how far in advance we need to apply for Chinese visa?

Dear Douglas, we kindly suggest you go to the local Chinese ambassy and apply for visa with your valid passport, filled application form and photos in person. The process usually takes 5-7 working days. The earliest time you should consider to apply for your tourist visa is 3 months before the trip starts, as 3 month is the duration of a tourist visa. If you apply too early, your visa will be invalid before you enter China. Thank you for attention.