Visa-Free China:
Your First 24 Hours on the Ground

Visa-free entry to China applies to holders of ordinary Korean passports. For tourism stays of up to 30 days you can enter without a visa, and this measure has been extended to 31 December 2026. Conditions can change, so re-check the official guidance before you travel.

On arrival you complete an arrival card, register your fingerprints, pass immigration and go through customs. You may be asked about your length of stay and accommodation address, so keep those details in English or Chinese and have your return flight details to hand.

Setting up Alipay and WeChat Pay with an overseas card in advance lets you pay for almost everything without cash. Keeping a small amount of cash for around a day is still a good backstop, and we can walk you through setting up your payment apps.

The entry and payment guides explain what Korean travellers need to know at the border. Holders of an ordinary Korean passport can enter China visa-free for tourism for stays of up to thirty days, and this arrangement has been extended to 31 December 2026. Conditions can change, so we recommend re-checking with official sources before you travel. Staying longer than thirty days, or travelling for another purpose, still requires a visa, so plan for that early. South Korea is covered by this scheme, so a short leisure trip typically needs no visa obtained in advance.

On arrival the flow runs through the arrival card, fingerprinting, immigration, and customs. Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with an overseas card before you go, and carry a little cash as backup in case a small vendor cannot take a card. Immigration queues can be long at busy hours, so keep your first day light. We support your first twenty-four hours, from airport pickup to payment checks and the transfer to your hotel, and quote each trip on request.