If you have a valid visa in previous passport...

If you have a valid China visa in your previous passport, and the personal data in your new passport are the same as in your previous one, and your purpose to visit China is the same as permitted of your visa, you may use the two passports together to enter China without 'transferring' the visa to the new passport.. Otherwise you should apply for and pay for a new visa.

Visa is required...

A visa is a travel document issued by authorized government agencies to foreign citizens applying to enter, exit from or transit through the host country's territory based on the host country's laws and regulations.

Foreign citizens must obtain a Chinese visa before entry into China, with the exception of visa-free entry based on relevant agreements with other countries or Chinese regulations. There's no visa-free agreement between China and U.S and U.S nationals are generally required to apply for a visa to visit Mainland China.

Please read below to check the validity of your visa before traveling to China. If the visa is expired or the number of entries is completely used, you must apply for a new visa.

In accordance with international law and practice, any sovereign state is entitled to decide on whether or not to allow a foreign citizen to enter or exit from its territory, and whether to issue a visa, decline a visa application or to cancel an issued visa in accordance with its national laws.

Consular officials are entitled to decide on the type, number of entries, validity and duration of each stay of a visa to be issued based on Chinese laws and regulations. Consular officials reserve the right to decline a visa application or revoke a visa.

Validity, Number of Entries and Duration of Each Stay of Visa...

Once your visa application is approved, a printed visa label will be affixed on a blank visa page of your passport. Please make sure to check the details of your visa on the spot of collecting. Otherwise, all responsibilities aroused should be taken by the visa holders.

1."Enter Before" (Validity) means the date before which it can be used to enter China. If a visa has unused entries left, the bearer can enter China before 24:00 (Beijing Time) of the expiration date.

If you have a valid China visa in your previous passport, and the personal data in your new passport are the same as in your previous one, and your purpose to visit China is the same as permitted of your visa, you may use the two passports together to enter China without 'transferring' the visa to the new passport. Otherwise you should apply for and pay for a new visa.

2. "Entries" refers to the number of entries permitted to enter Mainland China during the validity of a visa.

A visa becomes invalid if there are no entries left, or if there are entries left but the visa validity expires. If a visa becomes invalid, a new visa should be applied for your next trip. Traveling with an invalid visa to China will result in refusal of entry.

Please be noticed that if you come out from the Mainland to the Hong Kong SAR, and then back to the Mainland, you should apply for a 2-entry visa for both the first and second entry.

3. "Duration of Each Stay" refers to the maximum number of days permitted to stay in China each time, which is calculated from the next day of your entry. 

A foreign citizen who overstays the "duration of each stay" is subject to fines and other penalties for violation of the laws and regulations of China. If you will to stay in China longer than the duration of stay permitted on the visa, approval must be obtained from local immigration authorities above the county level before the duration of stay expires. Approval of an extension of stay may or may not be granted. Visas cannot be renewed by Chinese Embassies and Consulates overseas.

D, Q1, J1, S1, X1 and Z visa holders must apply for a residence permit at the immigration authorities within 30 days after your entry.

Members of foreign diplomatic or consular missions in China must apply for a residence permit at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or local foreign affairs offices within 30 days after your entry.