Tourist visa vs a 6 month reentry visa?

Larry, the required documents are almost the same. If you haven't been to China before, I am afraid that you may not get what you want. You'd better apply in the USA if possible. It's difficult to apply for double entry and multiple entries outside of your country. Some Chinese embassies even don't issue these types to those who appy in a third country. By the way, the embassy requires you to provide your residence permit for employment or study or any other legal status (valid visa for example) if you plan to apply in Jordan.