China Tourism Visa

[hys]

Has anyone recently applied for a tourism visa for China ?

I'm looking at a 2 week visit to China, but it's asking for "Documents showing the itinerary including air ticket booking record (round trip) and proof of a hotel reservation, etc."

However, I am not planning to directly fly into China, and was planning to just buy a bus ticket from Macau and use express high speed rail from China to Hong Kong before flying back to Sydney

However, I dont believe I can get these bus/train tickets so early as they are only pre-released think 2 weeks or something prior.

Any advise/suggestions would be great.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Pre-covid I just generated an itinerary on expedia, looked close enough to a normal ticket! gave that with the application.

The problem is that you can’t buy a ticket unless your visa is granted. But can’t get a visa without the ticket! The chinese visa services seem to know this and are fine with an itinerary… or used to be.

The other option would be to buy a fully refundable ticket into and out of China. Get the visa and then refund.

 

[equus]

No post-covid experience, but will be trying again in a couple of months.

Have also never had any ait tickets, as we fly in/out of Hong Kong and use MTR or transfer to cross land border. Have always just given them the itinerary and never had any issues - but then have had quite a few Chinese visas in the past.

 

[leadman]

I just got a visa for China, flying out and back from Cambodia. Have a conference where I'm speaking so had an invitation letter and got the M visa. I had no real issue, and it was back in five days, other than the pain of filling in the form and then heading into the Visa office. I could be wrong, but it asked how you were entering the country.

 

[Happy Dude]

Keep your itinerary basic unless you want a call from the embassy. I was honest and had to resubmit without Urumqi. Once you're in there you can go pretty much wherever you like. I booked only the first night accommodation too in Shanghai. I'm guessing your flights into Macau and out of HKG will be accepted. Lots of tourists enter/exit China via land borders (eg train to Mongolia, overland via Tibet, etc).

 

[Scarlett]

Interesting. So Hong Kong is China, except you don’t need a Chinese visa; you don’t use RMB; and you have to cross an (international) border to go from Hong Kong into China?

Maybe I should fly to/from HKG to go play golf at that club with something like 10 courses. That itinerary should be okay.

 

[elanshin]

Also anyone know if the 144hour transit visa is still a thing?

Trying to figure out what sort of schedule id want for Shanghai.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Also anyone know if the 144hour transit visa is still a thing?

Trying to figure out what sort of schedule id want for Shanghai.

i believe it’s back to the same same as pre covid, with same rules. there might be some variances in allowed transport, for example not all the same trains might be running that might have been previously (may limit one or two exit points)

but double check before purchasing your tickets!