Guilin, located in northeast of Guangxi, is known as a top tourist destination in China and world for its gorgeous Karst landform and idyllic scenery. The city became the 9th 72-Hour Visa-free city in China after Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, Shenyang, Dalian and Xian since January 1st, 2013, and the first prefecture-level city applied under the policy. With transit visa exempted, Guilin offers huge convenience for international transits and better serves as an open door for overseas visitor to have a short trip to Guilin.
The 72 Hour Transit Visa Free (Transit Without Visa) is one of the visa waiver programs in China, which allows foreigners to transit in certain cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Guilin...) without applying and obtaining a Chinese Transit Visa (G Visa) and offers a short visa-free stay. Nationals are qualified to apply for 72-Hour TWOV in Guilin, once he/she holds valid passport or international travel document of appointed 53 countries, connecting flight tickets with confirmed date (departing within 72 hours) and seat head to a third country or region, enter Guilin through Guilin Liangjiang International Airport.
Due to operated for international transits, the policy demands applicants to prove she/he only stay in Guilin for a short layover. Specifically, passengers need to hold connecting flight tickets showing he will head for a third country (or region) within 72 hours. So the departure city and onward destination should be different. Besides, Hong Kong and Macau are regarded as third regions from mainland China.
Valid Routes Examples:
Country (Region) A > Guilin (Mainland China) > Country (Region) B
1. New York (US) --> Guilin --> Hong Kong
2. London (UK) --> Guilin --> Singapore
3. Hong Kong --> Guilin --> Thailand
After the implementation of the 72-Hour Visa-free Transit policy, Guilin Liangjiang International Airport (桂林两江国际机场, IATA: KWL, ICAO: ZGKL) serves as the sole port for entry and exit in Guilin. Foreign nationals permitted the 72-hour transit visa exemption must enter into and exit through Guilin Liangjiang International Airport.
In the 72-Hour Transit Visa Exemption policy, foreigner transit travelers are allowed to visit and stay only in administrative precincts of Guilin not exceeding 72 hours. A Chinese Visa is required for intention to visit other regions or cities outside Guilin, or plan to stay longer than permitted 72 hours. You shall apply for a Chinese Visa at the Exit-Entry Administration Ministry of Public Security Bureau in Guilin with necessary documents and fees as regulated by relevant laws.
Helpful Information:
1. Administrative region of Guilin consists of 6 districts and 11 counties (including Yangshuo, Longsheng and so on).
2. Address of Guilin Entry and Exit Administration Bureau (桂林市公安局出入境管理处): No.16 Shijiayuan Road, Qixin District, Guilin 桂林市七星区施家园路16号.
Foreign Traveler First Applied 72-Hour Visa-free Transit in Guilin
Guilin Administrative MapThe 72-hour transit visa free policy of Guilin is applicable to the following 53 countries in 4 continents totally:
- 24 Schengen Countries in Europe
Austria, Belgium, Czech, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.
- 15 Other European Countries
Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Monaco and Belarus.
- 6 Countries in the Americas
The United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Chile.
- 2 Oceania Countries
Australia, New Zealand.
- 6 Asian Countries
Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
72-Hour Visa-Free Applicable Country Map
(click to enlarge)
You are free to download the full list of countries eligible for 72-Hour Visa-free Transit in Guilin. Attention that, foreigners of countries not listed above can NOT apply for the 72-Hour Visa-free Transit in Guilin, and coming from one of the 53 countries also do NOT means you will be granted visa-exempted anyhow.
Only visitors meeting all required regulations are allowed to apply the transit visa exemption and enjoy a layover tour within 3 days in Guilin.
Requirements include:
⒈From certain countries included in the 72-hour Visa-free Transit Program;
⒉A valid international travel document with a validity of at least 3 months, normally a passport;
⒊A connecting flight ticket, which refers to air tickets from A country to C country, but stopping over at B country - China) with confirmed date of flight and seat from Guilin Liangjiang International Airport to a third country (region) departing within 72 hours. E-ticket is also valid.
⒋Foreigner should transit through Guilin via Guilin Liangjiang International Airport only. That means, the airport is the exclusive port used for entry and exit.
Valid Passport is Needed for Application
Step 1 - Make the 72-hour visa free transit application in advance through the airline company that carry you to Guilin, China. When boarding, you shall tell the air company staff, so they will deliver your request to the immigration authority at the airport;
Step 2 - After your arrival, you need to fill in the Arrival Card at specialized counter. Then, follow signs to the "Exclusive Channel for 72-hour Transit Visa Exemption", apply to custom with your passport (or other valid international travel documents), air ticket or other documents showing you have booked an confirmed flight from Guilin Liangjiang International Airport for a third country (region) departing within 72 hours;
Step 3 - The Exit and Entry Immigration officer will seal a Temporary Entry Permit on your passport to grant your entry to Guilin after verification.
Step 4 - Go through customs and immigration formalities, and you can leave Guilin Airport to stay within the administrative region of Guilin for no more than 72 hours.
Guilin 72-Hour Visa-Free Transit Entrance
Sample of Temporary Entry Permit
Location: Liangjiang Town, Lingui District, Guilin, Guangxi 桂林市临桂区两江镇
Guilin Liangjiang International Airport is located about 28 km (17 mi) southwest of downtown Guilin. Currently, you can take taxi or airport shuttle bus from the airport to city center, train stations and nearby destinations, e.g. Yangshuo (阳朔), Liuzhou (柳州), Yizhou (宜州), Lipu (荔浦), etc.
Hotels: Due to location in suburb area, there is no hotels near Guilin Liangjiang International Airport. In Guilin city center, Yangshuo and Longsheng, there are hotels in good location and offering nice scenic views for your choice. While stay in downtown, Shangri-La Hotel, Lijiang Waterfall Hotel, Sheraton Guilin Hotel, Guilin Park Hotel are top-rated hotels.
Useful Links: Where to Stay in Guilin / Where to Stay in Yangshuo
To City Center (Downtown): It takes about half an hour by taxi. First-time tourists are not recommended to take public transportation, because it takes longer time and needs extra transfer.
To Yangshuo: Yangshuo is situated about 85km (over 1 hour’s driving) southeast of Guilin Liangjiang International Airport. There are frequent shuttle buses running from airport to Yangshuo with a journey of 1.5 hours, and comfortable tourist buses from city center to Yangshuo. If you take private cars, the driving needs around 1 hour to Yangshuo from Guilin Airport.
Airport Shuttle Bus Running Hours:
Guilin Airport - Yangshuo : 07:00 - 19:00 / Yangshuo - Guilin Airport: 09:30 - 20:00
To Longji Rice Terrace: Longji Rice Terrace (in Longsheng County) is located about 80km (1 hour’s driving) north of Guilin Airport. So far, taking a private car is the only way available to get to Longgi Rice Terrace.
Useful Links: Guilin Airport Transporation / Guilin to Yangshuo Transfer / Guilin to Longji Transfer
Guilin Liangjiang Intenational Airport
Guilin Airport Transportation Map
(click to enlarge)
Tourist Buses in Guilin
Except the above-mentioned 72-Hour Transit Visa Exemption, Guilin still provide 6-day visa-free for ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) tour groups, which began from May 28th 2015. Tourist groups of ordinary passport holders from 10 ASEAN member countries can enjoy visa free entry to Guilin for up to 144 hours. Read More about Guilin 6-Day Visa-Free for ASEAN Tour Groups >>
Detailed requirements are:
1. Tour group needs at least 2 person;
2. Guilin Liangjiang International Airport is the one and only port applying to the policy.
3. Permitted stay area is administrative region of Guilin, and the duration of stay is no more than 144 hours.
10 ASEAN Countries: Singapore, Cambodia, Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, Burma, Philippines, Vietnam.
You can contact an authorized travel agency in China (such as China Discovery) to plan such a group tour in Guilin.
10 ASEAN Countries Location Map
China Discovery provides you worry-free private tours, covering sightseeing, dining, transportation and other tour-related service in Guilin. We will offer most useful travel ideas, tips to help you make itinerary, and give support needed during the whole trip. The tour guide and driver will pick you up at airport to your hotel, and escort you all the way to focus on sightseeing and save your time on complicated local transfer.
For transit tourist, since you can stay in Guilin for 72 hours, it is highly suggested to spend 2 to 3 days to discover the most valuable essence in downtown Guilin and Yangshuo, enjoy a Li River Cruise and Yangshuo countryside biking, cooking class learning, local flavor tasting, etc.
Recommended Guilin Tour (within 72 hours):
>> 2 Days Guilin Ideal Li River Cruise with Yangshuo Essence Tour
>> 3 Days Classic Guilin Tour - Guilin Brief Vacation
For ASEAN group tourists, you could travel the three most popular destinations - Guilin, Yangshuo and Longsheng together, because your duration of stay is 6 days long at most. Thus, you get great chance to see different picturesque landscape of Guilin, like winding Li River with amazing Karst limestone hills, tranquil rural land in Yangshuo, stunning multi-layered Longsheng Rice Terrace , etc.
Recommended Guilin Tours (within 144 hours):
>> 4 Days Guilin Highlights Tour (Li River, Yangshuo & Longji Terrace)
>> 5 Days Best Guilin In-depth Vacation
Please free to contact us, tell us your interests and scheduled time, our experienced travel consultants are always ready to help you customize a special Guilin tour!
Idyllic Guilin Landscape
Beautiful Longsheng Rice Terrace
If you haven't got a Chinese Visa, after the 72 hours' stay, you need to depart from Guilin via Guilin Liangjiang International Airport with valid international travel documents and visa for a third country (region). Since Hong Kong and Macau are considered as third regions from mainland China, you could directly fly to Hong Kong and Macau for travel under the transit visa exemption policy. Also, Hong Kong and Macau are visa exempted for citizens of many countries. Know about Hong Kong Visa / Macau Visa >>
The following are most popular international (regional) transit airlines for your reference.
Guilin--Hong Kong
Guilin--Taipei
Guilin--Seoul
Guilin--Kaohsiung
Guilin--Kuala Lumpur
Guilin--Bangkok
Guilin--Chejudo
Visit Flights to Guilin to get more international air routes connecting Guilin and other regions or foreign countries.
Recommended Transit Airlines from Guilin
Top 3 tours chosen by most customers to explore in the best way. Check the detailed itinerary, or tailor your own trip now with us.
Guilin / Yangshuo / Longsheng
Guilin / Yangshuo
Guilin / Yangshuo / Guilin
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