The documents that you must have to travel to China

You must have, first of all, a passport valid for at least six months.
If you are traveling with children, ask to have reliable data to the police station, orconsulate in that the rules are different from country to country (Italy for example, musthave their passport)

For visa applications must submit them to the Chinese diplomatic and consular in yourcountry (for more information about how and required documents: www.fmprc.gov.cm).

It is not expected to be issued visas at border posts, so if you do not have a visa upon arrival in China will only make respinti.Se in China with a stopover destination fortransit a third country (to be documented with a plane ticket and visa for the country of destination), are exempt from the visa if the stay in China is less than 24 hours and you  don’t leave the airport transit area.

If you intend to visit Hong Kong or Macao on a trip in mainland China, you have toapply for a visa for multiple entries. In the absence of this visa, you should get in the twoSpecial Administrative Regions a new entry visa for mainland China, which will requiredays of waiting.
If you go to China to carry out journalistic activities you must explicitly when applying for a visa in the granting of a license upon entry.

To avoid accidents, which happen frequently, unfortunately, with the border police, it is recommended to those who have dual nationality to enter and exit the country with the same passport, taking care to obtain the necessary visa, depending on the choice ofthe passport that was made. During your stay in China kept carefully that your passport will be always kept on handfor any identity checks. It is also good to bring a copy of its relevant pages andChinese visasIn case of lost or stolen, you must first lodge a complaint with the nearest Office ofPublic Safety. With the complaint, and two photos you should go at the nearestconsulate or embassy to apply for a travel document, with which you can only come back to your country, or request a new passport for the award you need more time.Finally you have to buy the "exit visa" for the Chinese release of which can take up to 5business days

The processing of all the procedures can take a few days if there is, at the time of thetheft or loss, are far from where the diplomatic-consular representations. (Usuallylocated in Beijing, Shanghai or Canton)

If you live during your stay in private homes of Chinese or foreigners residing in Chinamust register your temporary presence at the local Public Security Bureau within 24hours of arrival. You will be asked the host for a residence permit and documentsproving ownership or rent of the mansion and guest passport. Offenders are liable to a fine of up to 500 rmb.

If you are staying in China with a tourist visa (L) and business (F) will not undertakework activities (including journalism). If a foreign national residing for a long period in China without having in his possessiona valid visa (title to stay in China) and meanwhile held a job or business may be subjected to any restriction of personal liberty in temporary  detention centers  and later expelled. Given the numerous cases of people who have reported cases of fraud even before they left for China given very careful when you are working to evaluate proposals and / or training offeredby Chinese agencies or international sources not known by some, especially the Internet. Test is the actual existence of the various agencies that offer work by contacting the local competent authority or by applying directly to the embassy / consulate of yourcountry in China. If you're a victim of fraud, go to the police authorities to file acomplainant and, if you think it is necessary, contact a lawyer  Visit the embassy website to see if it offers legal advice service (the Italian Embassy, for example, does not provide legal, but has put online a list of lawyers and interpretersin the section on Beijing)

You have to respect scrupulously  the expiry date of your visa, if you do not want to incur the heavy fines for offenders of 500 yuan / rmb per day with a maximum penalty of5,000 yuan (about 500 €).

You can extend the validity of the Chinese tourist visa for a maximum of 30 days, by submitting an application, either directly or through authorized agencies, the Office forthe Administration of Income and Expenditure of the local police station. However, visit the website of the Municipality which provides information useful in this regard(http://www.bjgaj.gov.cn/eng/). Due to overbooking, we suggest you reconfirm your return flight at least 72 hours in advance .

Currency and customs formalities: there are no particular restrictions on the importation of foreign currency. If, however, the sum exceeds $ 5,000 U.S., it is better ifthe declared entry into the country by filling out the customs form in duplicate, to be able to show - leaving the country - the former possession of any sum remaining in the case of customs control.
Electronic equipment must be declared personal use only. Limitazione di esportazione

The Chinese government strictly controls the export of works of art and objects of significant cultural value. If you purchase works of art you must make sure that you havegranted permission for export by Appraisal Institute of Cultural Relics (36 FuxueHutong, Dongcheng District, Beijing tel.64014608), who issues a certificate for exportand puts the official stamp for export on the object in question. Violators can be punished with foreign restrictions of their freedom. It also prohibitedthe export of rare animals, rare plants and their seeds, precious metals and diamonds.
However, visit the website of Beijing, which contains various information on the formalities of any kind for the arrival and departure. Here are some things to watch out for: plants and plant products, fruits, vegetables, insects, animals, raw meat, sausages,eggs, milk, dairy and other perishable products that are easy, weapons, ammunitionand explosives, transmitters and radio receivers and parts most important of these, the Chinese currency (yuan / rmb) any document in any form (printed, photographic,electronic) that is harmful to politics, economy, culture and ethics of China (forexample, pornography); toxic drugs and narcotics.

Travellers with pets
Each person can only bring a pet.
The owner of the animal must obtain before leaving for China, a veterinary certificate ofhealth issued by the veterinary ASL, along with the rabies vaccination certificate,issued in the country of origin for at least one month but not later than 12 months prior to arrival. The Chinese authorities have drawn up a 30-day quarantine upon arrival in China, for each of these animals, and housing costs and maintenance at the municipal dog pound shall be borne by the owner. It also emphasizes that in hotels in China arenot allowed animals.