Things may also change once the paralympics are finished, although I suppose that’s not much use to you now, Mfaithe.

I never got round to using my chinese visa! After spending a month in Japan and then another in South Korea, I ended up flying down to Kathmandu for a trek in Tibet which got cancelled the night before it was due to start – oh well! Next I’m off to India (indian visas are also getting a bit more tricky) for 6 months…

Must be one of the few people with too many chinese visas

When I got my visa in May, it was after the new visa rules had been put into effect for the most part, so I don’t see it being different, especially now that things are back to normal. I don’t know about the current situation, but you could always try phoning them, they were helpful when I called them.

Also things are opening up again, you can switch L visas to F visas in Beijing without leaving the country, and you can get them extended 3-6 months.

I’m in Korea wanting to go back to my cushy life in China, I cant get a visa here though. Olympics are done, I was told it would be fine but, alas, no go. The Chinese embassy in Korea tells me I need a foreign ID card, given to those who come here to work or study. I’m a tourist. A Canadian tourist. So theres no possible way to get one. My options are Japan, or Hong Kong. Japan will be cheaper stop on my way back to Shanghai, can anyone tell me if they know about this? (I’m Canadian, if that makes a difference)

Any help is greatly appreciated…

Loved the Tenjin area for people watching.

Also dirt cheap iced coffees in Cafe Veloci (loads of them all over the city). Great places to spend hours on self-study Chinese although maybe a few too many distractions

There’s also an oxygen capsule place you can try out near the hostel – i didn’t have, er, time though… Manager of the hostel knows where it is.

I had no idea Khaosan was so close to the airport, I never had the chance to get a proper map, was always using google or the junk from the Fukuoka expat mag.

Seems like you did the run well and had a good time to boot. I definitely want to go back to Kyushu, it’s so green there, the biking/hiking must be amazing.

Oh and as an addendum to a previous comment I made about visa extensions turned out to be false, they are still available of L visas for 2 times for 1 month each time.

Visa went reasonably ok although I had trouble finding a fully refundable return plane ticket. None of the travel agents were playing ball (100USD-200USD cancellation charge). I ended up going direct to Japan Airlines at the airport (10USD cancellation charge).

Is there a better way I missed?

By the way, its not far to walk from the airport (international terminal) to Khaosan backpackers. Maybe 20-25 mins. Certainly a lot quicker than taking the shuttle bus – subway – walk option. I’d definitely walk if I didnt have big bags on me back.

Anyway, I see exactly what you mean about the Fukuoka women! All dressed up to the catwalk but it didn’t seem real in some sense. Like some kind of non-interactive entertainment!

Bloody frustrating!

p.s. Damn – completely forgot to check out that “In The Park” cafe/bar.

Americans do not need visas to go to either country to visit.

Are americans allowed into either country with just their passports?

hek

I got a single entry tourist visa with 30 day stay. I’ve extended it once for 30 more days, and I’ll be able to do that one more time before July 1st for a total of 90 days, just like a normal tourist visa. Business (F) visas are still available but take more paper work than I’m willing to put up with and give you roughly the same duration of stay, instead my next one will be a Z-visa. I’d go with single over double, simply because they won’t be extending anything after July 1st (according to most visa agents).

JT:

Fukuoka is a great town, I’ll definitely be heading back there, and I try to check that place out.