UPDATE: Shanghai region: 6 days visa-free transit stay
German nationals as well as citizens of 50 other (mainly European) countries have been able to stay in the Yangtze region without a visa for up to 144 hours (6 days) since January 30, 2016, according to the Chinese immigration authorities.2016 up to 144 hours (6 days) visa-free in the Yangtze Delta region (city of Shanghai and the provinces of Jiangsu & Zhejiang), provided they have an onward travel ticket to a “third country”.
This regulation only applies to transit travelers, i.e. the onward journey must be to a third country and may not return to the country of origin! Please note that a "third country" is defined as a destination in Asia or Oceania and does not refer to a return journey to the country of origin or to a third country located in Europe. According to current knowledge, the length of stay in the third country must be proven to be at least 72 hours. If a visa is required for entry into the third country, the relevant valid visa must be presented.
Entry and exit are therefore possible via Shanghai’s airports and seaports as well as the international airports of Nanjing and Hangzhou; a direct round trip is still only possible with a valid visa.
Detailed information is available on the Shanghai Immigration Inspection website at http://www.sh-immigration.gov.cn/listPageEn.aspx?lx=40 http://www.sh-immigration.gov.cn/listPageEn.aspx?lx=40 . In case of doubt, it is recommended to contact the relevant Chinese Visa Application Service Center (CVASC) or the transporting airline or shipping company in good time before departure to find out whether, in a specific case, transportation is guaranteed without a visa for the stay in the Shanghai region.
