Choosing the right gateway and arrival time makes your first hours in China much smoother.
Major entry airports
| Airport | City | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| PEK / PKX | Beijing | North China, Great Wall, Xi'an side trips |
| PVG | Shanghai | East China, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Huangshan |
| CAN | Guangzhou | South China, food trips, Hong Kong link |
| SZX | Shenzhen | Tech visits, Hong Kong border crossing |
| CTU / TFU | Chengdu | Pandas, Sichuan, Tibet permits, Yunnan |
Booking tips
- Book 2–4 months out for the best fares; avoid Chinese New Year (late Jan/Feb) and Golden Week (Oct 1–7) when domestic travel explodes
- One-stop flights via Seoul, Tokyo, Hong Kong, or Singapore are often 30–40% cheaper than direct
- Check both airports for Beijing (PEK vs PKX) and Shanghai (PVG vs SHA) — they're far apart
Arrival timing
- Land before 22:00 if possible — airport express trains and metro lines stop around 23:00–23:30
- Late arrival? Official taxis run all night; Didi works 24/7 in big cities
- Allow 2–3 hours minimum for international-to-domestic connections in the same airport
Pro tip: If you're using the 240-hour visa-free transit, your onward ticket to a third country/region will be checked at check-in before you even board your flight to China. Have the confirmation printed or on your phone.