Visa to visit China

I'd be shocked if you can just pick up a visa at the airport.

I would suggest checking the US State Department Travel site for China.

In addition, I recall when we were considering a trip to China last year (which we decided against because of the air pollution issues), we were told by the tour provider that an advance "invitation" is required, which the tour company arranges, in order to obtain a visa.

I don't know if the following link will open for you, but it is from Tauck Tours and discusses what people who are considering their tours need to be aware of. If you are not familiar with Tauck, they are a highly-regarded high-end provider.

http://www.tauck.com/tours/asia-travel/china-tours/china-tour-cew-2016.aspx?tabPage=BeforeYouGo

Maybe someone else will be more encouraging than I have been, and if so, I will learn from their advice, too.

EDIT: I just tried to open the link now that it is posted, but it did not open all the way to the page I wanted you to see. Once it is open, then click on BEFORE YOU GO, and that will give you the part I wanted you to read.

https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/china.html

Click on Entry, Exit & Visa Requirements in the center of the page that comes up.

we were told by the tour provider that an advance "invitation" is
required

Invitations are only required for those taking tours. Independent traveler just need to show copies of plane/hotel reservations for a visa.

Visas are not available at the airport. China does allow visa free entry into the country for 72 hours if you are in transit to another country. But of course it won't apply for your situation.
You have plenty of time to get your China visa. It's very straight forward and if you follow the directions you'll be issued the Visa. Few people get rejected.

It's not as bad as getting a Russian visa:)

Michael, thanks. I learn something new every day!

Here is the Chinese Consulate link for visa applications:
http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/visas/hrsq/

If you don't want to or can't get to the consulate, visa processing services will do it for a fee. We used Visa Central on advice from our tour provider.

Visa Express is a non-government based service authorized by the
Chinese consulate to expedite Chinese visas. We offer reasonable and
competitive price, our regular visa service rate start from $79 on top
of the consulate fee. However, you can go to the Chinese consulate to
apply the visa in person to avoid paying additional fees. Our
additional service fees include visa specialists to help you with your
application forms to avoid delays and the hassle of having to wait in
line yourself. We are here to assist you in the easiest and quickest
ways possible, and we serve nationwide!

http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/visas/faq/#2

I am a U.S. citizen, can I apply for a Chinese visa at the port of entry?

U.S. citizens must obtain a visa before arrival in China. You are not eligible for a landing visa.

Submission and Collection Where should I apply for a visa? Must I
appear in person to submit my application? May I use a visa service?

You may apply for a visa at a Chinese Embassy or Consulate General
based on your State of residence. (Check Service Area Map). You need
to complete and sign the visa form and prepare necessary supporting
documents and have your friend or a visa service help submit your
application. You don't have to appear in person unless required by a
consular officer.

Do I need to schedule an appointment for visa application?

No. You may visit the Visa Office anytime during business hours unless
otherwise required by a consular officer.

Can I apply for a visa by mail? Could you mail the passport with visa
back to me?

No. We do NOT accept mail-in visa applications. We do NOT provide
mail-back service either.

What do I need to know if I go to Visa Office to submit my
application?

Please make sure you have checked our website and prepared all
necessary documents BEFORE you come to the Visa Office. Oversize
baggage or hazardous objects are NOT allowed in the Visa Office. You
must pass a security check at the entrance of the Visa Office. Once in
the office, please take a number for visa application and wait for
your turn. Proceed to the window that shows your number and submit
your application. You will be given a pick-up slip for your
application and passport accepted. Please retain the slip and return
to the Visa Office on or after the date shown on the slip to pick up
your passport. You will need to pay for your visa on the pick-up day.

If no pick-up date is shown on the slip, you need to wait for a call
or mail notification from the Visa Office as your application may
require longer processing time. You may also contact us for inquiries.

Friend forgot to renew his passport and discovered that fact the day before driving to BC, Canada. He was able to make an appointment at the Seattle office then continue on to Canada loosing only a day: http://www.us-passport-service-guide.com/seatle-passport-agency.html

Seattle Passport Agency Expediting Services

The Seattle Passport Agency provides emergency passport services for
U.S. citizens who are traveling, or submitting their passports for
foreign visas, within 14-28 days. If you would like to apply for your
travel document at the Seattle Agency, you first have to schedule an
appointment. Call the toll-free automated system, which is available
24 hours a day and 7 days a week, to set up an appointment.

If you are not traveling or needing to submit your passport for travel
visas within 14-28 days, you need to submit your application at the
nearest Passport Office or request expedited renewal by mail.

Seattle Passport Agency Fifth and Yesler Building 300 5th Avenue,
Suite 600 Seattle, WA 98104

You definitely need to get it in advance. We just got them in August of 2016 and found there were a lot of hoops to jump through. The forms are confusing but I used a youtube I found somewhere of someone actually filling it out and that was very helpful. We used a Visa service. I priced a lot of them. In the end we used mychinavisa.com.

If you have your passport back by mid-Feb you will be fine. Our visa process took about a week from start to finish.

Since I was working in downtown San Francisco, I was able to spend a few hours at the Chinese consulate over two separate days to get a visa; my travel companion who lived in Minneapolis just paid a visa service to get it done pretty quickly. (And she didn't have to stand in any lines.) But definitely not something to do on the fly.

You need to get the visa ahead of time, not at the airport. I've been to China five times and have used a visa processing service each time with no problems or delays. Somewhat costly, but they will make sure that everything is done right. They can do a "rush" job if you really end up short of time.

I once looked into getting a visa at the Chinese consulate in New York because I was going to be there for a few days, but found out that you have to spend a lot of time in line and return on a second day to actually pick up the visa. So I went back to the visa service.

I have a China visa in my passport (very pretty) for a tour that in the end we had to cancel. The tour company arranged the visa for us and I belive it cost us $250.. The time we actually did go to .China, we went to the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa to apply and then again in a week or so to pick up our passports and visas.

Americans get a 10 year visa these days.

There used to be a service at the airport in Hong Kong where you could get a visa for mainland China in a few hours. I used it several times for short notice business visits to Shanghai and Beijing. Not sure if they're still doing that (it's been a few years) but if you were interested in adding HK to your itinerary that might be a way to streamline the process somewhat.
That said, with only 8 days at your disposal you're probably better off just getting the visa before you depart on your trip.

There used to be a service at the airport in Hong Kong where you could
get a visa for mainland China in a few hours.

That type of visa exists for travelers who want to who to cross by land from Hong Kong into cities like Schenzen, but US citizens are no longer eligible for it.

US Citizens can travel into mainland China visa-free for 72 hours. But only if they are in transit between the US and a third country via air, and only within China itself not Hong Kong.

I did this just a couple of years back and you must submit your passport to them well ahead of time. The visa is a physical sticker affixed to your passport. They send the passport back to you once you have passed muster! I didn't think that the forms were that laborious...

Thank you everyone, all the fantastic advice!

We are Going to China in April.
Able to go to the SanFrancisco consulate and get visas.
Now, the fun begins..... planning our adventure!

You need a visa ahead of time. It is easier to use a Visa service. 8 days is rushed, make sure you have your itinerary nailed down. I loved my trip, but mine was for a month. Enjoy!

Last year we traveled to China for the third time. You definitly need a visa ahead of time. Two times I used visa agencies and one time I went to the Chinese Consulate in NYC. No matter what it says to take with you to the Consulate, take more, your airline and hotel reservations, if on a tour, the tour comapny name and the brochure. Anything you can think of! They will take all the materials they want along with your passport and tell you, in our case, to return in two weeks. When we returned we had to pay the fee($160?). Your visa will be good for ten years. As people on line paid, the amount flashed on a screen. Other nationalities paid far less but what you will be required to pay is connected to what the USA changes the Chinese for a visa. It was fairly easy but we saw many being turned away as they didn't have enough proof of flights, hotels with them. As is always the case, it depends on which agent you get.

And if gou use an agency, you will pay a hefty extra fee for their service. If you are lucky enough to be near a consulate, go on your own.