Originally Posted by
LHR/MEL/Europe FF
]
... Having a hotel booked (even a cheap one) with the aim of getting some sleep may help your cause.
It helps that most hotels around China (or Asia in general) have very relaxed booking policies compared to EU, no prepayment needed, cancelation up to the last minute without penalties or horrendously high rates (compared to pre-payment).
EDIT: booked mine just to have something to show when applying for visa...