China Visa
An "L" visa is a tourist visa valid for ninety or 180 days from the issue date. This means that from the date of visa issue, the tourist must enter China in either ninety or 180 days from the visa date. If he does not enter China within the ninety or 180 day period the visa becomes null and void, and a new application has to be performed to get another China visa.
When paying China visa and other fees to the Consulate general or Embassy, fees must be paid by money order, cash or cashier's check. Also, only the New York Consulate accepts credit cards, specifically Visa and Mastercard only.
Also, people suffering from AIDS, venereal diseases, contagious tuberculoses, leprosy, a mental disorder or such infectious diseases will not be granted a China visa.
China visa requirements
One needs to have a valid passport before applying. Your passport must be valid for at least six months more with at least one blank visa page in it. One completed visa application form and a passport photo is needed as well. Go to the Embassy or Consulate General in the consular jurisdiction in which you live to submit the application. Either come personally or if for some reason you cannot make a personal appearance, entrust someone else or a professional agent or middleman to apply for you. Currently the cost for an "L" visa is $130 for a single entry. China visa time for processing is about four working days.
Once you get your China visa, remember that in China, when presenting an important piece of paper or a business card, it is better and more polite to hand it in using both hands at the same time with your thumb and index fingers holding either side of the document. When smoking, remember that it is good manners in China to offer a cigarette to those you meet even if they don't smoke, as long as they are adults. This rule, however, applies mostly to men unless you are in a teahouse. Tipping is not necessary and is often considered inappropriate.
The China consulate and the Chinese embassy have an available list of tourist hot spots and notable historic places to visit. During your China visit, remember that ancient capitals include Beijing, Xian, Nanjing, Luoyang, Habgzhou, Zhengzhou, Anyang and Kaifeng. Famous sites include The Bund, Forbidden City, Hong Kong, Dazu rock carvings, Mount Everest which is the highest mountain in the world, Silk Road and Summer Palace. China tourism is divided into three groups: Natural sites, historical and cultural sites and folk customs.