Hi,
I read from the chinese embassy in vienna/austria following instructions to get a chinese tourist visa L, translate to english:
"documents, which includes the itinerary, including confirmed air tickets and proof of all hotelbookings during the whole journey...."

This would mean we have to prebook all accomodation, do they really insist of this? What is your expierence, as traveller, not as expat?

They can insist on it, yet it seems kind of backwards since you don't want to book flights and hotels unless they approve the visa.

In my experience, it depends on the embassy or consulate staff. They may not require hotel bookings for all of your time in China, especially if you are travelling to several different places. However, you should at least have a booking for the first couple of nights.
You can book on a website that offers free cancellations, then once you have your visa you are free to cancel the bookings and go on your merry way.

yes, I shall try it this way. Just book a few nights, and if they are asking for other bookings, I shall make a booking, which I cancel afterwards...
but this it not the way, I prefer...

By the way: they increased visa fees for Schengen countries vom 30€ to 60€, for all kinds of tourist visa, starting march/14/2016...

It's pretty common to ask for a flight ticket as part of the visa. It's stange as if there's a problem you stand to loose out.

I've been in this situation a few times and it's best worked around by making a provisional booking on the flight you want and sending that document to the embassy. Must bookings are valid for 48hrs and it will have run out by the time you get your passport back. However this is just to tick a box at the embassy, not to benifit you with a booking.

Flight booking is not the problem, already done for October/2016. Problem can be hotel prebooking... or not?

Just go on one of those websites where you can cancel the booking and book every single day you're in China at that hotel. Once you get the visa, cancel.

I really can't see it being an issue for hotel bookings, but knowing Sod's law the time you decide it isn't it will be. Just depends how big of a problem it is for you to get back and forth from the embassy. If it's a big journey best to tick every box first time.

Or hand your passport to an agent and let them deal with it.

Note that, if you can get an invite letter from someone who has legal residence in China (not necessarily a Chinese citizen), you can avoid this.

Re the increase in visa fees for Schenghen countries. A lot of countries play tit-for-tat on visa fees. A Schenghen visa costs Chinese citizens €60 so if guess China has brought the fees in-line. €60 to a European isn't as much in the scheme of things compared to €60 to Chinese people.