I actually tried finding something about this, but I seriously couldn't, so I'm asking my favorite forum <3

So here's the thing: I'm supposed to do a semester in Qingdao as an exchange student, so the logic conclusion is that I need an F visa.

Now my first question is, do I need to do the whole medical check up thing again for such a short stay? Is it obligatory, or should I do it "just in case" as my teacher said? (When I did it in Beijing about 4 years ago for my studies at the BLCU, it was all done in a single building, and quickly. Here, I'd have to go to multiple buildings across town, and, well, I'm lazy)

My second and biggest problem is that, since my family still resides in China, I was planning to spend the summer with them. So that means that I would need to get an L visa, but they only allow for 30 days stay, and I want to stay 2 months, so if I take a multiple entries visa, then go to HK for a day at the end of the 1st month, then come back, does it count as a new stay? Or can they make exceptions and allow longer stays?

That was the easy part. Now that means I'll need to switch visas while I'll be there (go from L to F), so how does it work? Can I do it without leaving China?

EDIT: Extra question: Will I be able to get an X visa instead? I mean, the duration of my semester is 5 months, but since I'm probably going to stay for 6-7 months... Does it work that way? (it sounds too easy)

(I know the easiest solution would be to wait until August to get there with the F visa, but I really do NOT want to stay alone in this boring city for 2/3 of my summer holidays)