240 hour visa free transit Hong Kong - Shanghai - Beijing

Question

I am traveling SFO - HKG - DEL - HKG - SFO. I would like to visit Shanghai - Beijing using 240 hour visa free transit. My primary interests are just Shanghai and Beijing.

Option:1 after landing in HKG: a) take a ferry to Shekou b) Train from Shenzen to Shanghai c) Train from Shanghai to Beijing d) Fly back from Beijing to Macau e) Macau to Hong Kong ferry.

-- How do you go from Shekou ferry Terminal to Shenzen train station to catch a train for Shanghai?

Option 2: After landing in HKG a) fly to Shanghai, c) train from Shanghai to Beijing d) fly back from Beijing to Macau e) Macau to Hong Kong ferry.

First of all, are these valid itineraries under 240 hour visa free transit rules? Any alternate suggestions for visiting Shanghai - Beijing with 10 days stop over in Hong Kong?

Answer

Yes, both itineraries you proposed can potentially work under China’s visa-free transit rules, but there are some important details and clarifications to consider.

China’s 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit is available in selected cities, including Shanghai and Beijing. To qualify, you must:

Arrive via an international flight (not domestic) from a third country or region (Hong Kong counts).
Depart to a third country/region (not back to your origin in some cases; check regulations carefully).
Stay only within the approved cities (Shanghai, Beijing, etc.)—transiting through other provinces without a valid visa is not allowed.
Have a confirmed onward ticket and your passport ready for inspection.

For your Option 1:

After arriving in Hong Kong, taking a ferry to Shekou (Shenzhen) is fine, but you will need to enter mainland China at Shekou and register your entry. This counts as the start of your visa-free period if you apply for the 144-hour or 240-hour transit at the appropriate port.
To get from Shekou Ferry Terminal to Shenzhen North Railway Station (to take the high-speed train to Shanghai):

You can take a taxi (~30–40 minutes depending on traffic).
Or take public transport: Shekou Ferry → Metro Line 2 → transfer to Line 5 or bus depending on the station location → Shenzhen North Railway.

Once at Shenzhen North, take a high-speed train to Shanghai Hongqiao (~8–10 hours). Then Shanghai to Beijing is straightforward by high-speed train (~5–6 hours).
Returning via Beijing to Macau and Macau to Hong Kong by ferry is fine, but note that Macau is a separate immigration zone; exiting and re-entering Hong Kong will require proper Hong Kong entry permissions.

Option 2:

Flying directly from Hong Kong to Shanghai is simpler and more convenient, and you can then take the train from Shanghai to Beijing. This avoids the complexity of crossing at Shekou and navigating Shenzhen’s transport.
Returning from Beijing to Macau, then Macau to Hong Kong ferry, is the same as above.

Alternate suggestions for visiting Shanghai and Beijing with 10 days in Hong Kong:

Consider flying from Hong Kong to Shanghai directly, spend 3–4 days in Shanghai, then take a high-speed train or flight to Beijing for 3–4 days, then return to Hong Kong via flight. This keeps the travel simple and avoids potential border complications.
Make sure your flights into China (Shanghai) and out of China (Beijing or Macau) are through international airports eligible for the 240-hour visa-free transit.
If you prefer multi-city train travel, you can also fly into Shanghai, take the train to Beijing, then fly out from Beijing to Hong Kong or Macau.

Summary:

Option 1 is valid but logistically more complex because it involves Shenzhen border crossing and navigating local transport.
Option 2 is simpler and likely more comfortable for a solo or relaxed traveler.
Ensure all onward tickets and arrival/departure ports align with 240-hour visa-free rules.

In general, for a 10-day stay primarily in Shanghai and Beijing, direct flights from Hong Kong to Shanghai, then train to Beijing, then fly out, is the most straightforward approach.

240 hour visa free transit Hong Kong - Shanghai - Beijing

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