Is it necessary to get Chinese visa even for a short trip?
You do need to get a visa (unless you are from a visa waived country – there aren’t many) if you are going to leave the airport in beijing (so not transitting) or are staying in the airport for more than 24 hours. There are strict visa restrictions until October of this year due to the olympics but it is unknown if they will actually be dropped. It is also necessary under these new restrictions to apply for your visa in your country before you leave, as you now need (not sure about other countries but in Australia at the moment) return airfares, hotel reservations or an invitation letter from a friend or relative, as well as countless other things. I got a visa to go in June of this year and it took 3 times going back to the embassy to finally get it – I am 23 years old and had to have permission in writing from my parents, employer and lecturers at university to go to china to give to the embassy with my application. I am not sure if this is standard practise or just because of the ol
