Why not just get a Tourist Visa for 6 months? Or one year? Don't know what they offer in HK, but we just got one-year multiple entry Tourist Visas in America in June. All the Visas cost the same. They were $130 USD. You will find China reciprocating with US prices. Since US just went up on China Visas to $150, maybe China did the same.

Many Visa offices in HK:

www.chinavisa.com.hk/
www.hotelinhongkong.net/hong_kong/visa/china_visa

If these don't suit you, ask at the airport.

Manalishi, your nationality might be an issue. Save yourself some money and time, give a call to one of the visa service in HK, tell them your nationality and ask them what is the best visa you can get. Keep in mind that it is common that a 6 months double entry means that in a 6 months period you can enter china twice, but each time for a duration of 30 days only, so be careful to check the length of each entry!

Yes American can get 180 days tourist visa, if applied in the US, but i never heard any other nation getting this preferential treatment.

And if you are French you definitely need to have some hotel booking and return flight booked in advance, otherwise they will refuse the visa. Sino-French relation are very good at the moment! Hotel can be booked on elong (which ask you to pay on arrival) after that they can do nothing to make sure that you are actually showing up in the hotel you booked ;)

I hold an Italian passport and my boyfriend an Irish one. Thanks for all the infos, a this stage I hope we'll be able to get the visa in Hong Kong, but it would be great if you could get one in Hanoi. We read all the forums around this subject...and unfortunatelly it seems that nobody has managed to obtain a chinese visa in Hanoi for the past while!!
We are just surprised to realize that it is so difficult almost impossible to get a chinese visa outside your native Country... :(

I am American, I went to HK earlier in July with all appropriate paperwork to get a 3 month F visa, and was only able to get a 30 day F visa. I was told they are only issuing 30 day work visas, no matter what your circumstances, and advising that you apply for an extension while in China. I am not sure about tourist visas but I would not be surprised if 30 days is the most you can get in HK right now.

you can get a 30 day tourist visa or a double entry visa valid for 3 month (maximum stay still 30 days for each entry) if you are not a hong kong resident. technically, the F visa are only issued to hong kong residents.

you can get a Hong Kong Identity Card(in fact, you are required by law to get one) and become a resident if you stay in hong hong for more than 180 days.

ok, here's the latest. Our very friendly hostess in our hotel in Hanoi checked the visa situation for us at with Chinese Embassy Hanoi. There is a new rule as of July 24 that all tourist visa applications will be rejected apart from those who've already visited China. By this I interpret that they mean to refer to all those in China looking for extensions.

This sounds just unbelievably draconian!!! WTF is going on? Are they getting antsy about the international pressure on the Yuan? Is it something related to the World Expo? In 2008 during the Olympics there was a temporary clampdown - how the olympics relates to foreign relations and visa policy is beyond me - could the same 'clampdown'be happening again?

I wont be looking for an F visa only an L (tourist visa). Now i'm wondering is it worth my time going to HK at all. flights are now $500

well,
You can contact Chinese school to study Chinese for short time like three months .They will issue some legal papers to you to obtain x visa you enter the country change to residence permit and at the same time touring around in the city you will study .

I have a student visa that expires the 13th next month. I just need to extend my visa around 3 months. The school won't do it because I'm not assisting class (no time) or will charge a lot to do it.

What options do I have?

Thanks!