You cannot fly in China without a passport. Period. Also when you submit your passport for renewal the embassy/consulate will return your old passport to you. Mine is due in a year or so and I checked with the consulate on this. You can write them for more info. If you go to Chengdu you will make an appt. and they will return your passport and you will be able to check into hotel rooms and travel. When you return to get your new passport you will be given both the new and old ones and new new visa will be attached to the new passport when that time comes.

A few years ago you could travel about China without a passport -but not if you were flying- but those days seem over. To check into rooms and sometimes to get train tickets now you need ID. Also I seem to get checked more now when traveling in certain places by the authorities than I used to. Not an all the time deal, but it has happened. Last time was some road check point up in Diqing.

Here are some FAQs from the Passport page of the consulate in Chengdu:

>> How long will I need to wait for my new passport to arrive?
Processing time for passport applications accepted and approved through U.S. Consulate Chengdu is approximately two weeks. Applicants will have their current passports returned to them at the time of application and can retain them for use during this processing period.

>> My Chinese visa is in my old passport, will you return my old passport to me?

The Consulate understands the importance of your Chinese visa and will not cancel it. Until your current Chinese visa expires, you will need to travel with both your new, valid U.S. passport as well as the old U.S passport containing your valid Chinese visa. Once your current Chinese visa expires, the new visa can be issued into your new U.S. passport.

You can fly in China if your passport is stolen, but you need various documents from the PSB, Emabassy, airline and airport police to facilitate this. Happened to a colleague of mine earlier this year. Lots of red tape, but not impossible.

@BillDan

I have flown in China without a passport, period.

Personally, I don't see what's wrong with flying on a photocopy of your passport and visa along with a note from the Chinese PSB as many posters here seem to have done at least in the latter case. I would say at least have a photocopy of your passport with you and you should be fine.

When it comes to travelling overland, by car or bus/train (except some HSR services where they do want to see your passport) and then staying at hotels along the way, my experience has been that most hotels don't care about your passport.

In fact, on a trip back in December to Dali none of the 6 people in my group (4 foreigners and 2 Chinese) had any documents of identity with them at all, except me. I had my Chinese driver's license, which was happily accepted even though the hotel we stayed originally asked for a passport (and ID card for the 2 Chinese people in my party). They also happily accepted for all of my friends to write down their details in lieu of a passport.

Same thing in Zhaotong. I travelled with 2 Chinese and 1 Vietnamese person. My Vietnamese friend did have his passport with him and showed it; I didn't - no problem. On other trips most hotels didn't even want to sight my passport so the police being called when you attempt to check-in without one is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard - even knowing that China is a totalitarian state but really, such an action would be considered highly offensive in my book and I pity you for having experienced that @Spartans.

In response to BillDan and others - - I have flown in China without Passport since it was in Visa office being processed. I used cc of Passport, Yellow Slip fm Visa office and other photo ID card. Airline accepted - - both China Easter and Shenzhen Air.

PS - - nice to go ahead of time in case they need to kick you up to Supervisor to get OK