I am a Canadian living in Laos for 5 months. I want to visit China on my way home. Can I get a visa?

Now, for China visa application in a third country, the visa rule changes from country to country, maybe your China tourist visa application will be refused by China embassy in Vientiane because you don't work or reside in Laos, you are just a temporary visitor to Laos, An applicant holding a passport other than Laotian passport should provide the original and a copy of his or her permanent residence or work permit which should be valid for at least 6 months and a copy of the passport first page, you'd better call the embassy in Vientiane to check it.