You can submit your visa application to Chinese embassy in Japan. The requirements are: your original passport, passport sized photo, application form for China, residence permit in Japan, return ticket, invitation letter from your family in China together with copies their address, passport info, China visa/residence permit.

thanks for reply ms Miles

what kind of letter is that?
from my boyfriend?
and a passport info of my boyfriend?
and china visa resident permit
please explain
thank you

Personal Invitation Letter from your boyfriend describing his and your basic information, purpose of coming to China, entry time, exit time, stay duration, etc. The photocopy of his Chinese passport or ID card is accepted.

Good afternoon,
I am Vietnamese who is studying in Japan (College Student Visa, valid for two years). I am also intending to visit my friend in Shanghai, so I care much about this question. Should I ask my friend to send me an inviting email, or must she send it by hand- mail? As I see in the documents needed for travel visa to China, they requires a hotel reservation receipt in China, but I just intend to stay in my friend's house, I will not book hotel there. So if I give the Chinese Embassy the documents of her invitation letter, her address, Chinese passport,... as you listed, can they exempt me from the hotel reservation documents? My friend is also a student in Shanghai. I appreciate your reply.
Le

Your friend should send you a handwritten Invitation Letter, photocopy of her passport or ID card if she is Chinese, otherwise, photocopy of her China residence permit is also required besides her passport. Then you don't need to provide the hotel reservation.

Thank you Ms Helper for your reply. I will ask her to send me the hand mail for the required documents.
Best regards,
Le