The Chinese embassy requires either an itinerary or flight booking for Chinese tourist visas.

I plan to enter China overland from Vietnam and make my way over to Tibet, then travel on - overland - to Nepal.

The Rough Guide to China recommends that you don't mention you're going to Tibet on your itineray, since there may be further questions...

I'm not flying in so i have to include an itinerary, surely i can't just make one up?

what shall i write down? any suggestions?

When you fly from any city to Lhasa you will need to show Tibet permit when you check in at the airport. Furthermore, whenever you buy a flight to Lhasa you need to show this permit. TTB permits are also needed by groups traveling by Land Cruiser but this will be arranged by the travel agency organizing the trip.

For more details pls e-mail to info@shaktitravel.com

suresh

> I'm not flying in so i have to include an itinerary, surely i can't just make one up?

Yes, you can. The visa is valid for the whole of the country (although extra permits are occasionally required for odd corners and for Tibet, obtainable locally). You are not required to keep to any stated itinerary. The question merely helps the staff weed out those who volunteer that they plan to visit areas of ethnic unrest.

> what shall i write down? any suggestions?

Bland destinations typically visited by tourists: Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai, Kunming. Just don't write down Tibet or Xinjiang or you may not get a visa at all (although once you have a visa there's nothing to stop you visiting them).

The travel permit for Tibet is sorted out at the point you book your transport into Tibet, and has nothing to do with your main visa. You'd be wise not to deal with agents trying to hook you in over the internet before you arrive.

Peter N-H
http://list3.xianzai.com/mailman/listinfo/oriental-list

ok thanks.

does seem a bit strange that they won't give you a visa if they know you plan on going there.
surely if they didn't want visitors they'd just not allow anyone in...

oh, and what are the chances that china will close it's borders to southeast asia - regarding avian flu?