Singapore passport holders can visit mainland China visa-free for up to 30 days per trip under a mutual agreement in force since 9 February 2024; it is not affected by the 31 December 2026 expiry that applies to some other countries. In Changi’s schedule for November 2026 we counted direct flights to 29 mainland cities, and there is no time difference. Most first trips work well at 4, 7 or 10 days.
Visa and arrival card
- Visa-free for short visits. Tourism, visiting family and business are covered. Work, journalism or a stay longer than 30 days need the right visa before you go. Don’t plan to leave on the last possible day.
- Fill in the arrival card. Since 20 November 2025 you can do it online before you fly, or at the airport by QR code, kiosk or paper. Ordinary tourists are not among the seven exempt groups.
- Hong Kong and Macao are separate. They have their own entry rules; crossing back into the mainland is a new entry.
Travelling with a friend on a different passport? See Entering China with a Southeast Asian passport and Entry essentials.
Direct flights from Changi
Changi’s departures for 3–21 November 2026 show direct flights to these mainland cities:
| Region | Cities |
|---|---|
| North | Beijing (Capital and Daxing), Tianjin, Jinan, Qingdao, Shenyang, Zhengzhou |
| East | Shanghai, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Ningbo, Wuxi, Wenzhou, Hefei, Nanchang, Xiamen, Fuzhou |
| South | Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shantou (Chaoshan), Nanning, Haikou |
| Central and west | Chengdu (Tianfu), Chongqing, Xi’an, Wuhan, Changsha, Kunming, Guiyang, Zhangjiajie* |
*Zhangjiajie is the first stop of a Loong Air flight that continues to Hangzhou.
One stop: Harbin (via Shenzhen), Changchun, Lanzhou and Yichang (via Haikou), Lhasa (via Chongqing) and Yinchuan (via Guangzhou). Schedules change by season, and this list is a snapshot of November 2026, so check your dates with the airline. For a winter trip north, see Harbin and the northeast in winter.
Flight times
| To | Direct flight, about |
|---|---|
| Guangzhou, Shenzhen | 4–4½ hours |
| Chengdu, Chongqing | 5 hours |
| Shanghai | 5½ hours |
| Beijing | 6–6½ hours |
Singapore and China both keep UTC+8, so there is no jet lag to plan around. If you take an overnight flight, keep the first day light.
How many days: 4, 7 or 10
| Days | Shape | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | One city, flying direct both ways | Shanghai, Chengdu, Chongqing, Xi’an or Beijing |
| 7 | Two cities, in one and out of the other | Chongqing and Chengdu, Shanghai and Hangzhou, Beijing and Xi’an |
| 10 | Three cities, or two plus a nature stop | Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai; Chengdu, Chongqing and Zhangjiajie |
Because so many cities have direct flights, an open-jaw ticket, into one city and out of another, usually saves a day of backtracking. For a longer trip, see 14 days in China.
When to go from Singapore
The 2027 MOE school holidays for primary and secondary schools are:
| Break | Dates | China then |
|---|---|---|
| March | 13–21 March | Spring; cool in the north |
| June | 29 May–27 June | Early summer; hot and wet in many regions |
| September | 4–12 September | Late summer into autumn |
| Year-end | 20 November–31 December | Winter: ice and snow in the north, mild in the south |
Chinese New Year falls on 6–7 February 2027, and China travels heavily around it. China’s official 2027 holiday dates had not been published as of 2 November 2026; check them before booking around Chinese New Year, the May Day holiday or the National Day week in October. Seasons by region are in Find your season. If you need halal food or are travelling near Ramadan, see Halal food and Muslim-friendly travel in China.
Planning it yourself, or with help
A short city trip from Singapore is very doable on your own. Help makes the most difference when the trip has more moving parts: three generations travelling together, several cities and day trips in one week, a winter trip to the northeast, halal meals across the route, or simply not wanting to spend your leave on bookings and transfers.
Our team has been hosting international visitors in China for more than 10 years, working with carefully selected local travel partners who have a good local reputation. Tell us how many days you have, who is travelling and the cities on your list, and our team will get back to you.
Questions travellers ask
Do Singaporeans need a visa for China?
Not for short visits. Ordinary Singapore passport holders can stay in mainland China visa-free for up to 30 days per trip for tourism, family visits or business. Work, journalism or longer stays need a visa.
Does the 31 December 2026 visa-free deadline affect Singaporeans?
No. Singapore’s exemption is a mutual agreement in force since 9 February 2024. The 31 December 2026 date applies to China’s unilateral exemption for a separate list of countries.
Which Chinese cities can I fly to directly from Singapore?
Changi’s November 2026 schedule lists direct flights to 29 mainland cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Xi’an, Kunming and Zhangjiajie. Harbin and Lhasa need one stop.
How many days do I need for a China trip from Singapore?
Four days for one city, seven for two, ten for three. Direct flights to many cities make an in-one, out-another route easy.
Is there a time difference between Singapore and China?
No. Both use UTC+8 all year.
Do I need to fill in China’s arrival card with a Singapore passport?
Yes, unless you fall into one of seven exempt groups, which do not include ordinary tourists. You can fill it in online before you fly.
