Entry Formalities for Hong Kong and China

Hi, I’m planning a Paris–Hong Kong round trip with a return from Chongqing to Paris, spanning 28 days in November 2026.

The flight is with Air China, with a few hours’ layover in Beijing each time (I plan to stay inside the airport).

I’ve reread the conditions several times, but since I’m never entirely sure, I’d love your input.

Are we all clear that visa exemptions apply?

For arrival in Hong Kong, crossing the Hong Kong–China land border (via Shenzhen), and the return flight from Chongqing?

Thanks for your insights.

Hi, I landed in Shanghai, then Hong Kong less than a week ago, and a visa wasn’t necessary for stays under 30 days.

Hi,

I just got back, so here are your answers:

During your layover in Beijing, you won’t be entering China—you’ll just go through passport control and security again. When you arrive in Hong Kong, you still won’t be in China. Hong Kong and Macau are separate, so they don’t count toward your 30-day visa-free stay. No visa is needed for these cities. Your 30-day visa exemption in China will start when you enter Shenzhen and end when you leave from Chongqing, with another passport control and security check in Beijing. There are several ways to get to Shenzhen from HK—we took the high-speed train from Kowloon Station, and it only took 14 minutes to reach Shenzhen Futian Station.

Thanks so much for this info! Do you have a travel journal? I’d love to hear all your tips, hacks, or travel mishaps! :-)

No, sorry, if you have any other questions, no problem, we often travel to China.

Hi, I confirm no visa is needed for 30 days in China. So if you arrive in Hong Kong, the countdown starts for China, meaning if you visit HK, it’s not considered China. If Zhangjiajie is on your itinerary, plan at least 4 days—staying in Wulingyuan is a 5-minute walk from the hotel for me. The glass bridge can be reached by bus from Wulingyuan; dedicate a full day to it. The town of Jianshui is stunning, with beautiful villages and a nearby bridge. From there, head to Yuanyang—it’s also great before the rice terraces at Laozai. I visited in October-November 2025 for 6 weeks; it was easy and incredible, as always. I always bring a Lonely Planet guide. This year, I’ll be exploring the grasslands of Xiahe, Langmusi, Dunhuang, Turpan, Inner Mongolia, etc., then revisiting the south and discovering the area around Guangzhou. Happy travels! Don’t spread yourself too thin—China is huge.