Official (gratis passport).

Brem, you can enter PRC with your current passport and because you enter with official passport, you can enjoy free entry to PRC for a stay of no more than 30 days. In this case, no entry permit is needed.

Rudolf from South Africa.
Thank you for the prompt reply.

Actually my official passport expires on 6 Aug 2016. Whereas my visit to China would be concluding on 20 Jul. I read somewhere that passport with 6 month validity is required for China. So wanted to clarify I'm good to go with the old passport? And my wife also intends to visit along with me. But she has ordinary passport. Will she be able to get the visa based on mine (I guess she won't get the on arrival one and will have to get it from Pk)?

May be 6 months validity is required for visa applicability and since official/gratis will get visa on arrival. Please correct if I am wrong.

And have visited your beautiful country too. Jo'burg, sun city and Cape Town, especially table mountain and cape point are amazing. Stayed at long street backpackers. Great and hospitable people, the proteas/springboks.

Sorry for the lengthy text. And thank you in advance.
Regards.

Brem, you can still enter PRC for a visit with your current passport. As far as I know, you can go there as long as your passport is still valid. The passport needs to have at least 6-month validity if one holds ordinary passport and wants to apply for Chinese visa, but you hold official passport. It won’t be the same case. Of course, you can renew your passport first if you are still worried. It will be more secure.
Your wife cannot get a visa based on you. She should apply for a group tourist L type through a travel agency.

Rudolf.
Thank you again for the prompt and helpful reply.
Grateful.