China Family visa

Resident Visa (D Visa) is issued to an alien who comes to reside permanently in China. In order to get this, you need to provide a Residence Approval Certificate issued by the Chinese public security bureau. (you can entrust relatives within China to apply for this certificate with the said authority.) This type of China visa is difficult to get now.
But if you have immediate family in China, you can apply for a family visit visa (L) in China. Read https://www.travelchinaguide.com/embassy/visa/family-visit-permit.htm for details. This visa allows you to stay in China for one or two years, mostly with multiple entries as a residence permit. You need to apply for a L to enter China first anyway.