China Entry Regulations

Foreign visitors should obtain Chinese visas before they start their China tour. Under the following circumstances, visitors holding valid passports and invitation letters from authorized Chinese companies can apply visas at the authorized port visa offices:
1. Being invited for a trade fair on a provisional invitation by the Chinese side;
2. Being invited for a bid or to formally sign an economy and trade contract;
3. Visiting China to supervise over export shipment, import commodity inspection, or the completion of a contract;
4. Being invited for equipment installation, an rush repair, or providing scientific and technology consulting;
5. Being request to go to China to settle down claims;
6. Visa replacement or addition to a group that has already obtained the visas to China;
7. Visiting dying patients or dealing with funeral arrangements;
8. Immediate transit passengers, out of force majeure, who are unable to leave China by the original airplane within 24 hours or have to leave the country by other means of transport;
9. Tour groups organized by Chinese international travel agencies or approved Hong Kong or Macau travel agencies. 

The authorized visa offices are set up at the following ports: Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Dalian, Fuzhou, Xiamen, Xian, Guilin, Hangzhou, Kunming, Guangzhou (Baiyun International Airport), Shenzhen (Luohu Customs & Shekou Customs), and Zhuhai (Gongbei Customs). 

 Read more about China Visa.

When arriving at the border, you should present your valid passport, visa, and other documents, as well as fill in the Entry Card at the Frontier Inspection Station. A Health Declaration Form is also needed to be completed. Persons will be prohibited from entering China for the following reasons:
1. Persons who do not have valid passports, visas or certificates;
2. Persons holding fake or altered travel documents, or the travel documents of another person;
3. Persons who do not accept the inspection at the border;
4. Persons expelled from China and are currently disallowed entry into the country.
5. Persons with a potential for terrorist, violent, subversive, smuggling, drug or obscene activities, or others that may damage the national safety and interest of China.
6. Persons suffering from psychopathy, leprosy, Aids, venereal disease, tuberculosis, and other contagious diseases.
7. Persons who have limited expenses to sustain their visit in China.
8. Persons who do not enter at the appointed entry areas into China.

When entering the Chinese border, the following articles are forbidden:
1. All weapons, simulated weapons, ammunition and explosive articles.
2. Fake currency and negotiable securities.
3. Printed items, films, photos, CDs, discs, movies, recordings, videos, laser discs, laser videos, computer memory medium, and other things that may cause harm to Chinese politics, economy, culture and ethics.
4. Strong poisons.
5. All addictive drugs including opium, heroin, morphine, and cannabis, as well as psychological medicines.
6. Fresh fruits, vegetables, live animals (except dogs and cats), animal products, biological pathogens and pests, animal bodies, plants, soils, and other quarantined items from epidemic countries or regions.
7. Food, medicines and other things that are bad for the health of humans and livestock, from epidemic zone or ones which could spread diseases. 

 Offense of the entry regulations may lead to punishment of the fines between CNY 1,000 and CNY 10,000 or a detention of 3 to 10 days, at the same time being ordered to leave the country within a specified time or being expelled.