Hi there, I am new in here and as many people before me I just enrolled in one of those mandarin school for a semester, basically just to get a student visa to stay in China since I can study Chinese by my self as well, so getting to the question, to get some ideas of the opportunities that are here Kunming, excluding everybody that do teaching jobs (I am not a native English speaker) and who is just using their saving money, how do "the others" guys living in Kunming on a business/student/tourist visa make some money to pay the bills? what kind of jobs do you do? online business? trading? causal jobs?

Thanks guys, I need some ideas to have a much more relaxed life in Kunming!

Think you excluded 90% of foreigners in kunming with the 'excluding everybody that do teaching jobs' lol
Prob best to be thinking about getting the work visa though as if caught working without you'll be chucked out of the country pretty fast but like you I'm interested in the same question as be looking in couple of months time once saving get a little less lol so will keep my eyes open to any answers ;o)

Well still have a good 10% left :)

I know the risk about working on any visa but F Visa, so that's why I will be more interesting to hear something about freelancer jobs or anyway to make some pocket money once in a while, some simple ;-) let's wait some wise man...

Very interesting and genuine question since "all" people here is teaching or studying. I'm curious, too.
I'm opening my company, in another province - since Yunnan doesn't welcome working foreigners -.

The gov tendency is quite clear.

How foreigner find their life' solution..well many foreigners just disappeared in last year.

I think most of those doing their own business here have Chinese spouses.
There are also a small few who have made a little money by doing a little export from China to home country for low to medium price consumer goods, using the postal service. All of these guys are from developing countries, that still have a demand for lower price manufactured goods.

You know the risks of working illegally on a student visa, but insist on doing so. That's not helping other students who are here to genuinely study. If you are here to work, just get a work visa. Rules on different visas have already gotten troublesome in recent months and it's only going to get worst if illegals keep on doing the wrong things.

@yankeeo I know that, that's why i never said "work" but "job" but maybe is better "task" or "occupations" a freelancer things not a profession, I just looking to cover part of my expenses not for a employment, if I was willing to work I will rather use "how to find a job" instead of "how to pay the bills" in the post's title :) this is more a idea's thread and to hear somebody else stories/experiences, for example yours since seem you are living in Kunming since long time :P

So basing on what @tigertiger said the options are:
- looking forward to find a Chinese partners.
- export goods to my home country by postal service (DHL, etc)

Although I will look also on some Online Jobs related to the Chinese environments, so if you have ideas...

Not being a native English speaker will not disqualify you from teaching jobs, as long as you're white.

Well, if you marry a chinese, you get a afmily visa. With family visa, you still cannot work. So this is not the solution about working safe in china.

I'm very curious how many laowai have working visa here in yunnan. And how many of them don't teach.

I'm even not surprised that people here avoided this interesting post.

With a Chinese spouse it is easier to set up a legal business.