72 or 144-hour Visa-free Transit in Xi'an

Overview
As a famous historical and cultural city in China and the starting point of the ancient Silk Road, Xi'an boasts world-class cultural heritage such as the Terracotta Army and the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. For foreign tourists transiting through Xi'an Xianyang International Airport to a third country (region), the Chinese government has launched a 144-hour visa-free transit policy. You can stay in the administrative areas of Xi'an and Xianyang for 6 days without applying for a Chinese visa in advance, easily starting a layover tour. 

144-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy for Xi'an
Eligibility Criteria
· Nationality Requirement: Only citizens of 54 countries are eligible, including 25 Schengen Agreement countries, 15 other European countries, 6 American countries, 6 Asian countries and 2 Oceanian countries, such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan and South Korea;
· Document Requirement: Hold a passport or other valid international travel documents with a validity period of at least 3 months;
· Itinerary Requirement: Must hold a connecting ticket (including air ticket, ship ticket, etc.) from Xi'an Xianyang International Airport to a third country (region) within 144 hours, and the itinerary must be "enter Xi'an - go to a third country (region)", not a round-trip itinerary of "enter Xi'an - return to the original departure country";
· Entry Port: Only Xi'an Xianyang International Airport (Terminals T2, T3 and T5), entry through other ports cannot enjoy this policy.

Application Process
· Before Boarding: Inform the airline staff that you plan to apply for 144-hour visa-free transit in Xi'an and confirm that the connecting ticket meets the policy requirements;
· Upon Entry: After arriving at Xi'an Xianyang International Airport, go to the designated special counter for 144-hour visa-free transit (available at Terminals T2, T3 and T5, which can be found by following the airport's English sign "144-Hour Visa-Free Transit Counter");
· Submit Materials: Submit your passport, connecting ticket (either paper or electronic version, it is recommended to print a paper version for backup) to the border inspection staff, and fill in the "Entry Registration Card";
· Review and Release: After the border inspection staff verify the materials correctly, they will stamp a visa-free transit seal on your passport, marking the stay period (calculated from 00:00 the next day after entry to 24:00 on the 6th day), and you can enter the country smoothly.

Key Notes for Policy
· Stay Scope: Only limited to the administrative areas of Xi'an and Xianyang cities, not allowed to go to other cities in Shaanxi Province (such as Baoji, Yan'an) or other provinces in China;
· Time Calculation: 144 hours (6 days) starts from 00:00 the next day after entry, not the day of entry. For example: entry at 14:00 on the 1st, the stay period ends at 24:00 on the 7th;
· Document Preservation: Keep your passport and visa-free transit seal properly after entry, and show them to the border inspection staff when leaving the country;
· Itinerary Change: If the itinerary changes due to force majeure such as flight cancellation or delay, contact the airline and border inspection department in a timely manner to explain the situation and go through relevant procedures. Do not extend the stay without permission;
· Violation Consequences: If you exceed the stay period, leave the designated area without permission or engage in illegal activities, you will be fined, deported and other penalties, which will affect the subsequent application for entry into China.

Must-Visit Attractions During Xi'an Layover
Historical and Cultural Core Area
Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum (Terracotta Army)

- Address: No. 85 Qinling Road, Lintong District, Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province   
- Opening hours: 08:30-18:30 from March 16th to November 15th every year (closed at 17:00), From November 16th to March 15th of the following year, from 08:30-18:00 (no admission: 16:30)
- Ticket: 120 yuan/person 
- Contact Phone: +86-(29)-81399127   
- Scenic Introduction: One of the Eight Wonders of the World, it is the mausoleum pit of Emperor Qin Shi Huang Yingzheng. Thousands of terracotta warriors and horses have been unearthed, which truly reproduce the organization and style of the Qin Dynasty army. There are English explanations in the scenic area (need to book in advance, cost about 100 yuan/group), and it is recommended to visit for 2-3 hours;
- Transportation: Take Metro Line 9 from the urban area to Huaqing Pool Station, transfer to Lintong No. 602 bus to reach directly, or take a tourist special line or online car-hailing.

Shaanxi History Museum

- Address: No. 91 Xiaozhai East Road, Yanta District, Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province   
- Business Hours: 08:30-18:00 (Summer); 08:30-17:30 (Winter), closed every Monday (except legal holidays), stop admission 1 hour before closing   
- Ticket: Free (need to book 3 days in advance on Ctrip or the official WeChat account of the scenic area, foreign tourists can book with passports)
- Contact Phone: +(86)-29-85253806  /  +(86)-4000293806   
- Scenic Introduction: China's first large-scale modern national museum, with a collection of more than 370,000 cultural relics, covering multiple dynasties such as Zhou, Qin, Han and Tang, showing the historical development context of Shaanxi region. The scenic area provides English audio guides (rental fee 30 yuan/unit, deposit 200 yuan), and it is recommended to visit for 1.5-2 hours
- Transportation: Take Metro Line 2 or 3 to Xiaozhai Station, walk 5 minutes to reach. There is SEG International Shopping Center nearby, where you can dine and shop on the way.

Xi'an City Wall

- Address: South Street, Beilin District, Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province   
- Business Hours: April 29th to December 31st, 08:00-22:00 (closed admission: 22:00; closed ticket sales: 22:00)   
- Ticket: 54 yuan/person (bookable on Ctrip, supporting multiple payment methods), Cycling Fee: 45 yuan/3 hours for single bike, 90 yuan/3 hours for double bike   
- Contact Phone: +86-4008313555 / +86-29-87272792   
- Scenic Introduction: The largest and best-preserved ancient city wall in China, with a circumference of about 13.7 kilometers. You can walk or ride a bike to visit, passing through multiple city gates such as Yongning Gate and Anding Gate along the way, and you can overlook the style of downtown Xi'an. The scenic area has English maps and guidelines, and it is recommended to visit for 1-2 hours (cycling) or 3-4 hours (walking)
- Transportation: Take Metro Line 2 to Yongning Gate Station, and enter from Yongning Gate entrance is the most convenient.

Tang Dynasty Cultural Area
Giant Wild Goose Pagoda and Giant Ci'en Temple

- Address: No. 1 Ci'en Road, Yanta District, Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province   
- Business Hours: April 29th to December 31st, 08:00-22:00 (closed admission: 22:00; closed ticket sales: 22:00)   
- Ticket: Giant Ci'en Temple ticket 40 yuan/person, Giant Wild Goose Pagoda tower climbing ticket 25 yuan/person (bookable on Ctrip), foreign tourists can buy tickets with passports   
- Contact Phone: +86-17792398839   
- Scenic Introduction: The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda was built by Monk Xuanzang in the Tang Dynasty to store scriptures and Buddha statues, with a height of 64.5 meters. It is one of the landmark buildings in Xi'an. Giant Ci'en Temple is a royal temple in the Tang Dynasty with strong incense. The scenic area includes Xuanzang Sanzang Courtyard, Bell and Drum Tower and other attractions, providing English explanations. It is recommended to visit for 1.5 hours;
- Transportation: Take Metro Line 3 to Giant Wild Goose Pagoda Station, walk to reach. There are Datang Never Sleeps City and Joy City business district nearby.

Datang Everbright City
- Address: East Ci'en Road, Yanta District, Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province   
- Business Hours: 10:00-23:00 (Summer); 10:00-22:00 (Winter). Night tour is the core experience. The lights are turned on after 19:00, with activities such as Tang costume parades and intangible cultural heritage performances   
- Ticket: Free, no appointment required, direct entry   
- Contact Phone: 029-89660808   
- Scenic Introduction: A pedestrian street with Tang Dynasty culture as the theme, about 1.5 kilometers long. There are Tang-style buildings, shops and sculptures on both sides of the street. There are rich cultural performances every night (such as tumbler, pipa performance), as well as various characteristic snacks and cultural and creative products. There are English signs and bilingual staff in the scenic area. It is recommended to visit for 2-3 hours (best at night);
- Transportation: Take Metro Line 3 to Giant Wild Goose Pagoda Station, walk 5 minutes to reach. It is connected with Giant Wild Goose Pagoda and Joy City, and can be visited in series.