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Thanks again. I think my first inclination is to stay in Chengdu a couple of days, then eventually make my way to Xiamen (maybe via Xi'an if the weather there is still decent?).
Getting a multiple entry visa, at least for Canadians I have found, is very tough. I only have a double entry visa so I would like to preserve the second entry for my return (though it may not be necessary if I limit my transit in PVG to less than 48 hours). One idea I had is to go to Kinmen Island, then eventually make my way to the "mainland" of Taiwan and fly out of Taipei. Query if that is feasible or logical.
Yes, very feasible and very logical. In fact, it is probably the cheapest way to get from the PRC to Taiwan, via short inexpensive flight from Kinmen airport to main Taiwan island. Mostly to Taipei TSA and Kaohsiung but also a couple of other places. You can check out the schedule on flightstats.com, Kinmen's airport is KNH. On any given ferry from Xiamen, you'll most likely spot a clutch of Taiwanese businessmen based in Fujian, returning home via the Kinmen ferry-air method. Outside the ferry terminal are taxis lined up that go directly to the airport, and the ferry terminal at Kinmen has a Taiwan domestic flight ticket and check-in desk right after you come out of Customs. I think flights between Kinmen and Kaohsiung can be as little as USD 60 one-way. You can also buy a combined ferry + air ticket from Xiamen to Kinmen to Taiwan, but I think pay a premium for convenience. So I'd just buy separately. Ferry is RMB 160 all-in, one-way, purchased on the spot at either of the two Xiamen ferry terminals. No need to book in advance. Plane ticket can be bought as walk-up or online from the airlines' websites.