240 Hour TWOV Entry Points

Question

I have been advising people that they need to enter by ferry to use the TWOV. I have read elsewhere (often unreliable forum) that this has been extended to allow entry through Kowloon West Station. Is that correct?

Answer

Yes — the 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy (240 h TWOV) *does* now list Hong Kong West Kowloon Station (HK West Kowloon) among the eligible exit ports, but there are important caveats.

Here are the details you need to know:

The policy allows foreigners from certain eligible countries (55 countries as of the 2025 update) to stay in specified parts of mainland China for up to 240 hours without a visa, provided they:
- Enter via a designated port of entry, and
- Depart to a *third country or region* (not the same country as origin) within the 240-hour period.
As of the latest published list, the entry/exit ports for the 240-hour policy in Guangdong include: Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport, the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge Port, and “Hong Kong West Kowloon Railway Station Port”.
However: the statement “enter China via West Kowloon station” is not valid according to the reliable sources — West Kowloon is recognised as an exit port, *not* as an arrival port for the 240-hour TWOV if you are coming from Hong Kong into Mainland China by train.

Frequently-Reported Misunderstanding:

Some travellers assume that if they board the high-speed rail from Hong Kong West Kowloon into the mainland, they are entering under the 240-hour policy — this is incorrect. The policy explicitly states: “Under the policy, can I enter the Chinese mainland by train from Hong Kong? No, you can’t.”
What is allowed: Entering Mainland China via a qualified mainland port *first*, and then exiting via West Kowloon station within the 240-hour window is acceptable. In other words: Mainland China entry → stay in approved region → exit via West Kowloon (or other listed port) → qualifies.

Bottom line for your scenario:

If your itinerary is: Origin Country → Hong Kong West Kowloon → Mainland China → third country → that would *not* qualify, because the first entry would be from Hong Kong by train.
If instead you enter Mainland China through a listed port (e.g., Guangzhou airport), stay within the eligible region, and then depart via West Kowloon (train) or another designated port to a third region, you are eligible for 240-hour TWOV.
Always make sure you have a confirmed onward ticket to a third country/region and your passport meets the nationality and validity requirements before relying on the policy.

If you’d like, I can check the specific list of eligible ports as of your travel date (and map out whether your exact route qualifies) — would you like that?

240 Hour TWOV Entry Points

More Shenzhen Travel Questions

The attractions mentioned in this question

Popular Destinations

Popular Travel Questions