US → Shanghai → Hong Kong SAR
Usually the kind of route people mean when they ask whether US citizens can use the current 240-hour transit policy.
Route library
China transit route examples that usually help travelers decide faster.
These examples do not replace the checker, but they are useful for quickly understanding whether the route shape itself sounds like a true third-destination transit or just a same-country loop dressed up as a stopover.
Canada → Beijing → Japan
Classic third-country pattern if the onward flight is confirmed and the stay fits the permitted window.
UK → Guangzhou → Macao SAR
Often used as an example because Macao SAR counts as a valid third region in the public interpretation.
Australia → Chengdu → Europe
Plausible route shape if the traveler is otherwise in one of the eligible nationalities and the permitted-area rules fit.
Japan → Shanghai → Japan
Usually not the right shape because the traveler returns to the same country instead of continuing to a third destination.
US → Beijing → US
Also usually not the right shape because it is a same-country loop rather than a third-country transit.
Why Hong Kong SAR shows up so often
Many travelers use Hong Kong SAR as the onward destination because it counts as a third region in the public interpretation and is easy to understand compared with more abstract route examples.
Why route examples are still not enough
A plausible route shape can still fail on the port, stay area, or confirmed onward arrangements. That is why this site pairs examples with an actual checker and timing calculator.
Run the transit checker
Best next step if one of the patterns here looks close to your real itinerary.
Read the third-country rule page
Helpful if you want the logic stripped down even further.
Check the timing next
Useful once the route shape looks plausible and the traveler needs to test the actual stay window.
Official source used for this page
This page is built from the National Immigration Administration transit policy interpretation dated July 4, 2025 and the November 3, 2025 notice.
Visa-free transit policy interpretation
65-port transit notice