[nxtrafalgar]

>You still get a visa to enter Taiwan. It's just a "visa on arrival" as opposed to needing to obtain a visa prior to travel.

Sure -- 'doesn't require me to get a visa' as in I don't have to make a trip to an embassy or pay a fee.

I'm sure I'll visit China eventually, but for the sort of low-budget travelling I'm doing, an entry visa represents a not-insignificant amount of the total cost. It also makes things less flexible: as I understand, authorities must be notified of exact travel plans before you depart.

[bogomipz]

>" It also makes things less flexible: as I understand, authorities must be notified of exact travel plans before you depart."

This isn't true. You are free to travel wherever and whenever you want in China provided you have a visa. Tibet might require a special approval but nowhere else. The visa is also good for 10 years. Also if you are a Westerner, hotels and taxis are a really good value in China. Lastly there are much better flight options into Beijing than there are into Taipei and so would more than offset the cost of the visa.

[linkregister]

It appears to be worth it to pay the entry visa to (PRC) China; Taipei is certainly an amazing city, but the mainland has much more history and tourist opportunities. I hope to visit it one day.