Originally Posted by
restlessinRNO
You don't need to send a copy of your plane tickets with your visa application. I didn't, applying for a China visa from the USA.
When it comes to Chinese visas, never, never, never assume that your situation applies to everybody everywhere. USA citizens applying in the USA get a special deal.
Originally Posted by
SindreS
I'm from Norway, and I think i need to. Norway-China got a pretty bad relationship because of the peace price unfortunately.
Yes on bad relationship. Also yes you need a visa, but for more than a transit through Beijing, nearly everybody else does also.
Originally Posted by
SindreS
The problem with going somewhere else in China, is that I need an invitation letter from wherever I'm staying. So that will probably be even more trouble then getting a double entry visa. Been to bangkok and Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia etc. before.
Since I'm going for such a short time, the prices for airplane tickets are more important then the price level in the country. So therefore I think Japan probably will be cheaper then Laos/Vietnam. Also I don't want a too long flight, because of the short time. How is Tokyo compared to Seoul? Tokyo is further and more expensive, but I think Tokyo sounds more interesting then Seoul.
Two strategies:
1) Stay in China. Plane tickets are your initial inbound and final outbound. Just make booking for the entire time in Beijing, then after getting visa, cancel the days you don't need. Then you can make alternate bookings for other cities in advance, or wait until you come to China. Once you get into China, nobody checks your itinerary against your visa application documents. Not even the Norwegians.
2) Sandwich a round-trip to elsewhere like you are proposing. A more expensive strategy, regardless of where you go. For a short trip, Korea is probably OK and you can find enough to do. Certainly it will take less time (1.5 hour flight vs 3.5 hour to Tokyo). You could also look into flying back to Qingdao as your re-entry point and checking that out for a day or so then bullet training back to Beijing. Korea also has Jeju Island, if you are needing a break from big city. Tokyo will be hatefully expensive to get there/back and to exist. Another option is Hong Kong, which is great for a 3-4 day break.
I'd recommend strategy #1.