24 hour visa-free transit - train from Beijing to Hong Kong

Question

Hi,

I have a UK passport. I am travelling from London to Beijing (direct flight), staying in Beijing for 5 nights, then taking the G79 train from Beijing (Beijing West) ► Hong Kong (West Kowloon).

Is this an eligible exit point for visa-free transit?

Thanks,

Laura

Answer

For the situation you described, it’s important to clarify how China’s visa-free transit policies work. China offers both 24/72/144-hour visa-free transit (depending on city and port of entry) and the 7-day visa-free transit for certain areas, but these are typically tied to international entry and exit points.

Key points for your trip:

The visa-free transit (VFT) in China applies when you enter and exit via international ports, such as airports or designated seaports. It is generally not available for domestic train or cross-border train travel unless the train crosses the border to a foreign country, like Hong Kong or Macau, under certain conditions.
The G79 high-speed train from Beijing West to Hong Kong West Kowloon is an international train. However, visa-free transit for UK passport holders requires that you enter China via a designated port that offers the specific 24/72/144-hour VFT, such as Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) or Beijing Daxing Airport (PKX), and depart through a proper international exit point.
Because you are entering China through Beijing airport and staying 5 nights, you are no longer in the “transit” window. The 24-hour visa-free transit is meant for short stays when connecting to a third country without obtaining a visa. Your 5-night stay exceeds that window, so you would need a standard Chinese visa for your time in Beijing.
When traveling to Hong Kong by train from Beijing, UK passport holders do not need a Chinese visa if entering Hong Kong itself, as the UK enjoys visa-free entry to Hong Kong for up to 180 days. But your travel from Beijing to Hong Kong is a domestic/international train service, and Chinese authorities will check that you have the proper visa for your Beijing stay. Essentially, your 5-night Beijing stay requires a normal visa.

Summary:

The 24-hour visa-free transit rule does not apply for your 5-night stay in Beijing.
You will need a standard Chinese visa for your Beijing visit.
Traveling to Hong Kong by the G79 train is fine without a visa for UK citizens, but only after you have properly entered China with a visa for your stay.
For visa-free transit purposes, the entry and exit must occur within the VFT window and at designated ports. Staying 5 nights exceeds that window.

In short, the G79 train to Hong Kong cannot be used as an exit point for 24-hour visa-free transit after a 5-night stay in Beijing. You must secure a Chinese visa for the Beijing portion of your trip.

24 hour visa-free transit - train from Beijing to Hong Kong

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