Our xaioqu has the same source of hot water (thermal spring water), and 20 days ago it dried up. Don't know if it is drought related or if something is broken. Anyways, since we DID have an unlimited supply of hot water we had no need for a hot water heater. We are considering buying one of the little electric hot water heaters that mounts to the wall and instantly heats the water as water passes through it.

Does anyone have one of these types of heaters, and are they safe? One Chinese friend told me they might be unsafe. She said they could shock you. What do you guys think?

Listen to the local friend - go with the wall mounted gas heater instead. 220-250 volts is a serious jolt.

Laotou is right. My apartment has an electric water heater and aside from the risks it wasn't very productive in winter. My landlord, who was living in Germany, agreed and suggested I buy and have installed a gas heater and he would repay me.

I did buy an 80L heater (OK for one person) for about 1300RMB installed.

Hot water is glorious!

Our problem is that we don't have a gas line in our apartment. So, we have two choices. We can buy a hot water heater that heats water and puts it in a tank to use later, or we can buy the small electric heater that instantly heats the water as it passes through coils. I am leaning towards the latter because this is a temporary situation I hope. Surely soon our hot spring water will return. Does anyone else think the small instant heaters without a tank are unsafe?

If your landlord will foot the bill why not go for a solar heater that has a electric heater as backup?

I bought a A.O Smith Electric heater with tank, it works well, but considering the sun that Kunming gets it seems a pity to waste it.

Actually, a lot of the gas heaters plug into the wall anyway to run their temperature regulators.
The electric run-through ones are fine (and quite efficient) as long as you don't just head for the bargain bin. Buy a well-known brand from a large appliance store (gome, suning, etc). They have very sensitive trip systems on the plug to prevent shock. Also make sure you have a COVERED electrical outlet to plug it into. Mine has a built in fuse panel specifically for the outlet to further reduce the chance of electric shock.
Having said that, if you're close to the top floor, by all means spring for a solar water tank.