As of six weeks ago Kunming was still not issuing new ebike registrations. I'm not sure when they stopped, maybe March/April of this year.
You could by a new ebike but it won't be legal to drive, and you'll lose it if stopped. Look for a used one that is already registered/has all the paperwork and save yourself a lot of trouble.
I was at a few dealerships two weeks ago and was told the registration office is not currently registering any scooters. They'll will still sell you one but you'll be driving a unregistered scooter. Buy a used, already registered one. Just make sure the owner has all the paperwork (Bill of sale, plate, and registration matching the plate). There are counterfeit plates/registrations so take a knowledgeable friend with you when you're looking to purchase.
If you don't need a visa then you can find a tutor to come to your home and that would be cheaper. The classifieds on this site are a good start.
The only experience I have with schools in Kunming is TenWest. The owner, Albert, is honest and very involved. All the schools hire from the same pool of instructors so you will have to find a tutor you like. I have found the teachers at tenwest to be very good. My wife and I have been attending classes there since September of last year.
We've had several non-language related issues in China that Albert has helped us with. His staff and service go way beyond what I expect of a language school. I attended another good school near Beijing, and TenWest is better by far.
We wished we lived closer to The Lost Garden. Sandra did a five star job on the Sunday Brunch! The service was good and the rooftop looks great. We'll have to make an excuse to go there again next Sunday.
We've eaten here many times and have always enjoyed the food as well as the clean restaurant. This is one of my wife's favorite places in Kunming. I didn't even know it was Malaysian/Singaporean cuisine (until the first review), but it tastes great.
Pizza was and service was good. Beer seems reasonably priced. We want to try some of the bread on our next visit, as they were sold out. This place is very small, so if you want "cozy" this place is for you.
Nice place to hang out and people watch. The food was good as were the drink specials. We were there during happy hour and had the Mexican beef pizza. The wait staff were attentive.
I am a current student at TenWest. I have been studying there for two months and feel I can recommend it as a very good language school. Albert, the owner, is amazing. He is willing to help me in any aspect of living here in Kunming. My teacher is one of the best foreign language teachers I have had. I have studied at a similar school here in China and TenWest is far superior. I have also studied French and Spanish formally so I tend to be a little picky with language instruction. I have met several of the other teachers and they are also friendly and helpful. If you're looking for a good school for one-on-one instruction, TenWest is for you.
Dave
