Post: #76

G_global, those girl photos are better than I would have expected for China. Nice.

Thanks for sharing!

Post: #77

DB， just remember.

这些女人不是太美丽在深圳！！

(no doubt this is wrong, but hey, its probably at least understandable).

Post: #78

China has a bunch of cute (7+) girls. In a country of a billion people, there's bound to be some good looking ones. Also, its pretty rare to run into a fatty.

Post: #79

This is helpful information reposted from a travel blog (a reliable one I've read for some time). It allows you, through certain Chinese airports, to spend three days before flying out of the same airport to another destination, without needing a visa. If you're interested in checking out Shenzhen, you could easily do this in Guangzhou and take the train down to Shenzhen, return to GZ within the 72 hours, and fly out to your next destination. Could make a good trip for some people who might be visiting another Southeast Asia or East Asian destination, using Guangzhou (airport code CAN) or Beijing (PEK), or Shanghai (2 airports) as a hub.

Here it is...

China 72 Hour Transit Without Visa Tips

JULY 3, 2014 BY LUCKY 29 COMMENTS

I hate travel visas, and actively go out of my way to avoid travel to countries that require you get them in advance without an option to do so electronically. I respect the need for them (theoretically), but with how much I travel it’s tough for me to send in my passport to a visa service and be without it for 1-2 weeks. The application process isn’t fun either.

One of the cool things that China allows is a 72-hour transit without visa. And I’m actually taking advantage of that right now, as I’m in Beijing for just under 48 hours.

Beijing-Airport
Beijing Airport

China 72 hour transit without visa basics

To qualify, you must be traveling on a passport from one of the following countries:

Argentina, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Montenegro, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States.

You must be transiting one of the following airports (meaning you’re arriving and departing from the same airport):

Beijing Capital International Airport, Shanghai Pudong Airport, Hongqiao Airport, Guangzhou Baiyun Airport, Chengdu Shuangliu Airport and Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport,Shenyang Taoxian Internatioanl Airport, Dalian International Airport, andXian Xianyang International Airport.

You must actually be in transit, meaning you must be connecting to a third country. This means that if you’re flying from Chicago to Beijing and then 48 hours later back to Chicago, that’s not transit, since you’re not continuing to a third country.

Ultimately you can be on an itinerary that eventually gets you back to the country of origin, it just can’t be the next airport you fly to. It also doesn’t have to be a logical connection, but rather just to a third country. So for example, I’m flying from Zurich to Beijing, and then from Beijing to Addis Ababa right now. That’s not exactly a “logical” connection, but still meets the requirement.

You can find the full requirements for a 72 hour transit without visa on travelchinaguide.com.

My experience with China 72 hour transit without visa

While you would hope the process would be simple, unfortunately it usually isn’t.

Let me give an example of our travel day yesterday. We were flying from Warsaw to Zurich to Beijing.

Upon check in at Warsaw we were asked where our visas were. When I explained we were doing a 72 hour transit without visa, the agent had never heard of it, so he walked over to the “visa desk” to verify. He came back and said we needed visas, so I asked if I could talk directly with the “visa desk.” He walked us over there, and it seems that the “visa desk” was simply wherever his supervisor was standing. The supervisor had heard of the 72 hour transit without visa, but was confused by our transit to Ethiopia. I showed him the rules, and after a few minutes he agreed and let us proceed.

My friend Andrew somehow misplaced his boarding pass between Warsaw and Zurich, so we had to go to the transfer desk in Zurich. There the agent again wanted to see the visa. We explained the process again, and after looking in the computer she said that transit without visa was limited to a 24 hour stay in China at most. I showed her the relevant documentation, she called a supervisor, and we were eventually sent on our way.

Then at the gate there was another visa check, and the guy couldn’t get over the fact that we were transiting China enroute from Switzerland to Ethiopia. He was more amused by it than anything.

Tips for dealing with China 72 hour transit without visa

So what tips do I have to avoid issues with your 72 hour transit without visa? Some of these might sound obvious, but I’ll share them anyway:

Arrive at the airport and gate early

While the 72 hour transit without visa is perfectly legitimate, that doesn’t mean the agents have actually ever heard of it. So allow a bit of extra time for them to look it up and potentially get a supervisor involved. Similarly, be sure you arrive at the gate for your flight to China a bit early, since there’s always a passport check there as well, whereby they stamp your boarding pass to indicate that you’re good to go.

Print out your itinerary

Usually I don’t print out my itinerary when traveling, but rather just have a copy of it on my laptop. To make everyone’s life a bit easier I’d suggest printing out a copy when you’re transiting China. You’ll be asked to show it at check-in, at the gate, and at immigration.

Stand your ground and stay calm

Just because something is allowed doesn’t mean that airline agents know about it. Don’t panic if you’re told they won’t fly you because you don’t have a visa. Stand your ground, stay calm, and you’ll be fine.

How do you really define “transit?”

One slightly tricky thing is that it’s called 72 hour transit without visa, which they only define as connecting to a third country. But practically speaking, are you really in transit in China if you’re flying from the US to China to Canada? Per the rules it’s permitted, but that doesn’t mean all agents will interpret it this way.

So in our case the agent was laughing and asked if going via China was really the most direct way to get to Ethiopia. I just laughed and said the ticket was cheap that way, which didn’t get much push back. So to avoid trouble I wouldn’t necessarily tell an agent “oh I really wanted to visit China but wanted to avoid getting a visa, which is why I booked it this way,” but rather just vaguely comment about how the ticket was cheaper that way, or how it worked best for your travel plans.

Arrival in China

Once you arrive in China, immigration really doesn’t care about transit without visa. So if you get on the plane you have nothing to worry about upon arrival. Do keep in mind, however, that typically you’re supposed to use a different lane at immigration if you’re doing a transit without visa. In the case of Beijing Airport, it was the Diplomatic Line, or “D P” line, as they call it. Sounded more intimidating than it was!

Beijing-Airport-Immigration
Lane for what?!

While there were only a few people ahead of us in the queue, this seemed to be the lane for everyone with immigration issues, so it took a while for the agent to assist us.

Nonetheless once he did we were through in no time.

Bottom line

72 hour China transit without visa is an awesome thing, but don’t expect it to always go as smoothly as you’d like. Don’t worry, stand your ground, and you’ll be fine, though.

Post: #80

I just arrived back with my fourth visa for China, again an L (tourist) visa, but this one is a year with 90 day stays rather than 30 day stays (the time during which you can stay in country without having to leave and come back in). Its my fourth visa and my third 1 year visa, which dispels the rumor that you cannot get 4 tourist visas in China.

I was particularly happy with the processing center in NYC that I used. Website is Visacenter.us. Lizzie or Luzzie, some cute latina girl, did the processing (I went in person as I was staying in NYC) and it was a two day turnaround for 250. They even provided a fake itinerary for me, as Chinese consulate apparently is now looking for your hotel accommodations for a much longer period in your initial stay, and I'd only had a fake one that I cancelled (for Sheraton Four Points in Shenzhen) for six days. In any event, I paid 500 last year, or thereabouts for the SF processing, but I had to use the West Coast consulate last year as I was showing a legal address of Las Vegas (China is strict about which consulate you use, and it pretty much has to be in your home country at least for Americans, and near what you list as your legal address - I have a Nevada driver's license so not sure how that all ads up). Anyway, I'd recommend this processing service highly. Offices are 45 W 34th, #703, mostly doing Russian visa but also China.

Post: #81

Did not know 90 day L visas were possible to get these days, thanks for sharing.

Is it also true that you cannot renew a visa in Hong Kong anymore, or was that just a rumor as well?

While we're on the subject of Shenzhen, it looks like I won't be able to make it down there, or at least not for a while. I'm going to try to get work in other cities, and I need to save my cash for now. Would've been nice to come down there and meet all you guys, though. And I had a bunch of girls already lined up down there expecting to meet me. Sheeeit.

Post: #82

All you guys? Who are the all you guys? Its just me for now, I think, with an occasional passerby. If there are more, lets have a meet up.

You can renew in HK I think, but its a bandaid visa, maybe 60 days/2 entries. Just something to give you a bit more time until you can head back to your country and get a proper one year visa. And if you're not near an exit point, pretty much assured unless you're in GZ or SZ, that means a flight somewhere before 30 days of the 60 are up to reset the visa, which will likely be 30 day stay. You don't wanna play with staying over, I'm told it can really fuck you.

(08-06-2014 06:02 PM)Global_Cocksman Wrote:  Did not know 90 day L visas were possible to get these days, thanks for sharing.

Is it also true that you cannot renew a visa in Hong Kong anymore, or was that just a rumor as well?

While we're on the subject of Shenzhen, it looks like I won't be able to make it down there, or at least not for a while. I'm going to try to get work in other cities, and I need to save my cash for now. Would've been nice to come down there and meet all you guys, though. And I had a bunch of girls already lined up down there expecting to meet me. Sheeeit.

Post: #83

To many Globals talking at once.

Anyone still gonna be in SZ around Feb/Mar 2015? I plan on returning during that time frame for a few months.

Post: #84

I just got my new visa through summer 2015 so it looks likely ^^.

Post: #85

Quick clarification question regarding the approachability of women in Shenzhen.

I've read several times (on the forum and elsewhere) that talking to random girls in public in Korea will get you looks of horror and disgust. Apparently it's not very acceptable for strangers to talk to each other. I couldn't live somewhere like that, as I'm constantly chatting with people as I go about my day. Of course I know Shenzhen is nowhere near Korea, but I just want to verify what the situation's like in Shenzhen. Is it perfectly normal/acceptable to approach people in a store or on the street and strike up a conversation? Not just cute girls, but even any old stranger if you need to ask for help with something, for example.

Thanks.

Post: #86

Normal? No. Chinese people would never do that, even when in need of help. But if you're a foreigner, you're a tourist, ergo nobody cares. Actually you might find people doing the same to you, saying hello or wanting to get pictures taken with you, depending on where you go (although Shenzhen should be pretty used to foreigenrs), because you're a zoo animal to them.

Post: #87

As a foreigner, the rules are different indeed. Many people would either start conversations with me, or cue me to start talking with them. Learning English is so desirable, and the expectation is that no foreigners speak Chinese, so practicing English is significant bait.

The one thing Chinese really don't do, more than talking to strangers, is smile at strangers. But they'll occasionally smile at foreigners (not just young Chinese women smiling at foreigners, but other Chinese as well). Not all the time, but here and there.

Post: #88

Wanted to drop an update that 10 year visas are now possible between USA and China. And also, if you've already a shorter visa, you can convert your old visa into a 10 year visa going forward.

Here is a random link discussing the change.

(08-06-2014 05:45 PM)Global Entry Wrote:  I just arrived back with my fourth visa for China, again an L (tourist) visa, but this one is a year with 90 day stays rather than 30 day stays (the time during which you can stay in country without having to leave and come back in). Its my fourth visa and my third 1 year visa, which dispels the rumor that you cannot get 4 tourist visas in China.

I was particularly happy with the processing center in NYC that I used. Website is Visacenter.us. Lizzie or Luzzie, some cute latina girl, did the processing (I went in person as I was staying in NYC) and it was a two day turnaround for 250. They even provided a fake itinerary for me, as Chinese consulate apparently is now looking for your hotel accommodations for a much longer period in your initial stay, and I'd only had a fake one that I cancelled (for Sheraton Four Points in Shenzhen) for six days. In any event, I paid 500 last year, or thereabouts for the SF processing, but I had to use the West Coast consulate last year as I was showing a legal address of Las Vegas (China is strict about which consulate you use, and it pretty much has to be in your home country at least for Americans, and near what you list as your legal address - I have a Nevada driver's license so not sure how that all ads up). Anyway, I'd recommend this processing service highly. Offices are 45 W 34th, #703, mostly doing Russian visa but also China.

Post: #89

I meant to throw this out there from the last time I was in Shenzhen - I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Luohu and was quite happy with the value for the price (around 250 RMB per night, including buffet breakfast and a super clean room, internet also included). It puts you close to daygame (LaoJie) and nightgame locations (i.e., clubs/bars) in Luohu, around the GuoMao metro stop (there are quite a few clubs in that area, such as M-1, which is caddycorner to the Sunshine Hotel). Jiabin Lu (Rd) has a few other clubs within a block or two from the metro stop. Its much less oriented than Coco Park towards an English speaking/foreigner crowd, but I think that the girls are better looking. Higher level of difficulty, to be sure.

Post: #90

I get into SZ tomorrow afternoon and will be staying in Futian.

I will not be working so I finally have some time and energy to have a bit of fun.

Let me know if anyone will be around.

Post: #91

Good location choice. Nice and central.

Post: #92

Interesting, if morally judgmental and western-centric, article not for the P4P information but on how business relationships in China are more cemented by "friendship" building activities and less based on previous successful business activities. That part of the conclusion definitely fits into my experience in Shenzhen with business associates. They ask to meet your wife/girlfriend one day, the next day they try to invite you on a trip or to a KTV. I've defintely been paranoid in the past about being video-recorded even entering a KTV. I once was insistently escorted back to my room after a night of singing/drinking by two hostesses even after telling them I wasn't too drunk to make it back. Even though it ended up being completely innocent (as far as I know), I made damn sure that no camera angle from the hallway or room could in the least bit be played to show them entering my room (they didn't try to, just said their goodbyes and goodnights politely at the door).

Worth a look for those who anticipate doing some business in China, even after Si's crackdown on these types of businesses.

article.

Post: #93

That's a fascinating article Global!

Gives a good idea of how business is really done at the highest level in China. Since you've been in China for a long time, have you witnessed or been to any of these as part of your closing the deal with Chinese officials and influential Chinese businessmen?

Post: #94

I've of course been invited to KTV and to spas. If you're "doing business" in China and you've not been invited, regularly, you might be going about things in the wrong way, or given a really bad impression to your associates such that they don't respect you enough to even ask you along. It's harder to say no sometimes than the article makes clear to the drinking element of things.
I"ve never been in such hardcore situations like these gang bangs/watch me circle jerks. I've been in a group room in a spa, sitting around with a bunch of naked dudes, which is not oriented sexually at all and if the writer thought it was, he was either projecting, or he was in a strange set of circumstances.

I mostly associated with Taiwanese businessmen and those whose styles had been influenced by southern Chinese mores. I think if I had spent more time in Henan or Hebei provinces, maybe I would have run across these types of situations (guys tag-teaming). Those people tend to me more brash but when I've been in Shijiazhuang and places in those areas, I was with other foreigners in a group and thankfully, never saw that side of things.

Post: #95

Interesting read.

And having just returned from doing some business in China it showed me that my gut instinct was correct. I had a feeling that these late night drinking sessions were all about stripping away the bullshit and really seeing how a guy performed under duress. It makes sense. Everyone is suddenly in the same position.

I got the impression that the Chinese businessmen that I was with took a lot of pride in the reactions that girls would have when they seen me. There were a lot of wide eyed stares, and many times the guys would want me to be front and center in order to display a type of social cache. This was mostly in the clubs.

Prostitution was never even hinted at, it all seemed like a bit of an elaborate game to push men's vice as far as it could go, without crossing the line. I felt that if I would have actually pulled a girl back to the hotel it might have been harmful to the business relationship. I am not sure though, I could be wrong.

Post: #96

Laner,
Are you ABC? Or something else? Do you speak Chinese fluently?

If they took you somewhere with hostesses, then I would expect that some of your drinking companions have crossed the line, more than once. Depending on their sense of you, and your background, they may not have raised the subject directly with you (though indirectly raising it could be quite likely, and depending on your exposure to Chinese, can be easily missed).

Its doubtful that pulling a hostess back to the hotel, or most any girl who wasn't accounted for, would damage the business relationship, unless in some way conveyed a slight to your hosts. If you passed up a girl that was hosting you just to get a similar type girl out of your hotel, well, its possible that could be viewed as a slight.

The drinking can be a gut check, a test. But refraining from playing is not a test - if it were legions of chinese business men and government worked have failed that test too many times to count.

Things have re-configured since the crackdown. Hard to say exactly whats going on without witnessing it first-hand, and even then, there can be more than meets the eye especially if these are somewhat more refined guys who avoid conflict even while drinking.

One thing I'd tell you - if you don't want to offend them, don't try to pay. If you feel the situation has become lopsided, invite them to visit you where ever you live.

Post: #97

Thanks.

I am white guy with no Mandarin.

I have family from Taiwan and also have family living long term in China, so I am using these connections. Is it different using family connections?

I just followed the lead of the Chinese guy who I would place at the same level as myself. Even though I have a product they want, so perhaps this was not the right play. Should I have assumed a higher role?

Post: #98

Call me crazy, but some of those drunken hijinks seem kind of fun. Maybe not banging girls in front of other guys.

Post: #99

Laner,
If you want to hit me on Skype and talk about it, I'll provide whatever insight I can given my limited experience. Feel free to PM me. Hard to know without more detail.

(02-10-2015 12:32 PM)Laner Wrote:  Thanks.

I am white guy with no Mandarin.

I have family from Taiwan and also have family living long term in China, so I am using these connections. Is it different using family connections?

I just followed the lead of the Chinese guy who I would place at the same level as myself. Even though I have a product they want, so perhaps this was not the right play. Should I have assumed a higher role?

(02-10-2015 01:01 PM)Menace Wrote:  Call me crazy, but some of those drunken hijinks seem kind of fun. Maybe not banging girls in front of other guys.

Well, there's a reason some of these guys do it 3-4 nights per week. And though its different now, back 18 months ago the quality in a place like Crown Prince Hotel in Dongguan was very high for hostesses - average girl 7-8, and plenty better than that. So it becomes hard to resist, and of course, these are not hardened Soi Cowboy bar girls, these girls for the most part are polite and sweet and curious and afraid of foreigners all at the same time. Just drinking there in a room with a bunch of guys and having these girls pour drinks for you and sing songs, sure, its a lot more fun than a bar in most american cities any night of the year.

Post: #100

GE if we're ever in the same city in China at the same time, we're going.