fuzzybabybunny

I'm from the US and I want to get a one way ticket and fly into Beijing. I have no idea how long I'm going to stay, no idea where I want to go, and all I'm getting is a one way ticket. I also don't have anything booked with travel agencies or even hotel bookings. I figure I'll just stay at hostels that I find along the way.

I looked at the Visa requirements and China wants things like letters of recommendations, proof of two way tickets, etc. I'm absolutely confused, All I want is to visit China and leave when I want to leave, probably within a couple months.

What am I supposed to do?

Hanuman

Very app username "fuzzy".

hawaiiantraveler

Visit Japan

marya_

or Hong Kong.

Thanks meanwhile for stopping by to entertain us.

thursdaysd

Or Taiwan.

No country lets you "leave when [you] want to leave", lol, but China recently tightened its requirements.

rhkkmk

without a round trip ticket you will not be given a visa--thus no trip

thursdaysd

I actually did what the OP wants to do, more or less - entered by train without an onward ticket, and with hotel reservations only for the first two weeks. But that was in 2004. I had a 30 day visa issued in Vienna that I renewed for another 30 days in Chengdu. Tougher to do in 2012.

rkkwan

Refundable ticket. As long as you have enough credit line on your credit card. For a first time visitor, chances are you'll only get a visa with one-month stay at a time.

fuzzybabybunny

Thanks for all the info guys.

So it looks like that if I fly into Hong Kong instead I can get into China without much issue? I don't have to get hotel reservations for all my nights nor an exit ticket?

So I could fly in to Hong Kong from Honolulu, chill for a few days, explore the city, live in hostels, and then buy a train ticket to Beijing and get my passport all in one go? Without having to provide my entire itinerary, reservations, and exit ticket?

JPDeM

It is always more difficult to get a visa when you are not in your home country.

Hanuman

Try it and let us know fuzzy.

fuzzybabybunny

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntre...3184&#20263184

"If you fancy visiting China without visa-associated hassle, Hong Kong will stamp you in on arrival for 90 days, no questions asked, and Taiwan will let you in for 30."

So not true?

rkkwan

Only if you consider HK or Taiwan part of China. You still need to get the same Chinese visa if you want to get into China proper, whether you go straight from your home country, or via HK.

rhkkmk

did you see the thread about the person having the same problem with indonesia

JPDeM

Yes but HK and Taiwan are not China but one could consider it a substitute. I have been to all 3 places and they are not quite the same. Although if you visit the National Palace Museum in Taipei, they have more artifacts than in the Forbidden city. This must be the largest museum in the world totally devoted to another country!!!

MmePerdu

Recent reports from Hong Kong travel agents have said visas are still being issued there under the pre-Aug. 1 rules, easier to get. I believe the information was reported on the 'Oriental List'. So while the OP is short of facts in general going through HKG to the mainland may actually be a good idea.

MmePerdu

I should also have addressed the issue of the 1 way ticket. I'm currently in China, entered 6 days ago on a 1 way ticket. My visa was issued with that information and that I will leave by train. I think your best bet, if you don't want to buy a rt ticket, is to go to Hong Kong, no visa needed to enter, then apply there at an agency that specializes in visas for your visit to mainland China.

JPDeM

MmePerdu you are right but the quote given above "If you fancy visiting China without visa-associated hassle, Hong Kong will stamp you in on arrival for 90 days, no questions asked, and Taiwan will let you in for 30." has nothing to do with getting a China visa in HK. It says that you can visit HK visa free for 90 days and visit Taiwan visa-free for 30 days. That in itself does not give you access to China. It is a substitute to China and it is not a way to get a visa to China "no questions asked".

Kathie

If you are satisfied with seeing places that are "China-substitutes" add Macau to places you can enter without a visa.

Again, you will still need a visa to enter China.

MmePerdu

JPDeM, yes, I understood but was not sure that the OP did and was trying to fill in that particular gap. I hope she/he now understands that, yes, one can enter Hong Kong without a visa but needs a visa to go any further into China proper.