Flying from Vancouver to Beijing in February.
We have a return flight, Feb 16-Mar 4. Is a visa still needed if I cut my actual stay in Beijing down to less than 3 days? We plan on bullet training to Shanghai then flying to Hong Kong and maybe Vietnam before return back to Beijing for our flight home
If a visa is needed, Is there any place in Vancouver you recommend to help with the Visa application?

Yes u ll need visa if you are a Cad citizen. Google the chinese embassy in vancouver

If I google, I get so many random places. How do I know which one is legit?

Try visa Hq

It is a good one. I used it once

u need a visa even if you transit thru china for more than a few hours

Going maldives . layover 19 hrs in shanghai. china of ehich wed stay in a hotel. So. I phone china eastern hotline yesterday and they said if if ur less than 24 hrs . Youre ok. More than that visa is required.

http://www.visaforchina.org/YVR_EN/. This is the official site. You can find the application form under Download section. I know you can get some Chinese travel agencies to apply for you, but they charge a fee. Not sure how much.
VISAFORCHINA.ORG
Chinese Visa Application Service Center

Thank you so much

If you are holding Canadian passport. I think China visa is exempt within 72hours for certain China city. China and Vietnam embassy is in downtown Vancouver. Hong Kong you don't need a visa.

Chinese consulate at 999 West Broadway. Have been there twice for visas. Really organized and efficient place. Depending on your passport expiry date the visa you get will be good for several years.

You can be in China for less than 72 hours only without a visa and you cannot travel outside of the city that you flew into. It is an "in transit" type visit only. For any longer stay or to travel within China, you need a regular visa.