If your friend didn't register the marriage in his home country, then it's probably not valid outside China. If too lazy or cowardly to seek divorce, then the leaving China is the easiest way out.

I was able to book a room in the Jinjiang hotel. It's owned by the HomeInn (RuJia) company, which is right across the damn street. It's also considerably more expensive. Bastards.

I'll give jinjiang a try.

Hanting and HomeInn (RuJia) are very large hotel chains in China. I am pretty certain in the past they have been able to accept foreign guests, because they normally take my passport and register it in their system each time I stay.

I pass through Kunming at least twice a year. I normally stay at either the Hanting or the HomeInn hotel during this time. They are both popular Chinese hotel chains.

However, this time is different. Now both claim they are unable to accept foreign guests. Is there some kind of crackdown going on at the moment?

You've lived in China for 6+ years and you're still disgusted by this kind of stuff?