From San Francisco · 9 days · starts in Shanghai

9-Day Shanghai, Suzhou & Hangzhou 240-Hour Transit Route

Fly from San Francisco to Shanghai, explore the Lower Yangtze by high-speed rail, then continue to Japan within the 240-hour transit framework.

Duration9 days / 8 nights

Best forA stop between two countries

Passport exampleUS · 240-hour transit

China gatewayShanghai (PVG)

01 / The route

A pace you can actually follow.

Nights include arrival recovery and practical transfer time—not just a list of pins on a map.

Shanghai

Arrival, city highlights, and a recovery buffer.

3 nights

Suzhou

Gardens, canals, and an unhurried old-city day.

2 nights

Hangzhou

West Lake and tea fields within the permitted region.

2 nights

Shanghai

Return for a safe onward-flight buffer.

1 night

US passport example · checked 19 Aug 2026

U.S. passport · qualifying A → China → B transit

U.S. passport holders may request 240-hour visa-free transit through designated ports when continuing to a different third country or region.

A passport valid for at least three months and a confirmed onward ticket with a seat and departure date are required. Travel must stay within the areas authorized for the chosen port.

Required international patternUnited States (A) → Mainland China → Japan (B)

Japan must be the first country or region after mainland China. U.S. → Shanghai → U.S. does not qualify.

Passport—not departure airport

This policy example applies to the named passport. A traveler using a different passport on the same flight may have a different rule.

Check your passport

Read the full 240-hour transit guide

Official sourcesNational Immigration Administration — 240-hour transit policy NIA — visa-free transit overview Shanghai border inspection — same-country itinerary example Shanghai public security — Hong Kong itinerary example

Before you book

Visa-free transit is approved by border authorities on arrival. Eligibility depends on the complete international flight sequence, ports, confirmed onward booking, and permitted stay area. A simple U.S.–China–U.S. return does not qualify.

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