Wuhan 144-Hour Visa-Free Travel

Wuhan has a 144-hour (or 6-day) visa-free policy for international stopovers using Wuhan Tianhe International Airport. During the time period, you may travel around in the Wuhan municipal region.

This is a convenient policy for those wishing to spend some time for a visit to the Wuhan region without the hassle and extra cost of obtaining a China visa.

Here, we present useful information about the policy and how to take advantage of it for touring and visits.

Rules and Conditions

• The locality covered under the policy: only the municipality area of Wuhan. Unlike 144-hour visa-free policies of some Chinese cities such as Shanghai that allow travel to nearby adjacent regions, this travel policy applies only for the municipality of Wuhan. This region is 8,500 square kilometers (3,300 square miles) and includes the urban area of Wuhan as well as suburbs and surrounding countryside.
• Eligible port: Wuhan Tianhe International Airport
• Eligible countries: In the Americas: the US, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile; in Oceania: Australia, New Zealand; in Europe: Austria, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, Ireland, Russia, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Belarus, Monaco; in Asia: South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar.
• Necessary documents and tickets: passport (valid for at least 3 months); confirmed air ticket to a third country; a visa to the third country if required; a filled out arrival/departure card.

Eligible Transit Routes

Visit Wuhan with your passport and air tickets, but NO visa!

This policy requires that passengers must be in transit to a third country or a Specially Administered Region of China. Making a round trip from/to the same country doesn't qualify.

Your itinerary should be departure country → Wuhan → a third country or region. For example, UK → Wuhan → Japan is an acceptable itinerary.

Hong Kong and Macau are considered to be regions separate from Chinese mainland for international transit purposes, and you won’t need a visa if you transit in either of these Special Administrative Regions (SARs). You can include them in your itinerary like this: USA → Wuhan → Hong Kong → USA.

How to Make a 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit Visit

1) Inform your carrier of your intent to use the 144-hour TWOV (Transit Without a Visa).
2) Fill in arrival and departure cards (available on your flights).
3) Apply for the 144-hour visa-free stay at the dedicated counter on your arrival.
4) Claim your luggage, go through customs, and exit the airport.
5) Leave from Wuhan Tianhe Airport within 144 hours from 00:00 on the day after arrival.

More about China's national 144-Hour Visa-Free Policies.

Essential Wuhan Tianhe Airport Travel Info

Hankou Railway Station is connected by both metro line 2 and inter-city train to the airport.

• Chinese: 武汉天河国际机场 Wǔhàn Tiānhé Guójì Jīchǎng
• Airport code: WUH

Wuhan Airport is a medium-sized international airport in central China, and it is the hub airport for its region. It has several international flights. So, when you are transiting via destinations outside of Chinese mainland, you are likely to find connecting flight options.

There are some international flights to East Asia, a few flights to North America and Europe and one to the Middle East.

Be aware that the airport has 3 terminal buildings. Terminal 3 is used for both international flights and domestic flights because the former international terminal is closed and the former domestic terminal, Terminal 2, is closed for construction.

For convenient regional transport, Wuhan metro line 2 goes to Terminal 3. A high-speed train links the airport to Hankou Station in the central city and places in between.

Tianhe International Airport is convenient for city visits since it is only 26 kilometers (16 miles) northwest of the city center of Wuhan.

See Wuhan Transportation for more local information.

3 Top Things to Do on a Wuhan Municipality Visa-Free Layover

Wuhan's downtown

1. Check In at Downtown Wuhan: See the Yangtze River, Shop and Dine

Downtown Wuhan, around Jianghan District in Hankou, is conveniently 18 minutes from the airport by taxi. This is the central business district, and the tallest building in central China, Wuhan Zhongxin, is there. The Jianghan Road Pedestrian Shopping Street has many stores and restaurants to choose from as well as street snacks.

We recommend that you go out to see the Yangtze River if you haven't already seen it. It is one of the world's biggest rivers, and from the shore, it looks like a sea. The scenery, the ships, and the size are interesting. A good place to see the river scenery is the First Bridge Over the Yangtze River. You can walk across and see it from above. Another place is the Yellow Crane Pagoda.

The Jianghan District is a convenient central location for tourists to stay. It is where the city's new luxury malls and upscale shopping streets are at, and access to public transport and the airport is more convenient with major metro interchange stations in the area and Hankou Railway Station conveniently close.

2. Visit East Lake Park

East Lake Park during cherry blossom season

East Lake Park is the most popular park in Wuhan, and it is the biggest city park. It has a large lake and is a place for greenery near the inner city. If you go there in the spring, you can see the amazing cherry tree garden.

3. Chow Down on Wuhan Food

Wuhan-style cuisine and street snacks can best be described as palatable, simple, and filling. They don’t have the spicy sting that Sichuan food does, and they fill you up more than authentic Cantonese food. The ingredients are not exotic. The food is simple and suited for the cold winters and hot summers of Wuhan.

See our Wuhan Restaurants for suggestions.

Get Expert Help Having Your Ideal Visa-Free Wuhan Tour

Yellow Crane Tower park. Our travel experts can guide you to explore Wuhan.

Wuhan is a rapidly modernizing city in the heartland of China with countryside, the Yangtze River, and a growing downtown for shopping and hotel stays.

We can assist you in your visa-free tour of Wuhan. It makes sense to let experts arrange your local tour to save your time and save you from stress and headaches. Our experts can help you do what you want to do.

We could design a stopover in Wuhan according to your wishes. Let us tailor-make a unique tour for you.