China Visa

Since the first stage of our trip is the Trans Manchurian train that will take us from Moscow to Beijing, we figured getting Visas for China and Russia was something we ought to do well in advance.

We started with the Chinese one, since we got a lot of contradictory information about how to get it, and we where told it's not too easy, so we figured we might need a lot of time to get it.


However, getting it was as easy and simple as could be.
This is what we did:

1. Go HERE and click on the first document (the one highest on the list) and complete the form, either on the computer or by hand using CAPITAL LETTERS! (If filling by hand, then click on the second form, not the interactive one)
2. Go to the police station (or Pasila or Helsinki train station for example) and have a new passport picture taken. Costs 7 euros in most pictures booths, and you get 4 pictures. Save the rest for the other visas! Oh, and the machine usually only takes cards (any card) or bills.
3. Take the completed form, your passport (with at least 6 months validity) and one new passport picture,and head for the embassy, which is located HERE.  Notice that it closes already 11.30, and you're headed for the "Consulate Office"(there's a sign), so no need to go knocking on the main gate of the embassy. Don't worry about the early closing time, there was never much of a line when we where there.
4. The Chinese Embassy page says that you need to bring plane tickets or a travel itinerary with you to get a visa. We first had a woman at the desk telling us that we need to bring plane tickets or TRAIN TICKETS (good to know that train tickets are OK!) to get a visa. Luckily the actual visa guy then came back from his break, and he didn't need/want/care for any tickets. We had, however, written a fake travel itinerary on computer, in case that would be needed. They took it, but didn't mention it, so we don't know if it made any difference. I'll add our travel Itinerary at the end of this post.* So I'm afraid the rules get a bit a fuzzy here.... might be a good idea to quickly write a travel itinerary, fake or not, and then hope to get a visa, as we successfully did. I'd say this is at least worth a try. But if you wanna be sure to get a visa, then buy train tickets in advance, and hand them in when applying for your visa. (If you don't want to do this, but don't want to risk not getting a visa, you can always buy full flex plane tickets, that you can return and get all your money back, after getting the visa. We did not have to take such drastic action though)
5. Go back to the Embassy a week later (or a little less, they give you a paper that says when), remember to bring the little colourful paper(receipt?), which they gave you last time, along, and be prepared to pay 60 euros (they take cards, Visa Electron at least) and then get your passport with a brand new visa for China in it - score!

Yes, I know. This is "China Visa Instructions for Dummies". It's not that I'm underestimating your smarts, but this is what I would have needed before getting the visa. So, I hope this helps someone at least!
 

*This is what we wrote:
(chose a couple cities that might be along the way, and Googled a hostel and some famous sights)

Travel itinerary

China 10.10.14-10.11.15

Sophia ****, Hanna *****, Ruut *****

10.14

Beijing,

Templeside Lianlian Hutong Guest House

Forbidden city, Maosoleum, The Great Wall of China (Jinshanling), The Olympic City

10.25

Xi’an

Han Tang Inn Youth Hostel

The Terracotta Army

11.2

Nanjing,

Sunflower International Youth Hostel

Confucian Temple, Drum Tower, Nanjing Massacre Memorial

11.6

Shanghai,

Beehome International Youth Hostel

Yuyuan Gardens, Shanghai Museum, The Bund

11.12

Nanning,

Nan Ning City Hostel

Guangxi Museum, White Dragon Park

//H