Chongqing - Chongqing attracts visitors all over the world in increasing numbers. However, the visa would be a little bit troublesome for people to prepare for the trip. Good news! The National Immigration Administration declared that foreigners are entitled to a transit visa exemption at the airports in Chongqing and other 23 China cities for 144 hours from December 1st, 2019. It is more convenient for foreigners to travel, do business visits, and visit friends for a short period in Chongqing, without a visa applied before-hand.
What can you do and where to visit within six days in Chongqing? What local food should you try during the short stay? Follow iChongqing to have amazing memories in Chongqing.
Know more about the policy
To know more about the 144-hour visa-free stay policy, please click 144-HOUR VISA-FREE STAY. However, several questions should be noticed to go through the 144-hour visa-free stay permit.
Q1: Who can apply and enjoy the 144-hour visa-free stay in China?
A: Citizens of the following 53 countries can apply for the 144-hour visa-free stay:
39 European countries | Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, Russia, the UK, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Belarus |
6 American countries | The U.S., Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile |
2 Oceanian countries | Australia, New Zealand |
6 Asian countries | South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, UAE, Qatar |
Q2: How to apply for the 144-hour visa-free stay?
A: The applier should go through the application at the special inspection channel at the airport. Also, the applier should submit documents for application to immigration inspection:
- The valid certificates of the applier himself/herself, such as the passport;
- The joint ticket for a third country or region, including Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, with a date and seat confirmed within 144 hours;
- Pre-filled the departure card or arrival card.
After confirming all the information, the application will come into effect.
Q3: How to calculate the time of 144-hour visa-free stay?
A: After the immigration inspection authorities have issued temporary entry permits to passengers for free, the passengers can stay in the administrative regions of Chongqing for 144 hours from 0:00 on the next day of entry. For example, you enter Chongqing airport at 7 a.m. on January 1st, and you can stay up to noon on January 7th with the 144-hour visa-free stay policy.
With a temporary entry permit, you can go through registration procedures for accommodation and stay. In case of force majeure and other reasons, if you need to remain in the administrative areas here for more than 144 hours, or if you exceed the scope of the administrative area permitted to stay, you should go to the relevant provincial and municipal public security immigration management department to apply for the corresponding stay certificate.
Q4: What should be noticed about the 144-hour visa-free stay?
A: According to regulations, the 144-hour visa-free stay policy is for foreigners transiting to a third country or region, so the departure and destination must be different. For example:
- This policy cannot be applied to transit from the United States to Chongqing to the United States;
- This policy applies to transportation from the United States to Chongqing, finally arrive in Macau;
- From the United States to Singapore to Chongqing to the United States, this policy can be applied.
Besides, with the 144-hour visa-free stay permit, you can go anywhere within the administrative areas in Chongqing.
Having fun in Chongqing with the 144-hour visa-free stay permit
Until now, we believe you understand the policy very clearly. It is a long period of 144 hours or six days here, so what can we do here within the six days?
To answer that, we first need to take into consideration why you are coming to Chongqing, and what you’d like to experience. Chongqing is a vast city of literally hundreds of exciting locations and things to do, and planning your trip will depend on what you want to see the most.
Are you on a trip to experience the local cuisine, longing to experience the spicy hotpot, or are you here to experience Chongqing’s abundant hot springs? Or are you here to take in the right culture and history of a city that dates back more than 2,000 years?
iChongqing also has different kinds of plans for you. You can follow us to plan your trip during these six days. You can travel here in the urban areas or outside of downtown, enjoying nature or history.
Moreover, tasting numbing, spicy, fresh, tender, and hot, Chongqing food is a large and vital part of Chinese cuisine. This page introduces famous or featured restaurants in this city, which offers food with local Chongqing favor.
We have hot pot, stockpot, Chongqing cuisine here. Also, we introduced some restaurants in other countries, but are famous for local people. You can find restaurants, which can satisfy your taste buds here, including spicy, light-favored, western-style, Asian-style, or even vegetarian here.
Recommended restaurants (click each image can get more information about the restaurant)
Xiao Tian'e Hotpot Restaurant
As a bustling metropolis. Chongqing has a wide variety of hotels available for visitors to stay in. You can find 5-star hotels in the downtown area, with breathtaking views or stay at some of the many hostels, suitable for young backpackers. Depending on what you hope to experience in Chongqing, there is most certainly accommodation for you, no matter in which part of the city you’d like to stay in, or your price range.
Hotels in Chongqing are modern, well-furnished, and comfortable. And while you can opt for the luxury experience of the high-class hotels, you can also easily find a more local and authentic experience. We’ve collected a list of great hotels in Chongqing for you, and our list is continuously expanding.
Recommended hotels (click each image can get more information about the hotel)
After knowing details about the 144-hour visa-free stay permit and tourist information of Chongqing, we believe you can have a unique and beautiful memory here. Also, we think that you will fall in love with this city. Enjoy!