You definitely need a visa as others have pointed out. I get one every year for work. It's easy to get through a visa agency. I would advise you get the multiple entry visa even if it's more $. It's valid for a year and will guard against unplanned stops in China. An example would be if your flight from a Chinese airport is canceled for some reason and you have to reenter the country. You don't want to have used your single entry for a misconnect that falls short of your destination. Also, make sure you have at least 6 months remaining on your passport from the time the visa will expire. Otherwise they won't grant you one.