Nowadays, there are the following 11 kinds of visa exemption policies in China. Enjoy any one of policies, you come to China and do not need to apply for a China Visa.
1. Visa-Free Policy for Citizens of Singapore, Brunei, Japan, Qatar and Armenia
Ordinary passport holders of Singapore, Brunei and Japan are allowed to enter China without visas for up to 15 days for tourism, visiting family or friends, or minor business purposes. According to Mutual Visa Exemption, Qatar citizens with ordinary passports can stay in China for less than 30 days without a visa. Armenian citizens can stay in China for no more than 90 days every 180 days are exempted from China visas.
For citizens of these countries, a visa is required under following circumstance:
(1) Ordinary passport holder visits for tourism, business, visiting friends and relatives but stays for more than 15 days (30 days for Qataris, 90 days for Armenians).
(2) Ordinary passport holder visits for the purposes of study, work, official visit, settling down and interview.
(3) Japanese Diplomatic and Official passport holder.
During the visa-free period, you can plan a Tibet tour.
2. Visa-Free Policy for Aliens' Residence Permit Holders
Foreigners who visit for study on X1 visa or for work on Z visa or resident foreign journalists should apply for Aliens' Residence Permit from local public security bureau within 30 days after arrival. During the validity period of the Resident Permit, the permit holder is entitled to enter into and exit from mainland China for multiple times without applying for other visa.
If you have a Resident Permit, you can visit Tibet by offering a sheet of relevant certificate.
3. Visa-Free Policy for APEC Business Travel Card Holders
The APEC Business Travel Card is regarded as a multiple entry visa valid for three years. With this card and passport, the holder is entitled to enter into China for many times within its validity. But you can only stay in China 2 months each time.
You can use passport, APEC card and a work certificate to travel to Tibet during the validity period.
4. 24-Hour Direct Transit in mainland China
For the 24-Hour visa-free transit policy, almost all nationalities can enjoy this policy when they hold tickets to transit directly through mainland China by international flight, ship or train to a third country or region, and have a confirmed seat. Travelers can stay for less than 24 hours.
Within the 24 hours transit, travelers can also apply for a Temporary Stay Permit upon arrival to leave the port for city sightseeing or leave one city to another city, such as: USA - Shanghai - Beijing - Malaysia.
5. 72-Hour Visa-Free Transit in mainland China
The 72-hour visa-free transit policy in China allows air passengers from 53 countries to transit and stay for up to 72 hours (3 days) in 19 China airports without a China visa.
19 China airports: Beijing Capital Airport, Shanghai Pudong Airport, Shanghai Hongqiao Airport, and airports of Guangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, Shenyang, Dalian, Harbin, Xi'an, Guilin, Kunming, Hangzhou, Wuhan, Tianjin, Qingdao, Nanjing, Changsha, and Xiamen.
24 Schengen Agreement Countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
15 Other European Countries: Russia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia (FYROM), Albania, Belarus, Monaco
6 American Countries: the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile
2 Oceania Countries: Australia, New Zealand
6 Asian Countries: Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar
6. 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit in mainland China
International passengers from the above 53 countries transiting in Guangdong, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Xi'an, Chongqing, Liaoning, Chengdu, Wuhan, Qingdao, Kunming, and Xiamen can enjoy a visa-free stay up to 144 hours.
7. 30-Day Visa-Free Access to Hainan Province
The following countries citizens are exempted from China visas when they travel to Hainan Province as a group or an individual organized by Travel Agency in Hainan. The stay is limited to 30 days in general, and it counts from the following day after arrival.
6 American Countries: the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile
2 Oceania Countries: Australia, New Zealand
25 Schengen Agreement Countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
15 Other European Countries: Russia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia (FYROM), Albania, Belarus, Monaco
11 Asian Countries: Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Kazakhstan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar
8. 15-Day Visa-Free Stay Policy for Cruise Tour Groups to Shanghai
International travelers who take a cruise tour to Shanghai and leave with the cruise from Shanghai or other ports of China can enjoy a 15-day visa-free stay in China, and they need be accepted by a local travel agency as a tour group. The group should contain at least two members. These passengers can travel with the ship to other coastal cities and provinces, including Beijing, Liaoning, Hebei, Tianjin, Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hainan. The stay time counts from the following day after arrival.
9. 6-Day Visa-Free Policy for Tourists to Pearl River Delta
International tourists holding passports issued by the countries with diplomatic relations with China are exempted from China visas if they join a group tour organized by registered travel agencies in Hong Kong and Macao to visit the Pearl River Delta region for tourism up to 6 days. The region includes Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Zhaoqing, and Huizhou.
10. 6-Day Visa-Free Policy for ASEAN Tour Groups to visit Guilin
Tour groups from ASEAN member countries, including Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, Myanmar, Brunei, and the Philippines, can enjoy 6 days Visa-Free Policy to visit Guilin if they join a group tour organized by registered travel agencies in Guilin. The tour groups need enter into and exit from Guilin Liangjiang Airport and all members need travel in Guilin together.
11. Visa-Free Policy for Diplomatic, Service or Official Passport Holders
Mainland China has mutual visa-free agreements with some countries, but they are mainly for diplomatic, service or official passport holders and the passport holders are allowed to stay in China less than 30 days.