Do you need a transit visa or extra paperwork for a layover in China (Shanghai/Chengdu) en route to Bali?

The electronic Arrival Card needed to get the entry QR code can be filled out 24 hours in advance or right at Pudong airport. Note: airport WiFi is unreliable and staff barely speak English — better to download an offline Chinese translator app beforehand.

With a biometric passport and the QR code, going through all Shanghai airport procedures (immigration on entry and exit) took about 1 hour total.

A taxi from Pudong airport to the Bund (one way) costs around 500 yuan; with a local SIM card, booking through a taxi app is noticeably cheaper.

For a long layover in Chengdu, transit passengers usually don't need a visa thanks to China's visa-free transit policy (up to 144 hours for many nationalities) — but check current rules for your passport before flying.

If you're transiting through China (e.g. on China Eastern) with a surfboard, it's checked as oversized luggage at the check-in counter and the fee depends on the airline — best to confirm in advance.

Carrying a small amount of cash through a Shanghai transit doesn't cause border issues — transit passengers who don't leave the airport typically aren't checked for currency amounts.

Flying via Shanghai to or from Bali requires no extra paperwork as long as you stay within the airport's transit zone.

To leave Shanghai airport and go into the city during a long layover, you need a QR code issued on arrival — this works as a short-term visa-free transit permit.