Flying on China Southern from SIN to OVB (that's in Russia) via CAN and URC this coming November. I have a 3 hr 30 mn layover in Guangzhou and a 1 hr 40 mn layover in URC. I've never been to China and speak not a word. My Russian is very strong though and English is my native tongue. I anticipate having no visa, checking no bags, will never leave an airport or even exit immigration (I hope) on my way. Still though, I am antsy and am thinking about a SIN to CDG or AMS option and then going to SVO and OVB on my second airline of choice SU.

So, help me with the following please:

1. Can I make the necessary transfers at CAN and URC with no visa?
2. If I need a visa what is the process (including cost) for a transit visa...if such a thing exists in China?
3. Assuming weather is fine and delays are nill, do the connection times seem enough given airport layout and such?
4. Any lounge access in CAN or URC for a Sky Team Elite Plus guy?

ANY help, suggestions, warnings will be duly noted and considered worthy of my attention.

Many thanks!

No need to change your plans - you'll be fine with a transit through CAN and there is a Sky Team lounge to use for your transit. It's a nice enough airport to transit through and you'll be fine relying on your English. Your transit time is plenty. Happy Travels!

Thank you baglady (and I mean that name as a compliment). That feels a lot better.

This is true, but I'm not sure about URC (I would suspect they do because that's the trend, but no one's ever asked about that before). I didn't know there were flights between URC and SIN.

The flight is between SIN and URC via CAN.
Two flights, two flight numbers, two planes. One carrier. Just wanted to clear that up.

I am in OVB right now and an American colleague arrived three days ago or so from URC with no visa. He said he was told in URC that the 24 hour rule of Americans not needing a visa might work in Beijing but "you must have a visa to come here and leave here." "Here" being URC. He was harrassed a bit and promised he would have big problems when he flies back through URC later this week.

So, is there anything to there being different standards for Americans without a visa transiting in the capital city as compared to a more provincial town like URC? I have time to get a visa if need be but would like to get on this sooner than later since I won't be in the States a lot between now and the end of the summer/early fall.

Any insights would be very much appreciated by this first timer to China.

Meeting the requirement of not needing a visa stated by the country is part of it, you also have to know whether the airline is willing to take the chance of transporting you there without one, even if you don't need it. They may (not MAY) refuse to carry you. Ask, ask again, and have your PNR documented well would be my recommendation.

Does China offer a transit visa? Anyone gotten one before? Links would be appreciated.

Thanks to you all!

I don't think they offer those any more.

China visas are getting increasingly difficult to get as the Olympics approach. My own 2 year, multi-entry, business visa expires at the end of August and we are hearing about additional requirements almost weekly. This may not be exclusive to US citizens so make sure to check early and often if you are wanting to get through immigration soon.

Back in the States and back to wondering what I need to do...

According to this link, there is a Chinese Transit (G) Visa but this info is from April of this year which I assume might as well be from 1950 or so. Wondering if the changes and strickness of the Olympic season will still be in place come this fall.

Any updated insights would be appreciated. I have a trip to Europe this month that makes giving up my passport for a week impossible. I could do it in October though I suppose though that is cutting it close.

I'm not sure how I missed this thread when it first came up.

To use the word transit in respect of what you are planning is perhaps I think rather beyond what Chinese officials had in mind when drawing up the visa-free transit regulations.

The flight from CAN-URC will be a domestic flight so there will be no hope at all of you avoiding immigration as you mentioned in your first post. What you will be doing in practical terms is arriving into China at CAN, and leaving China at URC. Whether you get between CAN and URC by plane or pit-pony is really neither here nor there.

The 24 hour visa-free transit rule only really seems to be phrased to cover arriving at and departing from the same airport.

So all up I think you will need a transit visa, or indeed just a regular tourist visa.

And I'd be a bit wary about only allowing 80 minutes at URC for the connection. Having no checked bags should make it doable in theory - but it's close and unless they've changed the URC-OVB schedule hugely since I was last in URC it's not just a case of waiting an hour for the next flight!

And how is Novosibirsk these days... it's a while ago but I actually went on holiday there! Of all my travels my 'feeling furtherst away from home' moment came getting off the plane in OVB at 5am one December morning and being a little disconcerted to find that the terminal for arrivals wasn't so much a terminal as a gate in the wall. And the temperature was such that the brass monkey had become bereft of its nuts.

Thanks for the clear instruction. I'll go for the transit visa at the least and, if they are giving them out still, maybe even a tourist visa. As for 80 minutes, it's all I can do so I'll give it my best shot. You're right about there not being flights every hour on the hour from URC to OVB. That's for sure.

Novosibirsk is a lot different these days. Nice, new airport with a real baggage claim area that's actually attached to the airport and not a barn set off by itself. The long term plans for the airport include an express train to the city, an international hotel, a convention center, an enclosed walkway set up off the ground to access each of these, and many another amenity. The brass monkey still gets very chilly during the winter but it's a totally different situation than the 90's for sure. Nice pictures of the new baggage claim area here actually.

It's me again. I'm getting ready for this trip as it is now just at a month away. Some updates:

1. I have a multiple entry Chinese transit visa in hand. Thanks for the counsel to do this. It's added a lot of peace of mine. Especially since...

2. I found out today that China Southern has changed the time of my URC to OVB flight so that I will now miss my original connection. The next flight? 2 days later.

So, I now need some help locating a hotel in Urumqi/Urumchi (URC) for my two day layover on the way to OVB. I'd prefer a chain I'm familiar with and with a late check out option since my flight is not until 7 p.m. the night I fly. Free shuttle to the airport would be great.

Any help would be very much appreciated. Thanks!

Not knowing your budget, make it quite difficult to give you exact hotels you want. But here is some suggestions.

There are plenty of hotels under international brands are building in Urumqi, but most of them not finished yet.

I guess you would prefer an international brand anyway. Here you are, prices are for November.

Kempinski Urumqi Hotel, about $80 for a standard room, $115 for an executive room inclusive.

Sheraton Urumqi Hotel, $140 for a standard room, $210 for an executive room inclusive.

There are cheaper local hotels around if you need. Be careful in that area, not the safest place in China. I won't go out in the evening on my own. Not the worst place on the earth, just be careful.

Great help. Thanks. Honestly, I had no idea that there were int'l chains represented in this city and didn't even bother to do my Starwood search. After I read the above post I got the Sheraton for two nights.

Is there anything interesting to do for a full day in the area? I know this is along the Silk Road but for 7 months I've thought of nothing else than making my 1 hour 40 minute connection on to OVB. Now I've got 48 hours to fill.

Careful in the area is also wise counsel. Will do.