When flying into China internationally and connecting to a domestic flight, do I clear immigration at the first airport and does my luggage check through?

Question

MyChinaGuide · Accepted Answer

Yes, twice. Clear immigration at your first port of entry — Beijing, Shanghai Pudong, Chengdu, Guangzhou, whichever lands you first — not your final domestic destination. Bags must be collected at that same airport, even when the airline tag shows your final city. Walk them through the Red or Green customs channel, then drop them at the Domestic Transfer counter located just past customs. The counter is free and re-checks them onto the connecting flight without you leaving the terminal.

Allow at least 3 hours for the layover. Immigration queues run over 60 minutes during peak summer and Spring Festival arrivals at Beijing Capital and Shanghai Pudong. The full sequence is: arrival gate, immigration, baggage claim, customs, domestic transfer drop, escalator up to departures, domestic security re-screen, and gate. Keep boarding passes accessible; security takes them at the second screening.

Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay before you board with an international card. Once landside, you'll need it for SIM cards, water, and metro. A metro ride from Beijing Capital or Shanghai Pudong runs 7 to 10 yuan, while a taxi to the city centre is 100 to 200 yuan.

Check the visa-free transit policy before you book the connection. Travelers from many countries qualify for the 240-hour visa-free transit (effective late 2024), which lets you leave the airport during long layovers. Confirm bag check-through at airline check-in, since rules vary by airline alliance and a few — Air China to a regional carrier, for example — break the through-tag.