Originally Posted by
moondog
As others have mentioned, the nature of the tickets doesn't matter, as long as you can demonstrate your intention to depart for a different country within the allotted timeframe.
But, since you presumably don't want to spend 14 hours at an airport, you might want to focus on improving your odds for securing an entry permit. If your connection entails switching terminals at PVG, there isn't much to think about in that regard, by the way, because it's (nearly) impossible to do that without entering and exiting.
I guess I'm confused by the term "transit" in this case. For some reason I can't wrap my head around it.
Usually when I'm transiting an airport with a layover I'm staying in the transit area of the airport and not entering the country. I was going to stay at a hotel next to the airport, so am I still "transiting" or am I "entering" the country. And if I'm entering do I need a different type of visa?
If it matters in this case I'm a US citizen with many years left in my passport.
Thanks again, and sorry for seeming so dense.