I was wondering, purely out of curiosity, whether some language schools are open to making deals with students to provide them with a year's student visa for a discounted price (i.e. not the usual 8000rmb+visa fee) under the understanding that the student will not actually attend any classes, but will just be listed as a student for visa purposes. I was just curious about how so many people are able to stay here long term without studying, or working. Surely they don't fly to HK every month to renew a tourist visa.

The schools have to much to lose if they get caught. I think there might be a handful but that's about it.

If they get caught they could instantly lose their ability to offer visas to students. They then would not be able to earn. Why should they risk it?

I agree. It's not worth it.

i know there are a lot of people who pay for a whole year of classes but never go to class. they just do it for the visa. at my school they said you're not allowed to do that and the psb regularly go to schools to check whether people are attending classes. but i've been there over a year and never seen them do that. i also met someone who told me that he's on a student visa which he pays 5000 rmb a year for but it's not through a school, just a contact he has. i didn't really know him well enough to inquire more into that. i guess it's dodgy.

are there any other legitimate / semi-legitimate ways of getting a one-year visa without having to commit to classes or get a job, or get married?

If you work for a school as an English teacher, most will help you get a visa.

People do this, but I would not recommend it. Nor would I recommend working with a school that would openly agree to do this.

I've heard that some places allow people to attend classes only 10 hours a month or so, which is not, let's say very restrictive.