Period of Validity of a visa refers to the period starting from the issuing date to last day before a person may enter China. For example, if your visa is issued on May 1st with a period of validity of 90 days. It means you have to enter China before August 1st.
The Period of Stay refers to the period starting from the entering date on which a traveler enters into China to the last day, on which he has to leave the country. Take the previous example again. If the period of stay of the visa you apply for is 30 days and you enter China on May 10, it means you can stay in China till June 9.
Most tourist visas are usually valid for three months with a stay period of 30 days. The period of validity can be extended for an extra month. We suggest that you apply for your visa one month prior to your travel date.
Extension of Visa
Foreigners who want to stay in China beyond the period which is allowed by their L visas, need to apply for an extension of their visas with appropriate reasons.
Documents of your valid passport, visa and certificate of residence registration, a completed visa extension application form and materials supporting the reasons of extension are required when you have the extension processed at the municipal public security bureau seven days before your visa expires. Also the certificates of your travel expenditures such traveler's check or other financial supports are needed to show you have an economic guarantee of your further stay.
The multiple entry visas cannot be extended.
The L visa held by visitors could be extended once with duration of not more than one month; L visa held by family visitors could be extended three times with the duration of each under three months.
For visitors who are purposely on traveling, with L visa, the stay period can be extended once with the maximum duration no more than one month and for family visitors, the visas could be extended two or three times with the duration of each less than three months. However, for the latter cases, more detailed materials are required to provide reasonable grounds of your extending stay in the country.
Reply1/9/2010 6:50:00 PMmay , Malaysia
i m a malaysian who will b travelling to hong kong for vacation.can i apply for a multiple entry chinese visa in hong kong so tht i can visit china as and when i need to?
1/11/2010 7:07:00 PMSteven :
I think you can, but you'd better apply for the visa from the China Embassy in Malaysia.
Reply11/25/2009 11:11:00 PMFiona Lee , Singapore
Hi, I'm from Singapore. I have less than 6mths validity as my passport expires in April. Can I still travel to Hong Kong in Dec?
11/27/2009 3:24:00 AMFred ( Belgium ) :
Confirm with the Immigration Department of Hk directly by enquiry hotline at (852) 2824 6111 or by fax at (852) 2877 7711.
Reply11/11/2009 2:02:00 AMAva , Singapore
I am holding Singapore passport, my direct family is staying as citizens in China. If I want to go back for a month, do I need to extend my visa? What is the procedure like?
11/11/2009 9:31:00 PMLi Nan ( China ) :
The best way is that you may inquire about it from China Embassy in Singapore. Here is the website http://www.chinaembassy.org.sg/eng/.
Reply7/29/2009 10:17:00 PMLeon , China
hi, as i know 60 days are allowed for each stay since your visa is double entries. you may extend twice for each stay. No idea for your last question, sorry..
Reply7/29/2009 5:34:00 AMamir , Egypt
Hi, I am from Egypt, and i have L Visa and it is double entries. how many days allowed for me to stay ? and how many times i can extend for each stay? also i will get married to chinese girl, that would give me the right to stay more? thank you
Reply5/24/2009 2:53:00 AMkathleen chung kay b. poon , Macau, China
hi im kathleen poon a half chinese,half filipina and i would like to stay in hong kong for 3months or more than because my father is already sick and i never been with been with him for almost 11years.he is now suffering from stage 4 lung cancer.what can i do?? can you suggest anything about this??please. thank you
5/25/2009 1:13:00 AMWarriorTours.com :
If you are a Philippine passport holder, you can stay in Hong Kong for 14 days free of visa. If you want to stay for more time than that, you can refer to this website for specific requirements: http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/hkvisas.htm.
Reply4/9/2009 7:20:00 AMpinky , India
hello,i am an indian passprt holder and would like to work in hongkong so is it possble for me to come there for 14 days and search for a suitable job which fits my criteria and is it allowed that way as i am coming fo the first time would you suggest me where can i stay for proper job excess.
Any suggestion, please Contact Us Toll Free:1-800-835-6198 
Reply1/9/2010 6:50:00 PMmay , Malaysia
i m a malaysian who will b travelling to hong kong for vacation.can i apply for a multiple entry chinese visa in hong kong so tht i can visit china as and when i need to?
1/11/2010 7:07:00 PMSteven :
I think you can, but you'd better apply for the visa from the China Embassy in Malaysia.Reply11/25/2009 11:11:00 PMFiona Lee , Singapore
Hi, I'm from Singapore.
I have less than 6mths validity as my passport expires in April. Can I still travel to Hong Kong in Dec?
11/27/2009 3:24:00 AMFred ( Belgium ) :
Confirm with the Immigration Department of Hk directly by enquiry hotline at (852) 2824 6111 or by fax at (852) 2877 7711.Reply11/11/2009 2:02:00 AMAva , Singapore
I am holding Singapore passport, my direct family is staying as citizens in China. If I want to go back for a month, do I need to extend my visa? What is the procedure like?
11/11/2009 9:31:00 PMLi Nan ( China ) :
The best way is that you may inquire about it from China Embassy in Singapore. Here is the website http://www.chinaembassy.org.sg/eng/.Reply7/29/2009 10:17:00 PMLeon , China
hi, as i know 60 days are allowed for each stay since your visa is double entries. you may extend twice for each stay. No idea for your last question, sorry..
Reply7/29/2009 5:34:00 AMamir , Egypt
Hi, I am from Egypt, and i have L Visa and it is double entries. how many days allowed for me to stay ? and how many times i can extend for each stay?
also i will get married to chinese girl,
that would give me the right to stay more?
thank you
Reply5/24/2009 2:53:00 AMkathleen chung kay b. poon , Macau, China
hi im kathleen poon a half chinese,half filipina and i would like to stay in hong kong for 3months or more than because my father is already sick and i never been with been with him for almost 11years.he is now suffering from stage 4 lung cancer.what can i do?? can you suggest anything about this??please. thank you
5/25/2009 1:13:00 AMWarriorTours.com :
If you are a Philippine passport holder, you can stay in Hong Kong for 14 days free of visa. If you want to stay for more time than that, you can refer to this website for specific requirements: http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/hkvisas.htm.Reply4/9/2009 7:20:00 AMpinky , India
hello,i am an indian passprt holder and would like to work in hongkong so is it possble for me to come there for 14 days and search for a suitable job which fits my criteria and is it allowed that way as i am coming fo the first time would you suggest me where can i stay for proper job excess.