Youyiguan border gate – Pingxiang (China): opening hours, visa 2026

Youyiguan (Friendship Pass) border gate is in the county-level city of Pingxiang, Chongzuo, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (China), opposite Huu Nghi International Border Gate (Dong Dang, Lang Son). From Hanoi to the border is about 170 km; from Pingxiang the fastest high-speed train to Nanning takes about 75 minutes. Passenger processing usually runs 8:00–21:00 Beijing time (7:00–20:00 Vietnam time). Foreigners crossing here need a Chinese visa obtained in advance or must qualify for visa exemption. This is the main road gateway between Hanoi and Nanning, on National Road 1 on the Vietnamese side and National Road 322 on the Chinese side. The Youyiguan gate tower area is also a sightseeing spot with a long history.

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Youyiguan border gate at a glance

Country / province	China, Pingxiang city (Chongzuo), Guangxi
Opposite border gate	Huu Nghi, Dong Dang, Lang Son
Distance	Hanoi about 170 km; Lang Son city about 15 km; central Pingxiang about 15 minutes by taxi; Nanning about 75 minutes by high-speed train from Pingxiang East station
Opening hours (passengers)	8:00–21:00 Beijing time (7:00–20:00 Vietnam time), daily; may change on public holidays
Visa on arrival	Not issued
Chinese e-visa	Not applicable; you need a visa sticker obtained in advance or visa exemption
240-hour transit	Not available at this gate

Border gate location on Google Maps

Tap the button below to open Google Maps on your phone and get directions straight to the border gate.

Get directions to the border gate View on Google Maps

Chinese visa when entering via Youyiguan

The most important point: China does not issue visas at Youyiguan border gate (there is no visa on arrival at land crossings with Vietnam). If your nationality is not visa-exempt, you must apply for a Chinese visa in advance, at the Chinese Embassy in Hanoi or the Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City (usually by submitting your application through the Chinese Visa Application Service Center), or in your home country. China also has no tourist e-visa that ordinary travellers can use instead of a visa sticker.

30-day unilateral visa exemption: citizens of about 50 countries holding ordinary passports can enter China without a visa and stay up to 30 days for tourism, business, visiting family, exchanges or transit. The list includes most European countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden…), Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, some Latin American and Gulf countries, Russia (from 15/9/2025), and the UK and Canada (from 17/2/2026). For most countries on the list it applies until 31/12/2026. According to Chinese guidance, this policy applies at ports open to foreigners, including land crossings.
Mutual visa exemption: Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia are visa-exempt for 30 days under agreements with China.
Visa required in advance: nationalities not in either group above, for example US citizens.
The 240-hour (10-day) transit policy cannot be used at Youyiguan. It only applies at 65 designated ports. In Guangxi these are only Nanning (Wuxu), Guilin and Beihai airports and Beihai passenger port; in Yunnan only Kunming and Lijiang airports and Mohan railway station. Travellers must also hold an onward ticket to a third country: a Vietnam – China – Vietnam trip does not meet this condition. From 20/8/2026 the 240-hour transit list grows to 57 countries (adding Vietnam and Kyrgyzstan), but land crossings with Vietnam are still not on the list.

The visa exemption list changes fairly often and the current period ends on 31/12/2026, so check with the Chinese Embassy or the website of China’s National Immigration Administration (NIA) before you go. Your passport should be valid for at least 6 more months.

Crossing at Youyiguan step by step

Complete exit formalities at the Huu Nghi border gate on the Vietnamese side (exit stamp in your passport).
Walk or take the electric shuttle about 1 km to the Chinese control area (the shuttle usually costs about 10,000–15,000 VND).
Fill in the arrival card (on paper at the counter, or online in advance if instructed), show your passport and visa, have your photo and fingerprints taken; luggage goes through the scanner.
If you are doing a visa run: after entering China, go back and complete Chinese exit formalities. Note that a single-entry Chinese visa becomes invalid once you exit.
Return to the Vietnamese side and enter with an e-visa, temporary residence card, visa exemption certificate or visa exemption.

Where to go from Youyiguan border gate

To central Pingxiang: about 15 minutes by taxi; there are buses between the centre and the border, about 10 yuan. Agree on the taxi fare first.
To Nanning: since 5/12/2025 the Nanning – Pingxiang high-speed line has been fully open; Pingxiang East station is about 10 minutes’ drive from the town, the fastest train takes about 75 minutes to Nanning East, and second-class tickets cost about 95–110 yuan depending on the service. From Nanning there are trains and flights to major cities.
Sightseeing: the Youyiguan scenic area with its four-storey gate tower rebuilt in 1957, hillside forts on both sides and the “km 0” marker.
The international Hanoi – Nanning train via Dong Dang station is a different route (it does not use this road crossing); schedules change, so check in advance if you want to go by train.

Documents to bring

A passport valid for at least 6 more months with blank pages.
A valid Chinese visa (already in your passport), unless you are visa-exempt. Visas cannot be obtained at the border.
Documents to re-enter Vietnam: an e-visa (printed, with the correct gate selected), temporary residence card, 5-year visa exemption certificate, or a nationality on the list of visa-exempt countries.
A little cash in Chinese yuan (CNY) for taxis and buses; in China most payments are made with Alipay/WeChat Pay, so install them and link an international card beforehand.
Details of your accommodation or itinerary in China, in case border officers ask.

Visa run via Youyiguan border gate

A visa run means exiting and re-entering to get a new period of stay. On this route, you exit at Huu Nghi, enter China at Youyiguan, then return to Vietnam on new documents. This route suits people in Hanoi and the northern provinces, but it is only practical if you are visa-exempt for China or already hold a Chinese visa. See the China visa run guide, the article is a visa run legal, and Info Travel’s visa run service with transfers. If you are not visa-exempt for China, a Laos visa run or Cambodia visa run is usually easier.

Tips for crossing at Youyiguan

China is 1 hour ahead of Vietnam. The gate closes at about 20:00 Vietnam time, so arrive before 16:00 to leave time for queues in both directions.
During Lunar New Year, the 30/4 – 1/5 holidays and both countries’ National Days, traffic rises sharply and queues can be long; the gate is also sometimes temporarily closed by announcement.
When applying for a Vietnam e-visa, choose Huu Nghi as your entry gate; see the list of border gates accepting the e-visa.
Change money at banks or licensed counters; many places in China rarely accept foreign cash and do not take Visa/Mastercard directly.
Do not overstay your Vietnamese visa before exiting (see visa overstay). After you return, your accommodation must complete the temporary residence declaration.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a Chinese visa at Youyiguan border gate?

No. You must have a visa obtained in advance or qualify for visa exemption (about 50 countries are exempt for 30 days until 31/12/2026, plus Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia under agreements).

Can the 240-hour transit policy be used at Youyiguan?

No. In Guangxi this policy only applies at Nanning, Guilin and Beihai airports and Beihai port, and also requires an onward ticket to a third country.

How long does it take from the border to Nanning?

Take a taxi or bus into Pingxiang, then the high-speed train from Pingxiang East station; the fastest service takes about 75 minutes.

Can I go and return on the same day?

Yes, if you are visa-exempt or already hold a Chinese visa (multiple-entry if you want to keep using it) and have your documents to enter Vietnam ready. Go in the morning.