Leaving China to renew L visa?

The key questions are whether you have an "entry" left on your visa and when your visa and passport expire.

* If you have at least one "entry" left on your visa AND your visa is valid for period longer than the maximum stay allowed under the visa AND your passport has at least 6 months until its expiration date THEN you can cross the Hong Kong border and cross right back into China.

* If you have no "entries" left on your visa OR there is a conflict between the maximum stay and visa validity THEN you must apply for a new visa at the China government office in Wan Chai. Normal processing is 3 to 4 days, but rush service is available for an additional fee.

* If your passport expires in less than 6 months THEN you must apply for a new passport from your home country and then get a new visa from the Chinese government office.

Go to the Immigration Office at your city of residence and change your visa to F or Z type. You will need an invitation by some Chinese government office, and you may have to pay a small fee.

did you try just walking in and expecting it to be stamped. it might be written down somewhere you're supposed to leave but nothing in china is absolute unless the person in charge says it is. if you're near hong kong they may enforce it as a tourism thing. if you're working with the poor kids in the middle of nowhere they might let it slide or if your boss is a pushy business woman who yells at her cousin the police chief. "why you do these things. he need to work and make me money not go to hong kong."