Do I need to book a hotel to exit Shanghai Airport?

No, booking a hotel to exit Shanghai Airport is not mandatory. There is no such requirement in the official visa-free transit rules, and this is confirmed by the personal experience of many travelers. When processing the exit to the city, you will not even be asked for hotel booking confirmation. Theoretically, having a booking might slightly reduce the risk of questions during a very short layover (for example, less than 8 hours), but this is just an assumption, not supported by official rules.

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