Answered by ZUPAN
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Jan. 10, 2020 13:50
Part one:
In reality, you have three options, but there is no "free visa" option. Your options are:
1. To apply for Hainan VOA upon your landing in Sanya or Hiakou
2. To rely on 30 day visa free access
3. To obtain a Chinese tourist (L) visa in advance
1. You can rely on Hainan VOA, but only if you are arriving to Hainan via Hong Kong. The airport staff in practically all non Chinese airports will not allow you boarding a plane. Only Hong Kong airport staff is trained enough to allow travelers who intend to apply for Hainan VOA to board the plane. The main drawbacks of this option is a price for US citizens of 956 CNY and the fact that you cannot arrive to Hainan from within mainland China. A huge advantage is that it requires a minimum of formalities and it is also valid for 30 days out of which you are allowed to spend 15 days in other parts of mainland China.
2. 30 day visa free access requires an agency, bur regardless of agency, you are completely free to create your own itinerary and to choose your own accommodations. The main drawbacks of this option are the fact that you have to make a correspondence with the agency that will try to convince you to take as much as possible of their services. Also, you are not allowed to arrive to Hainan from within mainland China and also you are not allowed to travel to other parts of mainland China after your stay in Hainan is over. Here you pay for a service that you will take and not for a visa because this is visa free access. The best agency to deal with is Hong Kong based China Travel Service - CTS (HK). The good detail is that you will receive some form of invitation letter and you will be allowed to board the plane in every country that has a direct flight to Hainan.
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