Teacher 8, is there a new regulation regarding a US citizen visi

I am a US Citizen, and plan to go back China for three weeks next month.  Every year I just go to the Chinese Consulate to apply a visa two weeks before I leave. What I need to do is to fill a very simple form.  However, yesterday my brother called me from China and told me that one of his friend who is also a US citizen was required to provide a invitation from China's relatives to apply the Visa.  Do you know if there is any new regulation released recently? 

Thank you very much in advance!