There are certain countries which in order to be granted a visa you must submit your intended itinerary. My friend tells me that he thinks China is one of those countries.
What do independent travellers do? We're thinking of hitch-hiking across China without a precise plan. But if we have to submit an itinerary for the visa does then lock us in to a planned route after all?
Is it just bureaucracy where they make it look complicated but in practice it turns out to be easy?
(If it makes a difference we will have Australia or UK passports.)