China - Visa on arrival at Guangzhou-CAN

I saw this ( for Australian passport)

http://www.timaticweb.com/cgi-bin/tim_website_client.cgi?SpecData=1&VISA=&page=visa&NA=AU&AR=00&PASSTYPES=PASS&DE=CN&TR=CN&user=DL&subuser=DELTAB2C

Three quarters of the way down the page ( bit above minors), it goes,

"- Holders of normal passports issued to nationals of Australia
can obtain a visa on arrival, for a max. stay of 30 days, at
Guangzhou (CAN). Fee: CNY170.-."

This seems different to the prearranged visa on arrival listed for the other cities.

I also note that the same condition is listed for NZ passport, but it is not there for US/ UK passports.

Anyone have experience of this, or know what this is about? Is the information even reliable?

I saw this ( for Australian passport)

http://www.timaticweb.com/cgi-bin/tim_website_client.cgi?SpecData=1&VISA=&page=visa&NA=AU&AR=00&PASSTYPES=PASS&DE=CN&TR=CN&user=DL&subuser=DELTAB2C



This TIMATIC report is definitely different that previous versions we've discussed here. In addition to the Australia-Guangzhou VOA, the DLC VOA paragraph no longer references a short list of eligible countries, and the fee is set at $14. I would still advise doing a bit more research before booking a ticket to DLC sans visa, though.

I've also never seen this before, nor heard of it. Nor heard anybody ever talk about it. I'm wondering if it's yet some new wrinkle, for once favorable to at least two nationalities. Sometimes the Chinese can be unexpectedly magnanimous without advertising the fact.

That said, until there are multiple, creditable field reports from Aussies and/or Kiwis about the new VOA, I'd be reluctant to send anybody off to CAN with a wing and prayer but no Chinese visa.

If we could find somebody here (who also has an APEC card for China travel as a failsafe backup) to try this and report back, it would be dandy. I'll try to keep my ears open from other sources. Those of you who are good readers of Chinese might search and see if there are any recent notices about this.

Might have something to do with
"canton route"

http://m.smh.com.au/executive-style/business-travel/london-via-china-tests-qantas-20120605-1ztcu.html

An eventual relaxing of visa restrictions for Australians is expected to lead to a much larger number of people considering routes via China as an option for flying to Europe.

Might have something to do with
"canton route"

http://m.smh.com.au/executive-style/business-travel/london-via-china-tests-qantas-20120605-1ztcu.html

An eventual relaxing of visa restrictions for Australians is expected to lead to a much larger number of people considering routes via China as an option for flying to Europe.

Yep, I'll bet you're right and it's connected to this. Internal Chinese security and China Southern have obviously come to some kind of agreement to allow for some extra business and steal Oz-Europe traffic from HKG, BKK, KUL, SIN hubs.

Maybe when they initiate A380 service LAX-CAN on 10/12
they will offer US citizens 30 day visa on arrival.

Maybe when they initiate A380 service LAX-CAN on 10/12
they will offer US citizens 30 day visa on arrival.

That would be a great development, and would also eliminate about half the TWOV questions we get here. :D

Might have something to do with
"canton route"

http://m.smh.com.au/executive-style/business-travel/london-via-china-tests-qantas-20120605-1ztcu.html

An eventual relaxing of visa restrictions for Australians is expected to lead to a much larger number of people considering routes via China as an option for flying to Europe.

I hope this is the case. Wish I can see some sort of official announcement though.