Very nice reading. Thanks for the Muse and Myanmar updates.

Any updates on this?

* Is it possible to cross the border in either direction without a tour group?

I might want to cycle from Myanmar back to Kunming, could I cross at Muse/Ruili? And would I be able to connect from Yangon to Muse without having to fly over a restricted area?

The Chinese side seem to be a more or less normal international border crossing, it is the Myanmar side that seems to be the issue. Will the burmese officers let you exit there now - probably not.

So alternatively I could ride in from Ruili to Muse and fly back from Yangon or something? That's Kachin state on the other side, right? Can I ride on freely from Muse to Yangon?

Its a year since I crossed, (ruili to hsipaw) ...back then I still needed official burmese guide and itinerary done by burmese travel agency. Havent heard this would have changed, but there have been these rumours it would change one day.

The Chinese side is totally cool, but they ask if theres a burmese guide coming to meet. They didint let me cross the chinese side until they met the burmese guide, and additionally a chinese officer speaking burmese changed a few words with the guy. On burmese side the bureaucracy took over 1 hour, all done by the burmese guide.

Just a few months ago there were stories in burmese media that Muse will get a huge facelift and lot of investment etc. So maybe one day...

I tried to cross from Ruili to Muse, to go overland to Mandalay in February this year. But that was not possible on the Burmese side.

There is still fighting and an unstable situation many places in the Shan state, as well as in the Kachin state. (Muse is in Shan state). You can visit Muse on day passes. But most of the Shan state (which you would have to pass on your way to Yangon) is off-limits. The Chinese authorities in Ruili asked me to contact a travel agency in Kunming for "organized" tours overland from Muse to Mandalay, so maybe you could check (but DON'T oder online Burmese visa then, as it only covers flying in).

Maybe your best bet would be to fly to Mandalay, and bike down to Yangon from there? I don't think biking through the Shan state will be possible in the near future. But good luck, and keep us updated!
As for Kachin, it is not possible to enter overland, but flying in to Myitkina from Mandalay is easy and quite cheap.

I know that sounds funny but in summer 2016 I would like to drive our car from Kunming to Putao. Anybody know if that is possible and if yes, what permit, regulations are involved? Thank you

not possible

It is not posible to cross the border legally.
Putao is in a restricted area so no way. Even for flying there you will need a permit.

Thank you. I know I need some permit but I do not know where can I apply for it. Thank you.