Originally Posted by moondog
-i've also been told by a friend that is pretty high up at the us embassy in bj that those "visa-on-arrival" desks actually can issue a variety of actual visas in special and not-so-special circumstances; presumably, one should make such arrangements with their home consulate before taking flight
This typically involves an invitation from a state-recognised entity cleared with the consulate, all details supplied in advance to said entity which then does a lot of running around and has further paperwork deposited with the immigration authorities when you arrive. Really only a business thing, and I would imagine there are occasionally some hassles at check-in counters with airline staff who've been told only to allow those with valid visas to board.
Originally Posted by moondog
-although not too relevant here, hainan province has a visa free travel program in effect so that it can attempt to compete for tourists with [much better] beach destinations in se asia
This is supposed to be for groups only, is only valid for a limited time, and only valid for travel in Hainan (although I dare say there are those who have got round some or all of this, one way or another, and particularly in fudging the group issue).
It's also possible to get a limited visa for the Shenzhen area only when crossing on foot from Hong Kong, but this is often time-consuming, costs the same as an ordinary tourist visa in Hong Kong, and isn't currently available to U.S. citizens or Britons.
There are sometimes other occasions when it is asserted that there are ordinary tourist visas available on arrival, but these are cases where one is dealing not directly with the Chinese authories, but with a travel agency in 'no man's land' before passing through Chinese immigration. This is possible at the crossing between Macau and Zhuhai, for instance, used to be true at Fuyong Matou en route from Hong Kong to Shenzhen Airport by turbojet but that office is now closed, and is said to be possible on arrival at Guangzhou East station by train from Hong Kong, but I've never tested this.
In general it's far safer to have a visa already even when using these crossings, especially since they all involve passing through Hong Kong where visas of all kinds are quickly, easily, and cheaply obtainable.
Peter N-H