Allright so Ive read up on it, and realized that Guilin is its own special zone apparently.

My trip consists of entering China from Northern Vietnam, then going into Hong Kong. Then I leave Hong Kong and re enter China and head to Guilin. Then I head to Xi'an and Beijing, then onward to South Korea.

Will a Double entry visa satisfy this, or does the entry to Guilin mean I need a multiple entry visa?

Thank you.

from what i can tell from their examples on the embassy website... it looks as though a double entry should cover you as long as your not leaving china between the guilin and xian-beijing portion of your trip. the only thing i could find on there was about entering hong kong and then moving on, would use another entry....but nothing on guilin.

You need one entry to come from Vietnam in to China then when you go to HK you will need another entry to get back in to China to go to Guilin. As Guilin, Beijing and Xi'an are all in China proper you dont need visas to move between them. provided you dont leave again until you go to South Korea you only need the double entry.

So just to re-confirm.

Vietnam - China = 1 entry
China(Shenzen) - HK = 1 exit
HK - Back into Shenzen and onward to Guilin = 1 entry
Tianjin - Seoul = 1 exit

So I have 2 entry points and 2 exits.

Reconfirming that there is no special autonomous zone for entering Guilin where I need to use up an entry and exit correct. Aslong as once I leave HK onto mainland china that all counts as one big area, and not another special region.

Yes I believe that is correct from what you have posited

You only have 30 days for each entry. If you get a double entry visa you can leave and then reenter for another 30 days.

As I remember you have 90 days to make the two entries or you have to buy another visa and they are expensive.

If you go to Hong Kong first you can easily get a China visa in one or two days. The single entry and double entry costs the same. I believe that a 30 day period starts when you get your passport stamped...at least that was the case with me and I got my visa in HK.

Thank you for the responses.

So Right now is just around 47 days till my trip. I wont be near china till about another 21 days after that. When would you say is the best time to get the visa? I was planning to send out all my documentation and forms next week, is that too early, will the visa expire before I even get there? Or is there like a 6month validity to use it from the time of issue?

Also for the first entry into China itll be through North Vietnam, and will be primarly used just to get to HK, so like 48 hours tops. Then Ill be using the second entry when I leave HK and do 2 weeks in mainland.

This is what my Lonely Planet China says about visas:

"A 30-day visa is activated on the date you enter China and must be used within three months of the date of issue. Sixty-day and 90-day travel visas are no longer issued outside China. You need to extend your visa in China if you want to stay longer."

However under the heading "Getting a China Visa in Hong Kong" it says "Hong Kong is still the best place to pick up a visa for China...visas processed here in one/two/three days cost HK$400/300/150. Double/six month multiple/one-year multiple visas are HK$220/400/600 (plus HK 150/250 for express/urgent service.) Two photos."

However, prices have gone up. And those of us from the US and UK, pay double what people from other countries pay.)

"Double/six month multiple/one-year multiple visas" I think means double entry for six months and multiple entry for one-year visas. Don't know why they have inserted the second "multiple" unless it just means that double entry is also considered a multiple entry visa.

When I got my visa in HK, my choices were single entry or double entry which was the same price.I got double entry and I had 90 days to use up the two entries. I didn't ask about one-year visas but I was given to understand the one-month and double entry were my only choices. I strongly suspect the one-year multiple entry visas are no longer given.

So, for you, it sounds like you won't be able to get a double entry visa unless you get it in HK. And apparently it is activated on the date you enter China. I can't remember the details of the application but maybe they stamp it for the day you SAY you will be entering China. Would be good to still clear this up somehow. Sorry, this is all I know.

p.s.
LP also says that many people use the China Visa Service Center 1800-799-6560; www.mychinavisa.com "which offers impeccable and prompt service and takes around 10-14 days."

A call to these folks may get your questions answered.

And be sure to ask for an "L" type visa which means for travel. And for gods sake don't tell them you are a journalist.

damn, I think I am causing you more grief than you had in the first place. I looked up the www.mychinavisa.com web site and they say your time starts clocking when the visa is stamped...and you have six months. And LP must be wrong about no visas being issued outside of China because this site issues multiple entry visas...at least to people residing in the U.S. and they say they "help" anyone in other countries. There is a FAQ but don't know if the answers apply just to US applicants or to everyone. It's worth looking at.

Sorry.

I called the visa place today and I believe I have it all sorted out.

I can get a double entry visa valid for 90days for 140 dollars CND. It is valid for 6months, and the 90 days begins once it is stamped. So I should be good to go

Thank you for the responses again!