There are a few exceptions. Most tourists will be granted a tourist visa on entry to Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR. Some nationals visiting Shanghai and Guangdong for short visits do not require visas. Generally, it is simplest to consult your nearest Chinese embassy.

The PRC embassy in the US website has useful information on all its offices in the US and links to Chinese embassies worldwide.

There are a variety of types of visas. Most tourists opt for a single entry tourist visa, which is valid for 3 months and costs around US$40. Multiple entry visas, business visas, and student visas are also available.

If you plan to spend time in Hong Kong before entering the mainland, visas can be obtained quickly and easily in the SAR within 1 or 2 working days. Most travel agents will arrange this for a small fee or you can go directly to the Visa Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC. The office is located on the 5th Floor, China Resources Building (low block), 26 Harbour Road, Hong Kong.

For visitors, passports will be the prime means of identification - you will need them to cash travelers checks, buy plane and train tickets and as general identification. In case of theft or loss of a passport, it is a good idea to have photocopies of your passport stashed strategically throughout your luggage.