Flying in transit through China? Then take note of a few useful tips that will help you avoid troubles along the way and make your flight more comfortable.

At the time of writing (July 2023), when connecting in China, Russians are entitled to visa-free entry provided that the connection does not exceed 24 hours. At the same time, exit to the city is not provided. As the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia specifies, the programs of staying without a visa for 72 or 144 hours and leaving the airport that were in effect before the pandemic have not been resumed yet.

Often a lot depends on the mood of the migration officer who meets you. Tourists traveling through China have reported in blogs that some are let out when connecting to a city for sightseeing or to change airports. Others note that border control denies them and, as a result, are perplexed as to why there are different approaches. As explained on the page of the Embassy of the PRC in Russia, you need a transit visa type G. At the same time, the validity of your passport should be more than 6 months.

Ideally, when choosing a connecting flight, pay attention to the arrival and departure terminal. Preferably, they should be the same.

Upon arrival in China, you will be asked to present a QR code, which you should obtain by registering at the website htdecl.chinaport.gov.cn. If your flight involves two Chinese airports, you will have to get the QR code twice. And this is where problems arise, as not every airport in China will be free to connect to WI-FI. Some airports have check-in via Wichat, some may need a VPN. Take care of this in advance.

And a few words about the specifics of being in airports in China. The most optimal is to take a lunch box with a snack and tea (coffee) bags. Vending machines with cold and hot water are located all around the airport. You will always be able to break your appetite while waiting for your connecting flight. It will be difficult to buy something in cafes, kiosks or DIUTY FREE stores, as payment in them is made in yuan.

We wish you a pleasant trip and positive emotions, and see you on our hospitable island of Panglao!