I just joined a health club close to Walmart on Beijing Lu and LinYu. I noticed on their monthly class schedule, that they offer bellydancing classes M-F, afternoons or evenings. Even sell the outfits. But hurry, the yearly and other membership options are expected to go up substantially in Jan or Feb.

I have bought brown skinned onions at most of the larger, open air/outside vegetable markets. There is a huge one close to intersection of Xinwen and Huan Cheng Xi Lu. Though last time I was there about 3 weeks ago, building tear down was starting not a block away.

There is also a good sized market in north on LinYu, that I frequent weekly that has the largest and best browns I have ever seen!

I am so glad to have read all these posts (not that I am glad you have had stuff stolen) but because the idea of pulling in the media is one I had not thought of. I too have a stolen property issue. My brand new (10 days) Xite e-bike was stolen out of METRO'S parking lot a few days before Moon Festival. I have been going there for over 2 years and always had the sense the security guards actually watched over the ebikes/bikes. (Now I think I would use a different word than watch over).

I made a pretty big stink and 3 other friends all showed up to push for Metro to do something. They claimed, however, they have zero responsibility as they do not have PAID parking, so you do so at your own risk. Even though they create the illusion with all those security guards and a special parking area, that it is relatively safe.

We called police and finally the acting manager came out and said she would put it to the next level up of management. I did the police report to show I was serious, and Metro called me back on Moon Festival to wish me a happy holiday and that, no, they could not reimburse me anything. But I asked her to go back and restate my request for compensation, as the response she was giving me was not a satisfactory answer. I of course have not heard back. But perhaps a media story, or threat of a media story, might get their attention.

NO Way
Your question is exactly the same one I have been asking since last Friday when I found out that China has some strange rule that prohibits going from a teaching visa to a student visa.

I have been teaching for 2 years here. Now I want to attend a language school. I talked with 3 schools and all told me the same thing.....they can only change a tourist visa to a student visa, Not an existing teaching visa to a student visa.

So went down to VISA office on Beijing Lu. Even had some big gun friends call. NOPE they said, I must leave the country, obtain a tourist visa, then come back and have THAT changed to the student visa.

My current teaching visa expires end of this month. The language school I want to attend does not start till end of August. So basically what I need is a tourist visa to tide me over for 23 days. Had the VISA office on Beijing Lu allowed me to just change to the student visa, the school would have been willing to work out a way to give me the student visa beginning August 1. But that little rule that a teaching visa cannot directly get changed into student visa has royally tripped me up.

I have not obtained visas on my own to date while in China, nor by leaving and getting a new one. So I was not sure if there would be a problem changing the teaching visa to a tourist visa....either in Hong Kong or Laos. But what I think I understand now is, the fact I am currently holding a teaching visa, will be irrelevant when I apply for the tourist visa.......where ever that is.

I just did not want to get stuck with my daughter somewhere, by not having been prepared with some insight or knowledge about how the process was going to take place. So it looks like a quick trip to Hong Kong this week is now in the cards for us. Thanks to all who responded to my post.

I have just reviewed many past forum posts about extending/changing visas, but did not see anything about changing a Z or Teaching Visa to a Student Visa. Today after several discussions with local language schools and the Visa office on Beijing Lu, I found I must leave China to obtain a Tourist (L) Visa before returning to have it changed to a Student Visa. Has anyone gone through this? Are there any hidden catches or is it straightforward? Do I just leave, say, go to HongKong, and ask for a tourist Visa to replace my Z visa?

I have some dated info....... (Your original z visa -- if that is what you came in on -- is only good for getting into China and for staying the first 30 days until the permit is issued.. Once your residence permit is issued, the original z visa has no function.

To leave china for good you must surrender the residence permit at the point of departure. To leave china temporarily you need to get a reentry visa put in your passport.)....which I am not sure if it is still valid.

My original and current visa is multi entrance so I think I can just exit with it. But I have never attempted to change the visa to a different type, so am feeling a bit shaky going off to do so. Plus I am taking my 11 year old daughter, and would like to avoid getting stuck. Any help/info would be very appreciated!