The trouble is ,Foxy, is that the poster who started this thread, just dropped a couple of turds, by way of two or three-liner posts, and has said nothing since; so I rather think we are advising nobody, as said poster appears to be a long time gorn; he certainly doesn't seem to have the manners to keep us informed, having starting up a hornets-nest of disagreements. However, as usual your advice is solid; sadly you are not even throwing pearls to swine, because said-said poster is not even listening...if ever he existed.

As it happens, I'm banned from posting on that board.
But I do know that the internet web pages of the Chinese embassies/visa offices state online that they reserve the right to change their rules without amending their web pages. If you try to contact them by phone to get the latest information, they will likely be unhelpful in this respect. Once, a few years ago, I tried to contact China's Ulanbator visa office to find out their opening hours so that I could plan my visa run to minimise my time in Mongolia. But to no avail. In fact, they were rude! At that time, their opening hours were only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. At one time, you couldn't buy an international train ticket out of UB to Erlianhot in UB unless you first had a Chinese entry visa in your passport. But that has been changed.

Re bad manners, you're right! I've seen the same kind of thing happening on this board. Obviously, it depends on the poster. But in this case I do think the original poster had a good point, and I do know that Americans can't choose the particular Chinese visa office in the USA to visit. That depends on where they live.