72 hour transit visa trip to Shanghai - airlines and routes ?

mikedublin

I have been researching the possibility of doing this 72 hour visa free trip to Shanghai in China. You can enter China without a prearranged visa and stay up to 72 hours if transiting to a third country. I just need to work out what airlines and flight routes would work to do it. I wonder if any Irish passport holders have done this and if anyone would recommend any airline\ routes that work ? Or any travel agencies that might specialise in China in particular ?

The rules seem quite strict, in that you need to leave going to a different country than you arrived in from. I had thought of a route like Dublin - London (or any European airport like Amsterdam or Paris) - hong-kong - shangai - Dubai - Dublin.

raddoc

HI, I have recently visited China on an Irish passport. I would suggest getting a visa. It is relatively painless and much cheaper in Dublin than here in the UK. You can then visit without tight time constraints. 
We booked hotels online and negotiated the spanking new Shanghai Metro system without difficulty. Station names are in Chinese and English and Metro ticket vending machines operate in English too. You don't need a travel agency who will surcharge for hotels and transfers, IMHO.
Sean

edeldonlon

I have done the 72 hour visa twice in Beijing and never had any issues. I flew air china both times. You just fill out the form when you arrive and show your tickets for the next destination. There is a special line for this so you don't need to queue in the normal line which is usually very busy.

Fred Swanson

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