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TrainsWhat You Need to Know About Layovers in Guangzhou
Attention! Since November 20, 2025, an electronic arrival form for China has been introduced! This replaces the paper immigration card in electronic form, allowing you to fill it out in advance before your trip, and upon arrival at passport control, simply present the QR code. You can fill it out on the website https://s.nia.gov.cn, filling is free. For now, it's optional, and you can still fill out a paper form upon arrival, but filling it out electronically will save you time at the airport.
But if you don't plan to leave the international zone of the airport during your layover, you don't need to fill it out.
Attention! From September 15, 2025, for at least one year, China has abolished visas for Russians. Now there's no need to apply for visa-free transit as before; they simply stamp your passport for a 30-day stay. More details about the conditions and what you need to know are explained here.
Accordingly, the information about 240-hour visa-free transit is no longer relevant, at least until September 15, 2026.
Chinese airlines have become very popular among Russian tourists and travelers over the past couple of years, as the most affordable way to get from the European part of Russia to Southeast Asian countries, particularly Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, etc. And this popularity is well-deserved, as no other airline can currently offer such low prices on these routes as Chinese airlines.
However, there is one complication: all flights involve a layover in at least one airport in China, and sometimes even two. And the downside is that sometimes connections can be very long, and you have to wait them out at the airport. We'll tell you about our experience with layovers at Guangzhou Airport.
For our travels, we buy tickets on reliable, trusted sites that accept Russian cards:
- Aviasales.ru - the best option for flights within Russia and from Russia
- Trip.com - an excellent option for buying flights on foreign airlines abroad
In any case, we advise always checking prices on these systems before purchasing.
So, at Guangzhou Baiyun Airport (airport code – CAN) there is a full-fledged transit corridor for connections between arriving and departing international flights. This means that upon arrival, you won't have to go through passport control, collect your luggage, and check in again for your flight. That is, the entire transit between flights takes place through the international zone without any complications or paperwork. Your luggage will be checked through to your final destination at the departure airport and transferred to your next flight without your participation. Also, at the departure airport, you will be issued boarding passes for both the flight to Guangzhou and the onward flight from Guangzhou to your final destination, and after arrival, you just need to go through the transit corridor following the International Transfer signs and find the correct boarding gate (To Gate) for your next flight.
Do You Need a Visa for a Layover in Guangzhou?
No, a visa is not required for a layover in Guangzhou. There is a visa-free regime for citizens of many countries, including Russia.
Moreover, even if you are not a citizen of a country for which a visa to China is not required, you can still use visa-free transit to leave the airport to rest at a hotel and explore the city, or to make connections for transit through China to other airports and ports within 240 hours or 10 days. More details about the 240-hour visa-free regime in China.
Do You Need to Book a Hotel to Leave the Airport in Guangzhou?
No, it's not mandatory. There is no such requirement in the transit rules, and this is confirmed by our personal experience. We left the airport to walk around the city, and there were no questions at all about this; they didn't even ask about a hotel.
Theoretically, having a hotel booking might reduce the chances of being denied exit for a very short layover, say up to 8 hours. But, again, this is just speculation, and we cannot confirm it with any official rules or personal experience.
You can book a hotel in Guangzhou and anywhere else with online payment using a Russian card on the following sites:
All systems for booking hotels with Russian cards are listed here.
How Much Time Is Needed for a Layover in Guangzhou?
If you are transiting through Guangzhou on a single ticket from one airline, you won't have to leave the international zone, and the transit procedure itself is extremely quick and simple: they will check your documents (boarding pass) for your next flight, and you will need to go through the standard pre-flight security check (they check for liquids, sharp objects, compliance with norms for batteries and power banks, etc.). After that, you'll reach the boarding gates and just have to wait for the boarding announcement for your next flight. In our experience, this took 30-40 minutes, so one hour is quite sufficient for a layover.
Attention! At the end of 2025, the new Terminal T3 opened. It is also within the airport grounds, and there is free transport and corridors to get there. But considering the need to orient yourself and find everything, you should budget 30-40 minutes for transfers between T1, T2, and T3 or back.
If, however, you are transiting through Guangzhou on separate tickets with different airlines, you will have to go through the full procedure: passport control, baggage claim, customs control, check-in for your next flight, and then customs and passport control again (if not connecting to a domestic flight). In this case, you should allow at least 3 hours for the connection, and preferably more in case the first flight is delayed.
Is There a Risk with a Short Layover at Guangzhou Airport?
If you have purchased a single ticket from one airline, i.e., the itinerary receipt (e-ticket) is issued as one for the entire journey, then there are no risks. The airline itself is responsible for this connection time, and even if your first flight is delayed for some reason and you miss your second one, the airline will put you on another subsequent flight to get you to your destination.
If you bought tickets to Guangzhou and from Guangzhou separately, and moreover from different airlines, then you bear the risks for a short connection yourself. Moreover, in this case, you will likely have to collect and re-check your luggage, which requires leaving the international zone, taking extra time. In such a case, even 3 hours might not be enough.
What's in the Airport, What Amenities Are There?
Guangzhou Airport itself is huge, and the transit zone is excellently equipped for long waits. There are comfortable sleeping areas, and they are free. And near every restroom, you can find dispensers with cold and hot water, so you can make tea, coffee, or even instant noodles, and this is also free. Perhaps the only inconvenience for resting and sleeping here is that the air conditioning runs mercilessly in the airport, and it can sometimes be cool for sleeping.
Can You Leave Guangzhou Airport Without a Visa?
Attention! On December 17, 2024, the transit rules through China were simplified. Now visa-free transit through China is allowed for up to 10 days and multi-stop is possible. All details here
Attention! From September 15, 2025, for at least one year, China has abolished visas for Russians. Now there's no need to apply for visa-free transit as before; they simply stamp your passport for a 30-day stay. More details about the conditions and what you need to know are explained here.
Accordingly, the information about 240-hour visa-free transit is no longer relevant, at least until September 15, 2026.
If you prefer to spend your connection time not at the airport but in the city, there are also opportunities for that. At Guangzhou Airport, there is an option to get free visa-free transit with city access for up to 240 hours (previously it was 144 hours). For this purpose, there are visa-free transit counters; you can find them by following the Transit without visa signs.