For people who would normally require to obtain a visa in advance there are certain emergency situations which will permit them to get a visa on arrival. These will always require an invitation from an accredited Chinese organization which explains the emergency, (mostly related to business purposes which from the Chinese perspective it is important that you are admitted without delay) or you must yourself be in a real emergency situation such as a passenger in a plane or ship in mechanical difficulty.

Aliens who hold ordinary passports issued by countries which have diplomatic relations or official trade links with China as well as letter(s) or telegram(s) from authorized units in China, may, under any of the following circumstances where they must necessarily rush to China but have no time to apply for a visa, may apply to the visa-granting departments at entry ports as authorized by the Ministry of Public Security.