US citizen traveling to Taiwan, Shanghai and Beijing

Sarah, considering your situation, you are advised to apply for a 10-year multiple-entry tourist L type which will be preferable.
You can but air tickets from Detroit to Shanghai and Detroit to Taoyuan. They will be regarded as round trip air tickets and they can be used to apply for the tourist L type.
If you can get the 10-year multiple-entry L type, you don’t need to use the 144 hour free transit in Shanghai. Of course, you are eligible for the 144 hour free transit in Shanghai if you fly to Shanghai from Detroit and then fly to Taoyuan from Shanghai within 144 hours. When you exit from Taoyuan to Shanghai, you can use the multiple-entry L type.

Thank you so much for your reply!!! I appreciate it.

My passport does not have a full year of validity (about 11 months) so I cannot apply for the 10 year. I was planning on applying for the 6 month multiple entry.

Will there be any trouble getting the multiple entry?

I have booked my round trip ticket from Detroit to Shanghai - Now I am wondering if I should also book my Taiwan and Beijing tickets before I apply for the tourist visa. Will the short flights from Shanghai to Taoyuan and Shanghai to Beijing add value to my case as a tourist?

Also wondering about the hotel reservations. I am planning to travel independently and be flexible with my locations and dates - will this be a problem that I don't have a hotel reservation for the duration of my stay from mid May to mid August?

Essentially... Is it acceptable to apply for a tourist visa with nothing but a round trip ticket to Shanghai from 5/12 -8/9? Or do I need to book hotels and additional flights in advance to demonstrate that I will be a tourist? Any guidance is greatly appreciated!

Dear, it’s possible for you to apply for 6-month multiple-entry visa. I think the round trip tickets from Detroit to Shanghai are enough for your application for the L visa. You don’t need to book Taiwan and Beijing tickets. Maybe the short flights from Shanghai to Taoyuan and Shanghai to Beijing will add value to your application.

As for the hotel reservation, you can make a rough travel plan and provide most part of your accommodation arrangement. You can just provide the arrangement for you first entry to Shanghai from Detroit. You don’t have to provide a hotel reservation for the duration of your stay from mid May to mid August.

When you apply for tourist L type, except the basic documents including your passport and copy of its data page, and the application form attached with a passport-sized color photo, the round trip air tickets and hotel reservation are also required.

Actually, when you apply for it, you don’t need to mention your travel to Beijing and Taiwan. You can just apply for it according to your travel to Shanghai.