I don't think you need a wiki entry for this. If you use a chinese travel agent (in my case, it was a travel agency called "Tour East") in many cases, they have runners to the chinese embassy to get visa processed (especially if they have a few branches that organize tours in China). Mine charged around $50 (the last time I used them) on top of the visa fees.

I think the "ask bucket shops if they can do it" advice is pretty solid, and is honestly something I'd never thought of.

I'll have to keep this in mind, then, since the map was apparently redrawn some time after I got my visa and my state changed from being under DC to being under San Francisco.

Buried in the trade agreement reached yesterday between Canada and China was a one-line mention that
China will soon be lifting visa requirements for Canadians.
I assume that means 30 day visa-free entry similar to the EU nations.
Great news - it can't happen fast enough.

And UK citizens are seemingly going to get the same treatment with 30 day visa free travel to China.

The UK Prime Minister is in China and has included this news in post meeting interview, details and confirmation from the China side is still pending I believe

BBC News - Starmer says 'good progress' on tariffs and visa-free travel in China talks
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c150yv75pn7o

Multiple nations are getting it as part of the negotiations... Canada announced something similar when Mark Carney went to China.

Yes, stated in the message immediately above mine!

I guess the question is when the addition of the uk to the exiting list of visa free countries will take effect. I can’t imagine it will be long before I does, but I can’t see any mention of an expected date in the various reports.

Sorry if asked, but the pickup date they give you is just the earliest date, right? How long would I have after that to pick up, anyone know?

This depends on where you apply. At the LA consulate you have one week to pick up your passport with the attached visa from the date written on the pick-up slip. If no date is written on the slip (e.g. your passport requires extra processing), you will need to check the COVA portal for updates to your application.

And there's no horsing around with getting the agreed in principle new policy in place.

China has confirmed 30 day visa free travel for citizens of CANADA and the UNITED KINGDOM starting 17th February 2026 - Chinese lunar New year of the horse - until end of 2026 similar to many other nations.

BBC News - China confirms visa-free travel for UK and Canadian nationals
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c875d3d3x34o

Is US the only one country remaining on the list of countries still requires visa unless thru TWOV?

May be after Trump’s Apr visit US would be granted the same as Canada and UK.

I predict that the flight cap will also get raised.

Confirmed today for UK and CA passports.

30 days visa-free, from Tuesday to the end of the year.

A basic vetting should be necessary before arrival for certain countries. The US demands it from every country, and would still require visa for PRC passport holders (remember, these visa-free accesses are not always reciprocal). I don't really see visa-free access for US passport holders as a priority (they already get 10 years for L visas), but that might start drifting OT. And in the end, the visa process itself has already been massively simplified since a few years ago, and the 240h TWOV scheme is also generous and uncomplicated.