I am posting this for a friend who was a victim of theft Saturday. She is along time resident off Kunming.

"Yes, for the first time, I was a victim of someone who slit my purse to get my wallet or phone.

The good news is that I lost neither my phone, wallet w 200 RMB & credit card, or my passport with airline ticket....but they did get my fake Gucci name card holder with business cards that identify who I am, where I live, phone, etc....so needless to say with a pending trip out of town for the next 3-4 weeks, that leaves me uneasy....

Moreover—what is annoying is that feeling that I should have been more aware of the scam....

Actually, I am writing to ask if you might post this on Go Kunming or other bulletin anonymously—to let people be on the watch for a similar game....

The young woman, slightly plump, in a nice off-white winter coat, with a black belt around the middle, started up a conversation at the bus stop with seemingly innocuous questions in English, like "where are you from?"....OK, so I thought, here is another young Chinese girl trying to practice her English....

Followed onto the bus, and not noticing that she might be "working" with others, she makes her way to my side, with my purse between us. While I thought I had my purse clutched tightly to me, I neglected to make sure my upper arm covered the whole of the back side of the purse....as she proceeded to further engage me in conversation asking me if I was a "Catholic"—in a peculiar accent—and what surprised me, but, again, I didn't fathom that this was a set up at the time, was how persistent she was to continue asking me if I was a "Catholic"—it seemed especially strange since most people who ask will ask if a foreigner is a "Christian"—this was the first time, someone asked pointedly if I was a "Catholic." To summarize, the conversation was not brief—looking back, there was a deliberate attempt at extending the conversation and distracting me from noticing anything going on to my back...where her partner slit my purse and reached inside to take what they found on the bottom of it. She was vague about where she worked and what she did when asked, other than to say she worked 10 hours a day, she was not paid overtime, and that she was doing this job for a year, and didn't like it very much but could not explain why, when asked.....yes, all this seems normal. but, it wasn't normal.

Bus 161—and the station, was a crowded one. My guess is that she is working this line at this time. No, I do not think she was a random young girl trying to practice her English—in retrospect, I think this was her job to target an obvious foreigner and use this "Are you a Catholic" as an attempt to engage in conversation long enough for her partner to do his "job."

One one hand, I really do feel lucky that I didn't' lose more—especially as it would have been more than a slight disaster had they taken my passport and wallet this time....given that my visa expires tomorrow, while holding a non-refundable mileage air ticket.....

But, I feel irked at being singled out for this ploy."

In the last six months a lot of "new" documentation has been required for foreign documents by local city and provincial authorities. Most of it is notarization of the notarization of the notarization by various levels of your home countries governments. My recent example is my original city business license in America now must be first notarized by a state licensed notary in that county. Then you go to the county so they can certify it. Then you take it to the State/Province so can certify it. All that done you go to the proper Chinese consulate in your home country and they stamp it if they do not find something incorrect. Then you go back later to pick it up. The fees are not much, the trouble and time to do this can be one or more months. If you protest to our local authorities they will simply say it is required by Beijing. Often they will show/tell you what you need if you ask. Note too that this is government worldwide.
Hope this gives you a general Idea of where to look for the problems.

CelineW,
There is a wealth of information on this site if you check the past forums and topics. You will see many opinions of which the value to you depends your circumstances and budget. Suggest you log in on upper right corner of the home page and check your inbox from the dashboard for private messages. We have worked with Singapore relocation firms in the past. It is important to note that compared to the east coast of China there few western foreigners in Kunming and many of those who are here are students of Chinese and English teachers. A lot of children are home schooled. There are plenty of Carrefours, Walmarts and Parksons markets also for western foods. The Chinese vegetable and fruit markets are OK if you shop carefully.

My understanding is that work permits are handled by Yunnan Province not Kunming City. A work permit gets you to the next step a residency permit at the public safety bureau which also acts as a visa. The rules regulations and interpretations of same change on a regular basis. Foreign Registered offices are now required to present a home country Chinese consulate certification for both your business and foreign business bank. My bank letter notarization of the notarization, notarization's certified just cost me about $1000 to get done.

Just to let you all know American avocados are not allowed to be imported by the Chinese government. It maybe phytosanitary reasons. Many other countries may not officially be allowed to export to China. In general the Chinese have not experienced this great fruit so no demand. Many of my Chinese friends here once introduced and told why they are good for you enjoy Avocados.