China First Timer: what changedhttps://chinafirsttimer.com/changes/Changes to China's travel rules for first-time visitors, and to chinafirsttimer.com.en12306 passport verification: plan on 3 to 5 working dayshttps://chinafirsttimer.com/how-to/book-train-tickets/https://chinafirsttimer.com/changes/#2026-10-30-12306-passport-verification-plan-on-3-to-5-workingFri, 30 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000Railway 12306 usually takes 3 to 5 working days to verify a foreign passport, and up to two weeks when the name doesn't match the passport's machine-readable lines exactly. Trip.com, or a station ticket window in China, are the ways around the wait.240-hour transit: Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang are one areahttps://chinafirsttimer.com/routes/visa-free-transit-stopover/https://chinafirsttimer.com/changes/#2026-10-30-240-hour-transit-shanghai-jiangsu-and-zhejiang-areFri, 30 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000Travelers on 240-hour visa-free transit can move freely between Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, so Suzhou, Nanjing and Hangzhou are open to a Shanghai stopover; Hangzhou Xiaoshan and Nanjing Lukou are entry ports too.Routes, how-to pages, comparisons and new toolshttps://chinafirsttimer.com/guides/https://chinafirsttimer.com/changes/#2026-10-29-routes-how-to-pages-comparisons-and-new-toolsThu, 29 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000Ready-made routes for 7 and 10 days and for a transit stopover, step-by-step pages for trains, Didi, delivery, bikes and the airport, four comparisons, and new tools for phrases, prices, SIM cards and reading signs.Visa-free policy trackerhttps://chinafirsttimer.com/visa-free-policy/https://chinafirsttimer.com/changes/#2026-10-23-visa-free-policy-trackerFri, 23 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000The 30-day visa-free entry for most European and many other passports is set to end on 31 December 2026. The tracker follows the announcements and lists what to do if a trip runs past the end date.Online accommodation registration nationwidehttps://chinafirsttimer.com/guides/hotels-and-registration/https://chinafirsttimer.com/changes/#2026-09-21-online-accommodation-registration-nationwideMon, 21 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000Since 21 September 2026, foreigners staying in private homes can register their accommodation online anywhere in China, under National Immigration Administration Notice No. 7 of 2026, instead of going to a police station.