the worst is when they show up at the counter just as it's our turn—like, hurry up... I had that happen in Vietnam once too.

haha, another question... if I want to go from Hong Kong to Guangzhou (or elsewhere) by train, do I have to stop in Shenzhen for passport control?

Hi!

You’ll go through the entry formalities for China in Hong Kong when you arrive at the train station, same process as at the airport.

oh, direct to the station? so no need to stop at the border... great tip! thanks^^

The border is the station—once you're on the train, you're in China.

ok perfect then, thanks ^^