I've at last posted my visa application and am checking its progress online.
So far...
- Package received
- Application Being Processed by the Visa Center
more to come...
- Application Being Processed by the Chinese Embassy/Consulate
- Processing result has been returned in Visa Center
- Package released to courier company or postal service
I couldn't retrieve my application online at first since I forgot to include the contact telephone number on the "Application by Post Check List" which I had to send with the application form but I managed to find it later by the mail tracking number. Phew!
I hope they are not going to send the whole thing back just because I failed to include a telephone number on the check list.

I did of course write my home, mobile and work telephone numbers on the application form itself, but why on the check list?