For example:If your just got a new Canadian passport (say, the previous Canadian passport expired) but have never applied for Chinese Visa before -- you'll be asked to show your old Chinese passport . - My very experience: I applied for Chinese Visa twice before the most recent one with a brand new Canadian passport( The previous one with the two Visa pages on it was stolen). I had to show them my old Chinese passport. I was they will not check their system to see if you have applied the visa before. It is your obligation to show them either your old Chinese passport or a previous Chinese Visa.