I am traveling to China as a tourist in march 2012. Can I submit a visa application now even though my travel day is about 6 months in the future?

you can't submit a visa application now, a single entry tourist visa is only valid for 3 months, if you apply for it now, it expires when you go to China in March 2012. Please apply for a visa about one month in advance of your departure, and do not apply three months earlier.