Multiple China visa

Dear Sir/Madam

I am UK citizen living in China. I have applied for residence permit and been here since June 2007. Current visa expires in June 17, 2012. Question is do I need visa for holiday in Thailand for 4-6 weeks, I am retired and have a personnel pension. I am 58 years old. My wife is a Chinese citizen and understand she requires to have a visa also as here holiday stay in Thailand is also 4-6 weeks. We both live in Dalian, as you have no office here can we do application by post and where to and what is required. I will be travelling to UK in May must I obtain police document of where I am until applying again for Chinese Residence Visa. Current UK valid to Sept 2015
Rgds
Tom