China Visa-Free Entry: Visiting Luoyang Without a Visa
Most travelers from Europe, the UK, Australia and the Americas can now reach Luoyang without a visa. Here’s how the current rules work — and how to plan your Longmen & Shaolin trip around them.
The short answer
If you hold a passport from a 30-day visa-free country (most of Europe, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and several Asian countries), you simply fly or take the train in — no visa, no paperwork. If you’re from the US, Canada or another of the 54 transit-eligible countries, a 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit covers a Luoyang & Shaolin visit when you continue to a third country. Everyone else needs a tourist visa, which we’ll help you sort out.
1. 30-day visa-free entry
China has unilaterally waived visas for citizens of a long and growing list of countries. Eligible nationals can stay up to 30 days for tourism, business or family visits — no visa, no fee, just your passport. The list includes (but is not limited to):
- Europe — France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Slovenia, Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein — plus the United Kingdom (newly added).
- Asia & Oceania — Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei, Australia, New Zealand, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia.
- Americas — Brazil (and a small number of others).
Good to know
This policy is currently valid through the end of 2026 and has been repeatedly extended. A 30-day visa-free stay covers Luoyang, Shaolin Temple and onward travel anywhere in China — no special routing required.
2. 240-hour visa-free transit
Travelers from the United States, Canada, the UK and 51 other countries can enter China visa-free for up to 240 hours (10 days) when transiting onward to a third country. You can move freely within a large approved region rather than being locked to one city.
The key point for Luoyang: Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport (CGO) is one of the approved transit ports. That means a very practical route:
- Fly into Zhengzhou → high-speed train to Luoyang in 36 minutes.
- Visit the Longmen Grottoes, Shaolin Temple and White Horse Temple over 2–4 days.
- Continue to Xi’an or Beijing, then fly onward to a third country.
3. Getting to Luoyang visa-free
Luoyang’s own airport (Luoyang Beijiao, LYA) is a small domestic airport — it is not an international entry port. International visitors almost always arrive through a major gateway and connect by high-speed rail:
| Entry point | To Luoyang | Travel time |
|---|---|---|
| Zhengzhou (CGO airport) | High-speed train to Luoyang Longmen | ~36 min |
| Xi’an | High-speed train to Luoyang Longmen | ~1.5 hrs |
| Beijing | High-speed train to Luoyang Longmen | ~3.5–4 hrs |
See our How to Get to Luoyang guide for the full train and transfer details.
4. If you need a visa
If your nationality isn’t on the visa-free or transit list, you’ll usually need an L (tourist) visa from a Chinese embassy or consulate before you travel. We can provide a confirmed itinerary and invitation support to accompany your application — tell us your nationality and dates and we’ll tell you exactly what you need.
Please double-check before you book
Visa-free lists and transit rules change. We summarise the current rules to help you plan, but always confirm your own eligibility with the Chinese embassy or consulate in your country (or your airline) before purchasing flights. Tell us your nationality and we’ll verify against the latest official rules too.
How we help
Tell us your nationality, dates and group size and we’ll:
- Confirm whether you can enter visa-free or via transit;
- Design a route that fits the rules (e.g. Zhengzhou in → Xi’an out);
- Arrange your trains, transfers, hotels, English-speaking guide and private car.
Tell us your dates. We’ll build the rest.
Send us your travel dates, group size and the places you can’t miss. We’ll reply with a plan, a guide and a car — usually within a few hours.