Do I need to book a hotel to exit the airport in Shanghai?

No, it is not necessary. There is no such requirement in the transit rules, and this is repeatedly confirmed by our personal experience. We have left the airport to walk around the city, and no questions arose about this at all, they didn't even ask about a hotel.

In theory, having a hotel reservation reduces the chances of being denied exit with a very short layover, for example under 8 hours. But, again, this is only an assumption, and we cannot confirm it with any official rules or personal experience.

For more details on everything you need to know about the layover in Shanghai, read the guide-instruction here...

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