I use AceVPN $5/mo reliable with no problems. I've used ExpatVPN also with no problems.

XinHua bookstores are everywhere, but languages are somewhat limited in most. There's a few second hand bookstores and they post their new selections here often.Kunming has a public library over by Xiao Xi Men that has a selection of books in various languages. Take your passport and be prepared to leave a deposit(refundable) and they'll give you a card.

Mike posted that he would be in Canada the months of November and December.

The gym is located on the sixth floor of the Gingko building and accessed by the aforementioned tunnel and elevator. Phone number is 3140999.

No, I don't. It's in the tunnel that parallels Baita Lu. I've just seen the sign and from what I understand it's where a lot of the trainers from Surmount migrated to.
BTW, watch out for the gang of big beefy guys (10-12) who hang out in Surmount in the early afternoon. They're pretty obvious by their size and the extraordinary amount of grunting and moaning that they do. They sound like they're getting a big stiffy up the back door. They're narco cops from the big police building on Beijing Lu and they don't take kindly to being told to put their cigarettes out. That's why the staff and management are afraid to confront them about it. The guy I accosted (didn't know he was a cop at the time)did put out his cigarette but now I'm getting the evil eye from the rest of the gang.