I have been through this several times with the New YOrk China Consulate.

DO NOT MAIL ANYTHING!!! THEIR RECORD KEEPING IS POOR AT BEST. It's best that you go (or have a friend go) to the consulate and get a visa application. If they can speak Chinese that will ease the process.

They should have applications around the office.

Our friends in Asia or others might be able to correct me if I'm wrong but here was the process:

*Wait in line, dropped off my passport with visa application.
*about two weeks later, went back to pick up passport with visa stamp.

If you can get a messenger to do this, that could help save a long time waiting.

Maybe you'll have an easier time being a British citizen, I don't know.

AND BE WARNED: Do not go into detail on what your career is. You can say you are just a tourist or a student. That should be fine. DON"T DO WHAT I DID AND SAY YOU ARE A JOURNALIST OR IN SOME GOVERNMENT OR POLITICAL FIELD. I HAD MY VISA REJECTED THEN HAD TO EXPLAIN I'M NOT GOING OVER TO CHINA TO COVER A STORY OR DO AN EXPOSE... JUST TO WALK THE GREAT WALL AND HAVE PEKING DUCK.

Good luck and let us know what happens.

And it is travel related because with China being one of the fastest growing BUSINESS markets and tourist destinations... this information is good to know.