Chengdu Tianfu Airport (TFU): 240-Hour Visa-Free Guide
Last verified
Port facts at a glance: Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (permitted stay area, documents, conditions).
Last verified: 2026-11-03 (240-hour rules, port list and stay area, against the National Immigration Administration). Transport information last checked: 2026-11-03 (official airport/metro pages, dated below). Rules can change at short notice; the NIA and the border officer at the port have the final say. Hotline 12367 (from abroad +86 12367).
🎟️ Local tip (Henian): most Chengdu attractions require real-name reservation. Reserve first with your passport details, and bring the original passport to get in. How to book with Alipay/WeChat: Chengdu attraction tickets guide. Each attraction's own booking page has the final say.
Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (成都天府国际机场, TFU) became a 240-hour visa-free transit entry port on 17 December 2024, when China expanded the scheme from 39 to 60 ports. It lies well south-east of central Chengdu (allow for a long metro ride), and Sichuan's stay area is not the whole province: only 11 cities. That catches out many travellers who plan Jiuzhaigou or western Sichuan. This page covers both, plus the official metro information for getting into town.
Chengdu has two designated airports. The other is Chengdu Shuangliu (CTU). Both put you in the same 11-city stay area. Since 30 July 2026 some Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan flights have moved back to Shuangliu, so check which Chengdu airport is on your ticket (CAAC News, 2026-07-15).
At a glance
| Official port name | Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (成都天府国际机场口岸) |
| IATA code | TFU |
| City / province | Chengdu, Sichuan |
| Port type | air |
| NIA list number | No. 62 of 65 |
| Designated for 240-hour transit since | 2024-12-17 |
| Stay area if you enter here | only 11 listed cities of Sichuan |
| Maximum stay | 240 hours, counted from 00:00 the day after entry |
| Eligible passports | Ordinary passports of 57 countries |
⚠️ Unverified or uncertain items on this page
- Whether Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan count as the 'third country or region' (for example Tokyo → here → Hong Kong) is stated explicitly only in an airline FAQ (China Southern, 2024-12-30), not on a government page. NIA texts say 'third country (region)'. Treat as unverified and confirm with 12367 before booking.
- Refusal ground not confirmed for 240-hour transit: Serious violation of accommodation-registration rules within the past 2 years (listed in NIA's 24-hour transit temporary-entry rules; applicability to 240h not explicitly restated).
- Tianfu Airport's English and Chinese transport pages block automated loading (HTTP 405). Their content was read through a search-engine index on 3 Nov 2026; the pages do not show a "last updated" date. Check the pages yourself before you travel.
- Metro Line 19 travel time from TFU into central Chengdu is not given on official airport pages, so we do not state it.
Who can use 240-hour visa-free transit here
You can enter at Chengdu Tianfu International Airport without a visa for up to 240 hours only if all of these are true (source: NIA (EN) Policy Interpretation: Visa-Free Transit Policies (2026-08-20); conditions from NIA Announcement No. 4 of 2025, Annex 1 (2025-11-03)):
- Must be a national of one of the 57 eligible countries.
- Must hold an ordinary passport (NIA policy page and 2026 announcement say 'ordinary passports'; the Nov 2025 conditions say 'valid international travel document').
- Passport/travel document valid for at least 3 months, and the traveller must meet the entry requirements of the onward third country/region.
- Must hold an interline/onward ticket (air, ship or train) to a third country/region with confirmed date and seat/itinerary, departing within 240 hours, or other proof documents. It must be bought BEFORE entry.
- The country/region you arrive from and the one you depart to must be different (A -> China -> B). Same-country round trips (e.g. Seoul -> Shanghai -> Seoul) do not qualify.
- Fill in the Arrival Card for Temporary Entry Foreigners and accept inspection/questioning by border inspection. Arrival cards can be filled online before travel (since 2025-11-20).
- Enter through one of the 65 designated ports; exit through any designated port (in Guangdong, also any open port of Guangdong).
- Stay only within the permitted areas of the 24 provinces; cross-province travel within those areas is allowed.
- Tourism, business, visits, family visits allowed; work, study, news reporting require a proper visa.
- Hotels register guests; if staying elsewhere, register with local police within 24 hours (online channels nationwide since 2026-09-21).
- If force majeure requires staying longer or outside the area, apply in advance to the local public security exit-entry authority for a stay permit; unauthorised overstay is treated as illegal stay.
- If you are covered by a mutual visa-exemption agreement or China's unilateral visa-free policy, those provisions prevail (often 30 days).
The 57 eligible countries: Albania, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Canada, United States, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Brunei, Indonesia, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Qatar, Singapore, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam.
You will be refused the 240-hour exemption if any of these apply:
- Passport/travel document valid for less than 3 months.
- Passport bears a Chinese visa-refusal stamp.
- Illegal entry/exit, illegal stay or illegal employment in China within the past 5 years.
- Serious violation of accommodation-registration rules within the past 2 years (listed in NIA's 24-hour transit temporary-entry rules; applicability to 240h not explicitly restated). ⚠️ unverified for 240h
- Any other circumstance where entry is not permitted under Chinese law.
- No confirmed onward ticket at entry (cannot buy after arrival).
- Round trip to/from the same country or region.
Want a 30-day stay instead? Many of these nationalities can also use China's unilateral 30-day visa-free entry: see 30-day visa-free countries.
Where you may go: the permitted stay area
Entering at Chengdu Tianfu International Airport puts you in the Sichuan: 11 cities stay area. Only these 11 cities are covered; the rest of Sichuan is outside the area:
| City (prefecture-level) | Chinese |
|---|---|
| Chengdu | 成都 |
| Zigong | 自贡 |
| Luzhou | 泸州 |
| Deyang | 德阳 |
| Suining | 遂宁 |
| Neijiang | 内江 |
| Leshan | 乐山 |
| Yibin | 宜宾 |
| Ya'an | 雅安 |
| Meishan | 眉山 |
| Ziyang | 资阳 |
Popular places: inside or outside? (the administrative unit decides; check before you go)
| Place | Administrative area | Inside the 240-hour area? |
|---|---|---|
| Chengdu city, Giant Panda Base, Dujiangyan, Mount Qingcheng | Chengdu | ✅ Yes |
| Leshan Giant Buddha, Mount Emei | Leshan | ✅ Yes |
| Bifengxia panda base | Ya'an | ✅ Yes |
| Zigong (lantern and dinosaur museum city) | Zigong | ✅ Yes |
| Jiuzhaigou, Huanglong, Mount Siguniang | Ngawa (Aba) Prefecture | ❌ No |
| Kangding, Daocheng Yading | Garzê (Ganzi) Prefecture | ❌ No |
| Chongqing (any district) | Chongqing Municipality (whole area permitted) | ✅ Yes, cross-province travel allowed |
Day trips from Chengdu: Leshan, Emeishan, Jiuzhaigou
What the official list says: NIA's table of permitted stay areas gives Sichuan as "A total of 11 cities: Chengdu, Zigong, Luzhou, Deyang, Suining, Neijiang, Leshan, Yibin, Ya'an, Meishan, and Ziyang" (NIA policy page, port and stay-area table, 2026-08-20; same table in NIA Announcement No. 4 [2025], Annex 2). Ngawa (Aba) Prefecture is not on the list.
| Destination | Administrative area | 240-hour transit? |
|---|---|---|
| Leshan (Leshan Giant Buddha) | Leshan city | ✅ Allowed. Leshan is one of the 11 listed cities |
| Emeishan (Mount Emei) | Emeishan is a county-level city administered by Leshan (Leshan government) | ✅ Allowed, as part of Leshan |
| Jiuzhaigou | Jiuzhaigou County, Ngawa (Aba) Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture | ❌ Not allowed. 240-hour visa-free transit travellers may NOT go to Jiuzhaigou. You need a visa, or 30-day visa-free entry if your nationality qualifies (30-day list). |
- Local tip (Henian): Leshan and Emeishan are realistic day trips from Chengdu. Jiuzhaigou typically needs 1–2 nights; it is not a same-day round trip from Chengdu, and on 240-hour transit you cannot go there at all.
- Train times and fares: we have not found an official, dated timetable to quote, so none are given here. Check China Railway 12306 for current trains to Leshan and Emei, and see our high-speed rail guide. Official visitor information: Leshan Giant Buddha scenic area management committee and the Emeishan city government.
Local tip (Henian): photography and access. Like other large cities, Chengdu has military facilities and research institutions. Passing by is fine. Do not photograph or film them, and follow any "no photography" (禁止拍照) signs. China's Military Facilities Protection Law prohibits photographing or filming military restricted zones without approval (Art. 17) and requires approval before photographing military management zones (Art. 22). Ignoring a guard's instruction to stop can lead to penalties under the Public Security Administration Punishments Law (Art. 60(4)) (中华人民共和国军事设施保护法, NPC, revised 2021-06-10, in force 2021-08-01).
Local tip (Henian): Some areas near Chengdu restrict access for foreign visitors; confirm with the scenic area before you go.
You may also travel on to the permitted areas of the other 23 provinces (cross-province travel has been allowed since 17 Dec 2024, gov.cn (2024-12-17)). Areas limited to listed cities:
- Shanxi: Taiyuan, Datong only
- Heilongjiang: Harbin only
- Jiangxi: Nanchang, Jingdezhen only
- Guangxi: Nanning, Liuzhou, Guilin, Wuzhou, Beihai, Fangchenggang, Qinzhou, Guigang, Yulin, Hezhou, Hechi, Laibin only
- Yunnan: Kunming, Yuxi, Chuxiong, Honghe, Wenshan, Pu'er, Xishuangbanna, Dali, Lijiang only
- All other permitted provinces/municipalities are covered in full: Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Liaoning, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, Shandong, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Hainan, Chongqing, Guizhou, Shaanxi.
Other 240-hour ports in the same stay area (you may leave through any designated port nationwide): Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport.
How the 240 hours are counted (worked example)
The 240 hours are counted from 00:00 on the day after entry. Example: enter 1 Jan, clock starts 2 Jan 00:00, leave by 11 Jan 24:00. (sources: NIA, 2025-11-03 (2025-11-03); Yunnan government Q&A (undated page; references policy status as of 2026-08-20))
| You arrive at Chengdu Tianfu Airport | Clock starts | Latest departure (onward transport must leave by) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 May, 08:00 | 6 May, 00:00 | 15 May, 24:00 (midnight at the end of 15 May) |
| 5 May, 23:50 | 6 May, 00:00 | 15 May, 24:00 |
| 6 May, 00:20 (flight landed just after midnight) | 7 May, 00:00 | 16 May, 24:00 |
The date that counts is the date you pass the border check, not the date your flight was scheduled. Your onward ticket must show a confirmed departure inside this window and must be bought before you arrive.
Getting from Chengdu Tianfu Airport to the city (official transport information)
All rail options leave from the Ground Transportation Center (GTC), Level 1 transfer hall, linked to Terminals 1 and 2 (Tianfu Airport, official site).
| Option | Route | Time | Hours | Fare | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metro Line 18 (regular) | TFU T1&T2 → Sancha → Xinglong → Western China Int'l Expo City → Haichang Road → Century City → East of Jincheng Square → Incubation Park → Chengdu South Railway Station | about 44 min | 06:00–23:30 | ¥10 | Tianfu Airport (EN) |
| Metro Line 18 (express) | TFU T1&T2 → Sancha → Haichang Road → Incubation Park → Chengdu South Railway Station | about 37 min | Peak periods only (morning, noon, evening) | ¥10 | Tianfu Airport (EN) |
| Metro Line 19 | Through-runs with Line 18 on the airport section, then west via Tianfu Commercial District and Shuangliu Airport T2 East to Jinxing (Wenjiang) | not stated | Tianfu Airport North → Jinxing: first 06:05, last 23:25 | Jinxing–TFU T1&T2 ¥12 | Tianfu Airport (ZH); Shuangliu Airport (ZH, 2026-08-03) |
- At Chengdu South Railway Station change to Metro Line 1 (north to Tianfu Square/city centre) or Line 7 (loop).
- Tickets: the airport page says you can scan a QR code in the "Chengdu Metro" app. Ticket machines are also available; how well they take foreign cards is something we have not verified (see the local-experience box below).
- Line 18 vs Line 19 on the shared section: both lines use the same track between Tianfu Station and Tianfu Airport North. Line 19 trains have 4 cars, so wait at the doors marked "19". On-board announcements use a female voice for Line 18 and a male voice for Line 19 (reported by Sichuan Daily/川观新闻, quoting Chengdu Rail Transit Group; state media, not the operator's own site).
- Direct vs regular trains: the airport page's diagrams distinguish direct (express) and regular services on Lines 18/19; check the station displays or the Chengdu Metro app before boarding.
- Metro hotline: 028-61638000. Official operator site: chengdurail.com.
Airport shuttle buses (机场专线)
From the Tianfu Airport official transport pages (English and Chinese, undated; read 2026-11-03 via a search-engine copy):
- Where to board: ground level outside Gate G01 (between T1 and the Transportation Center) or outside Gate G03 (between T2 and the Transportation Center).
- Operator: Chengdu Public Transport Group Xingchen Bus Co. The airport's Chinese page says it runs 6 airport lines with 24-hour service. 24-hour hotline: 028-62676868.
- Line 1 runs 24 hours between the airport and Chunxi Road (city centre).
- Fares: ¥15 from 06:00 to 23:30 and ¥25 from 23:30 to 06:00.
- Routes, stops and times change. The airport says the notice posted at the bus platform prevails, and its current route tables are images. We list only the facts above, which appear in text on the official pages. Check the "Chengdu Bus" (成都公交) app for live times.
Terminal and arrival notes
- Follow "Arrival/Exit/Baggage Claim", then "Metro" signs to the GTC.
- The Tianfu Airport Chinese page also announces that six stations on the eastern section of Metro Line 2 were closed from 20 Dec 2025, expected until Oct 2026, with reopening "to be announced". We could not confirm whether they have reopened as of 3 Nov 2026. This does not affect the airport lines.
One-stop trip check: what to sort out besides the visa question
Getting the visa question right is only half of it. Before you fly into Chengdu Tianfu Airport:
- Arrival card: fill it in online before you travel (available since 20 Nov 2025 via NIA online arrival card, the NIA 12367 app or WeChat/Alipay mini programs), or on paper/by QR code at the port (NIA, 2025-11-03).
- Payments: set up Alipay and/or WeChat Pay with a foreign card, and carry a backup card and some cash. See How to pay in China.
- Must-have apps: install them before you land (maps, translation, ride-hailing, train booking). See Must-have China travel apps.
- Phone number and data: decide between a travel eSIM and a local SIM; some services need a phone number that can receive SMS. See eSIM and internet in China.
- High-speed rail (HSR): if you plan day trips inside the stay area, compare 12306 (official) and Trip.com, and remember your passport is your ticket. See China high-speed rail: 12306, tickets and refunds.
- Where you sleep: hotels register you; if you stay in a private home you must register with police within 24 hours, which can now be done online nationwide (NIA Announcement No. 7 of 2026, 2026-09-21).
- Onward ticket: printed or on screen, showing a confirmed seat/date inside the 240-hour window to a different country or region than the one you arrived from.
Local first-hand experience (by Henian)
🧳 Local tips from Henian (Chengdu resident). These are personal experience, not official information.
Local tip (Henian): getting downtown. "From Tianfu Airport, the direct metro or the airport shuttle bus is much more convenient than a taxi; allow roughly 1.5 hours to downtown."
Local tip (Henian): paying in Chengdu. "Street shops and small vendors are easiest with Alipay or WeChat Pay; hotels and large restaurants accept cards; attraction tickets can mostly be bought through WeChat/Alipay mini-programs." See How to pay in China and Chengdu attraction tickets with Alipay/WeChat.
FAQ
When does my 240 hours start if I land at Chengdu Tianfu Airport?
At 00:00 on the day after you pass the border check. See the worked example above.
Can I fly in from my home country and fly back home from here?
No. The country or region you arrive from and the one you leave to must be different (A → China → B). Yunnan government Q&A (undated page; references policy status as of 2026-08-20).
Do I have to leave from Chengdu Tianfu Airport?
No. You may leave through any of the designated ports, as long as you stayed inside the permitted areas and leave within the time.
Can I use Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan as my onward destination?
Probably yes, but ⚠️ this is unverified: only an airline FAQ says so explicitly. Arriving from and returning to the same place (e.g. Hong Kong → here → Hong Kong) does not qualify. Confirm with 12367.
What if my flight is cancelled and I overstay?
Before the 240 hours run out, apply to the local public security exit-entry office for a stay permit. Unauthorised overstay is illegal stay.
Can I visit Jiuzhaigou on 240-hour visa-free transit from Chengdu?
No. Jiuzhaigou is in Ngawa (Aba) Prefecture, which is not one of Sichuan's 11 permitted cities. The same applies to Garzê (Kangding, Daocheng Yading).
Can I see the pandas and Leshan Giant Buddha?
Yes. The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding (Chengdu), Leshan Giant Buddha and Mount Emei (Leshan), and Bifengxia (Ya'an) are all inside the area.
Can I land at Tianfu and leave from Chongqing or Shanghai?
Yes, if your onward ticket from there goes to a third country or region within the 240 hours. Chongqing and Shanghai are permitted areas, and you may exit through any designated port.
How do I get from Tianfu to Shuangliu Airport?
Metro Line 19 runs between Tianfu Airport and Shuangliu Airport T2 East (from Tianfu Airport North: first 06:05, last 23:35 on trains terminating at Shuangliu T2 East, per the Shuangliu airport page dated 2026-08-03).
Check your own trip
Use the free 240-hour transit checker with Chengdu Tianfu Airport pre-selected to test your passport, departure country and onward destination.
Sources
- NIA (EN) Policy Interpretation: Visa-Free Transit Policies (2026-08-20)
- 国家移民管理局 关于实施支持扩大开放服务高质量发展10项创新举措的公告（附件：适用条件、适用口岸和停留活动区域表） (2025-11-03)
- 中国政府网：中国过境免签政策全面放宽优化（21 new ports, 39->60; areas expanded） (2024-12-17)
- NIA Announcement No. 4 [2025]: 10 New Measures (5 Guangdong ports added, 60->65; Conditions appendix) (2025-11-03)
- 云南省人民政府：240小时过境免签政策问答 (origin vs destination rule; time calculation example; onward ticket must be bought before entry) (undated page; references policy status as of 2026-08-20)
- NIA Announcement No. 7 of 2026: nationwide online accommodation registration (2026-09-21)
- NIA Announcement No. 4 of 2026 (Kyrgyzstan, Vietnam added; 57 countries) (2026-08-20)
- Port and area data: this site's dataset, last verified 2026-11-03 (generated from the NIA tables).
Transport and terminal sources (port-specific):
- 中华人民共和国军事设施保护法 (Military Facilities Protection Law), NPC: revised 2021-06-10, in force 2021-08-01 (Arts. 17, 22, 60)
- Chengdu Tianfu International Airport: Metro (English): undated page; read 2026-11-03 (via search index; direct load blocked)
- 成都天府国际机场：地铁 (Chinese, Lines 18/19, Line 2 closure notice): undated page; read 2026-11-03 (via search index)
- Chengdu Tianfu International Airport: Airport Special Line (shuttle buses, English): undated page; read 2026-11-03 (via search index)
- 成都双流国际机场：地铁 (Line 19 times): page dated 2026-08-03; read 2026-11-03
- CAAC News: some HK/Macao/Taiwan flights move between Chengdu's airports: 2026-07-15
- Sichuan Daily: Lines 18 and 19 shared operation: state media, citing Chengdu Rail Transit Group; date not shown in the extract
- gov.cn: 2024-12-17 expansion (Chengdu Tianfu added): 2024-12-17
Information is for reference only; official sources prevail. See our disclaimer.