If you’ve fallen in love with China and want to stretch your holiday out a little longer, don’t worry; while new visas can only be issued outside of China, those on an L visa (Tourist Visa) can apply for one extension for a period of no longer than 30 days – although 60 is possible if you are visiting family in China; see this article - without leaving the Chinese mainland.

According to regulations introduced in 2013, you must submit your visa for extension no later than seven days before the expiration date. As Chinese visas begin from the date they are issued (rather than the date you enter the country), you may not want to submit it too much earlier than that – though doing so would give you more room in the event of unforseen problems.

If you’re in danger of overstaying your visa – or already have – you may want to read this article.

Extending your visa

To get an extention on your L visa, you’ll need to take the documents below to the Exit and Entry Administration Offices of your nearest Public Security Bureau HQ (the main building, not the small police stations). In this case ‘nearest’ being the one closest to where you’ll be spending the next night in China. 

There is usually one bureau in each major city; we’ve given the addresses for the PSBs in China’s four first-tier cities towards the bottom of the article. If you’re not sure where yours is, the concierge at your nearest major hotel may be able to help. In smaller cities it may be best to bring along a Chinese-speaking friend, as it may be difficult to find an English-speaking staff member.

Prices for the visa may vary, but should be around the same as you paid for the original visa.

The documents required for extending your L visa are as follows:

1. Valid passport with your current L visa.
2. Photocopies of your passport’s bio-data page, your existing Chinese visa and your last entry stamp.
3. Color photo (3.5cm by 5.3cm, white background). In most cities, you can find a Kodak store or small photography/photocopy shop to have your photos taken. Just tell them you’re doing it for your visa (签证, qiānzhèng). Don’t attempt to submit a photo taken by yourself – there’s a fair chance your application will be rejected if you do.
4. Registration Form of Temporary Residence or, if you are staying in a hotel, a hotel or hostel accommodation slip (旅馆住宿登记, lǚguǎn zhùsù dēngjì) for the night you are making the application. Hotels with foreigner certification should be able to do this for you, as should hostels accredited by the Chinese Youth Hostel Association.
5. Bank account records proving savings of at least 21,000 yuan for a 30-day stay (around $100 per day).
6. tinerary of the trip. If traveling with travel agency, applicant should also provide letter of proof from the agency.
7. Extended duration will not exceed 30 days. 

Exit and Entry Administration Office addresses

Beijing

Exit and Entry Administration Office of Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau, 2 Dong Dajie, Andingmen, Dongcheng district

东城区安定门东大街2号北京市公安局出入境管理处

Contact: 010-8402-0101, www.bjgaj.gov.cn/idn/index.jsp

Hours: Mon-Sat, 8:30 am-4:30 pm

Guangzhou

Exit and Entry Administration Department of Public Security Bureau of Guangdong Province

Address: Guangzhou Exit and Entry Administration Building, 155 Jiefang Nan Lu, Guangzhou 

广州市解放南路155号广州市公安局出入境管理处大厦  

Contact: 020-8311-1000, 020-8311-1895, 020-8311-1896, 020-8392-2616, 020-8392-2617, www.gdcrj.com

Hours: Mon-Fri, 9 am-12 noon; 2 pm-5 pm, 

Shanghai

Before visiting the Shanghai bureau directly, the staff suggest visiting their website.

Exit and Entry Administration Bureau of Shanghai Public Security Bureau, 1500 Minsheng Lu, Pudong New Area 

浦东新区民生路1500号上海市公安局出入境管理局

Contact: 021-2895-1900, http://crj.police.sh.cn

Hours: Mon-Fri, 9 am-4:30 pm; Sat, 9 am-11:30am; 1:30 pm-4:30 pm

Shenzhen

Exit and Entry Administration of Shenzhen Public Security Bureau, 4018 Jie Fang Lu, Luohu district, Shenzhen

深圳市罗湖区解放路4018号深圳市公安局出入境管理处

Contact: 0755-8446-5459 or 0755-8446-5490 or 0755-9500-0100, www.szga.gov.cn

Hours: Mon-Fri, 9 am-6 pm

Useful Chinese words and phrases 

source:onestop