18hr 55 min layover in Beijing Daxing. will they let me out?
I have 2 layover in Beijing Daxing Airport in a few weeks. I am flying with China Southern from LHR - Beijing - Hong Kong with a 18 hour 55 min connection in Beijing and I my return flight Hong Kong - Beijing - LHR I have a 20 hour 55 min connection in Beijing. These are both overnight connections and I intent to book a hotel in Beijing and do a bit of sightseeing.
1. )I plan to use the 24 hour TWOV twice is that ok
2.) I have heard stories of those who work at passport control not allowing people to go into Beijing directing them into airside transit only . could this happen to me even with this longer connection.
Thank You
It could happen, and does happen!
Some airports seem to be worse than others, and the shorter that your transfer time is, then the more likely it would be refused!
A double entry tourist visa applied for in the UK costs around £150.
It's your choice whether to apply for one!
Personally, I would!
Another option is to buy a flight ticket from Beijing capital airport to Hong Kong.
You should be allowed entry to travel between the airports and it might be cheaper and easier than applying for a visa
Thank You. If I present a hotel booking at a nearby airport hotel at the TWOV desk will that help at all?
Your layovers are very long and if you present hotel bookings both ways, you will be allowed to exit the airport almost certainly. There is no a 100% guarantee, but I do not remember the case where a passenger was refused a temporary entry permit with so long layovers + hotel bookings. If I were you I would not bother with obtaining the visas for such limited amount of time in Beijing.
By the way, TWOV desk or 24/144 hour visa free transit counter is the first stop you will make after a landing.
One more detail... It is definitely irrelevant whether you will book your hotel close to the airport or in the center of Beijing.
Thank You Vuky & Stuart C.
Understand that as per the rules, you are allowed to transit without a visa but you are not allowed out of the airport. But for such a long layover, the odds are that they use their discretion and let you in. It is just not an automatic thing.
The recent good news is that China welcomes more foreigners to enter the country for tourism and business, so according to our experience, the entry inspection is relatively relaxed recently. An obvious case is that those who landed at about 4 p.m. also received the approval of leaving the airport, which is very few people who could obtain the approval in this period before
So how was your flight? Have you successfully applied for a TWOV? I would like to hear from you, because I also having a 17-hour transit in this airport and wanna explore Beijing's center
Yes they let me in. Very easy really.
Your layover time is long enough, and you will surely be allowed to enter China. I just hosted two friends who were transiting in Beijing on their way from Australia to Europe. They also had a 20 - hour layover, and the customs clearance process was very smooth. I took them to the Great Wall, Jingshan Park and Yonghegong Lama Temple.
I checked the official website of the National Immigration Administration of China. It is possible to use the 144 - hour Transit - Without - Visa (TWOV) policy twice, as long as you meet the following conditions:
The applicant must be a citizen of one of the 53 countries eligible for the transit visa - free policy.
The applicant must hold a valid international travel document that can prove their nationality and identity.
The applicant must hold a through - ticket with a confirmed date and seat to a third country (region) within 144 hours, or relevant supporting documents.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask me. If you wish to have a guide during your stay in Beijing, I can also drive you around the city.
Edited: 9:47 pm, January 03, 2025
