China Tour from Canada

Thanks to the increasing conveniences in both visa policy and flight between these two countries, China has become one of the most popular destinations for Canadian travelers. About 377,400 Canadian tourists visited China in 2013. Famous tourism destinations such as Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Guilin, Xi’an, Kunming, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, and Macau remain appealing to Canadian visitors while emerging destinations are also getting more and more attentions.

For travelers visiting China for the first time, there are always many questions that come to mind in terms of visa application, visa-free policies, Chinese food, flight, and itinerary. This page provides answers to these questions and helps you to plan your China tour easier.

Visa for Canada Travelers

A visa is required for people traveling with a Canadian passport in order to enter China. However, there are a few exceptions. Please refer to the Visa-free entry section below for more information. To apply for visa, applicant’s passport should have at least another 6 months’ validity and at least one blank visa page upon the day you submit your application.

Visa Application Fees

Fee for single entry: CAD 50

Fee for double entry: CAD 75

Fee for 6-month multiple entries: CAD 100

Fee for 12-month multiple entries: CAD 150

Group visa: CAD 40 per visa

Regular: 4 working days

Express: third working day collection (charged an extra of CAD 35 per visa)

Rush: second working day collection (charged an extra of CAD 50 per visa)

Chinese Visa Application Service Center

Vancouver Office

Address: 250-999 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1K5

Business Hours: Monday-Friday

Application Submission: 9AM- 3PM

Payment and Passport Collection: 9AM- 4PM

The Center is closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

NOTICE: Rush visa application should be submitted in the morning by 12:00pm.

Phone: 604-336-8866

Fax: 604-738-1100

E-mail: vancouvercenter@visaforchina.org

Website: www.visaforchina.org

Mailing Address: CITS V Service (Canada) ltd., 984 West Broadway, PO Box 53502, Vancouver BC, V5Z 1K0

Toronto Office

Office Address: Suite 1501, 393 University Avenue, Toronto, CANADA M5G 1E6

Contact information

Phone: 416-345-8472

Fax: 416-345-8473

E-mail: torontocenter@visaforchina.org

Calgary Office

Address: suite200, 855, 8th Avenue, SW, Calgary

Postcode: T2P 3P1

Business hours:

Business Hours: Monday-Friday，Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays.

Submission of applications: 9:00 to 15:00.

Payment and collection: 9:00 to 16:00.

NOTICE: this visa counter will accept rush service (2nd working day collection) application until 11:30am.

Contact information

Tel: 403-930-2288

Fax: 403-699-9776

E-mail: calgarycenter@visaforchina.org

The Visa Centre's mailing address (for postal service): PO BOX 21019 DOMINION 665 8th street, SW, Calgary, AB, T2P 4H5, CANADA.

Montreal Office

Chinese Visa Application Service Centre in Montreal, Canada

Location:

2000, Mansfield Street, suite 700, Montreal, H3A 2Z6, Quebec, Canada

Contact information:

Phone: 001-514-680-8472

Fax: 001-514-680-8473

E-mail: montrealcenter@visaforchina.org

Ottawa Office

Office address:

Suite 1450, 220 Laurier Avenue W, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Business hours:

Monday-Friday (except Chinese and Canadian public holidays)

Application Submission: 9:00AM to 3:00PM

Payment and Passport Collection: 9:00AM-4:00PM

The Center is closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

Contact information:

Phone: 613-5638 472

Fax: 613-5638 473

E-mail: ottawacenter@visaforchina.org

Visa Exemptions to China for United Kingdom Travelers

Destinations	Duration	Visa Type	Terms
Hong Kong	90 Days	Visa Exemption	Canadian citizens are exempt from Hong Kong Visa if they are visiting for sightseeing and do not exceed 180 days stay.
Macau	30 Days	Visa Exemption	Canadian citizens are exempt from Macau Visa if they do not exceed 180 days stay.
Pearl River Delta (Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Zhaoqing, and Huizhou)	6 Days	144-hour Convenient Visa	1. You are already in Hong Kong or Macau. 2. You joined a tourist group organized by a travel agency registered in Hong or Macau. 3. Your visit is restricted in the Pearl River Delta Region.	> Read More
Hainan Province	15 Days	Tourist Exemption Visa	You joined a tourist group of five or more people organized by a travel agency with the approval of China National Tourism Administration to visit Hainan Province.	> Read More
Beijing	72 Hours	Transit Visa	With confirmed onward tickets, transit via Beijing International Airport and stay in Beijing.	> Read More
Shanghai	72 Hours	Transit Visa	With confirmed onward tickets, transit via Pudong Airport or Hongqiao Airport in Shanghai.	> Read More
Guangzhou	72 Hours	Transit Visa	With confirmed onward tickets, transit via Guangzhou Baiyun Airport and stay in Guangdong province.	> Read More
Chengdu	72 Hours	Transit Visa	With confirmed onward tickets, transit via Chengdu Shuangliu Airport and stay in Chengdu.	> Read More

Airlines Flights to China

China has international airports in major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu. There are regular flights between Canada and China.

Airlines to China: direct and indirect flights between Beijing and major cities in Canada

United Airlines

Air Canada

Air China

China Eastern Airlines

China Southern Airlines

KLM

Flight schedules between Canada and China

China Airport	Airline	Flight
Beijing Capital International Airport	Air Canada	Vancouver (YVR) 12:10p ― Beijing (PEK) 2:10p 11h 00m nonstop
Beijing Capital International Airport	Air China	Vancouver (YVR) 1:50p ― Beijing (PEK) 4:15p 11h 25m nonstop
Shanghai Pudong International Airport	Air Canada	Vancouver (YVR) 11:15a ― Shanghai (PVG) 2:25p 7:15p 12h 10m nonstop
Shanghai Pudong International Airport	China Eastern Air	Vancouver (YVR) 1:20p ― Shanghai (PVG) 4:35p 12h 15m nonstop
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport	China Southern	Vancouver (YVR) 1:05p ― Guangzhou (CAN) 5:20p 13h 15m nonstop
Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport	Air Canada	Vancouver (YVR) 12:10p ― Chengdu (CTU) 9:05p 17h 55m 1 stop (PEK)

Food in China

Dining in Beijing

Dining in Beijing you will be spoilt for choice with unlimited options. Whether you want to try out the local delicacies or dine at the finest restaurants you will not be disappointed with what Beijing has to offer.

>> Read More

Dining in Shanghai
Shanghai enjoys a good reputation in Chinese gourmet circles, and numerous restaurants have sprung up here specializing in almost all of China’s regional cuisines, like Beijing cuisine, Sichuan cuisine, Cantonese cuisine, Suzhou Cuisine as well as Shanghai local dishes. >> Read More

Dining in Chengdu

Most of Chengdu's local food specialties started out as snacks or Xiaochi (small eats). They originated in little stands or stalls located on sides of the road. Being located in Sichuan Province, Chengdu's local specialties are famous for their delicious spiciness. Sichuan Province is one of the four famous local cuisines in China.

>> Read More

Dining in Guangzhou

Guangzhou is universally known for its excellent food. Cantonese cuisine is one of the Famous Eight in China with different flavors and styles, by using diverse and delicate materials, exotic spices and various cooking skills. Cantonese cuisine, as epitome of Chinese food culture, is a mixture of tradition and modern, east and west.

>> Read More

Canada Embassy and Consulates in China

Canadian Consulate - Chongqing
Metropolitan Tower, Suite 1705
Wu Yi Lu, Yu Zhong District
Chongqing 400010
People's Republic of China
Tel: 86 (23) 6373-8007
Fax: 86 (23) 6373-8026

Canadian Consulate General - Guangzhou
China Hotel Office Tower, Suite 801
Liu Hua Lu
Guangzhou 510015
People's Republic of China
Tel: 86 (20) 8666-0569
Fax: 86 (20) 8667-2401

Canadian Consulate General - Hong Kong
11-14th Floors
One Exchange Square Central
Hong Kong SAR
People's Republic of China
Tel: (852) 3719 4700
Fax: (852) 2810 6736

Canadian Consulate General - Shanghai
American International Center
West Tower, Suite 604
1376 Nanjing Road (West)
Shanghai 200040
People's Republic of China
Tel: 86 (21) 6279-8400
Fax: 86 (21) 6279-8401

Time Difference

Beijing (GMT +08:00) is 12 hours ahead of Ottawa in Standard time and 11 hours in daylight-saving time. China does not adapt the daylight-saving time.

Beijing Time Now (GMT+8)

Canada Time Now (GMT -5)

Currency

The official currency of China is the Chinese Yuan (￥) otherwise known as Renminbi (RMB). For the latest exchange rate from Canadian Dollar to Chinese Yuan use our currency convertor below:

Exchange Rate: 5.36

= Exchange