@Geezer... you don't know everything so maybe you shouldn't act like you do. I too have run businesses in China.

Just because YOU have never heard of something doesn't mean it doesn't exist... or are you the all-knowing?

I did this... was allowed to have a business for 4 months without anything... the local police were the ones who informed me I could do this. This was in a city other than Kunming.

You don't know everything so here's some advice. Don't come on here saying other people have no clue as if you know more. Step down a bit... you aren't the only one who has started and run successful businesses.

I would never say someone has no clue about running a business in this country because clearly rules change often and there is more than one way to do things.

@Goldie: Well good for you. In 30 years experience with businesses in China, you are a first.

No, I'm not. There are likely many aspects of a business in this ever changing country that we are in the dark about. Maybe you always do things by the book, which is probably better in most cases.

Going to agree with goldie122. I have a Canadian friend in Guangdong whose family can do business not allowed by foreigners. They know the elders that run the village. This is probably more a case of guangxi, but local enforcement, interpretation, and just plain care or disregard of national laws is still very different outside of tier1,2 cities.

guangxi runs much deeper than many expats think. There's a lot more to it than mere relationships. You will only ever truly know it when you experience it.

Anything is possible in China as much as anything is impossible

If you play on guangxi or help of corrupt officials, your business will go down when they go down.

If you play by the book (even if local officials don't), in new China you do have legal protection if you know how to use it, even when your guangxi dies.

@AlexkMg

Yea, well, here we have a greek never been around, ready to pack a truck and bring family.

While I doubt he is for real, rather just a political marionette, can we even hear him ask for immigration laws, real estate, visas, investment laws and that kind of stuff. And even once mention he would come and take a look. Based on the text, sure, it could be a teenager planning too, but he says he has family and is ready to pack them too in his feta truck. Hey, come on. (Yea, I do know stories behind many of Kunming restaurateurs, and also theres a pattern behind their stories, correlations ya know. All did at least visit China/Yunnan before getting a door with a sign outside.)

Anyway, no big deal, keep your greek and smalltalk, and while.. (edit: lets delete that).

Whatever that means.

Anyway, most foreigners I know came here to live without visiting first. It's called living life Peter... try it some time.

When I came here, I didn't know what to expect. Glad I worked out for me. Take chances or you'll never know.

Traditionally, Greeks smash plates on the floor as a display of wealth (usually at weddings).

You'd need a lot of plates

Don't know where you'd throw the glasses though, barbecue maybe?