Originally Posted by
stringcheese
Just a follow up. We didn't have any problems in Ho Chi Minh regarding the TWOV. We told the gate agent our intention and she didn't have any issues even though we flew to Vietnam on a separate ticket. Once we arrived in Shanghai, we didn't have any issues either just a very long line with strict agents (not surprised). We also had a separate ticket flying from PVG to SEA. Personally, I would rather go to Hong Kong or Tokyo next time rather than deal with this policy. Not a huge fan of China.
The policy beats anything offered from both the EU-zone as well as the US by miles. Actually, hundreds of miles. Try, as a person needing a Visa to the US/Schengen, to transfer (and getting landside for up to 7 days!) there, without actually anything (and, on top of that, any fee!)
Also, China is much more than just Shanghai, you should visit other regions too before coming up with a statement that you didn't liked it. Funnily enough, you say you like Hong Kong - which also is a part of China.
And your negative experience with the policy seems to be coming mainly from having to interact with an uneducated US-American agent. It's definitely not China's fault that many agents abroad apparently haven't been educated properly on how to run their job, or are otherwise lacking skills to do their job as intended.