American travelers to China are required to have a Chinese visa issued by the authorities at the Chinese consulate. Getting a travel visa for China is fairly easy with the help of an online visa agency, but they can also be obtained in person.

Type of Visa Needed for Travel to China

American tourists wanting to visit China will need to apply for a tourist visa, the L-type visa. The Chinese government also issues other types, such as business, student, journalism and work visas, but these are not available for the casual traveler.

The L-type tourist visa is generally issued for 30 days with a single entry into mainland China allowed. Regulations are different for Hong Kong, where travelers from the U.S. do not need a visa but are automatically given a stamp in their passport letting them stay in Hong Kong for up to 90 days.