Since the 1st of June China announced new visa regulations for foreigners .How could this help the local foreigners in Kunming?

Could you at least post a link to those regulations?

www.china.org.cn/video/2010-06/04/content_20187595.htm

I am an Australian coming to Kunming soon from Thailand on a Tourist Visa with a view to teaching English.If I don't get work in the first 30 days is it possible to get an extension without any major hassles?Any assistance will be much appreciated.

Best I can tell these changes apply only to ethnic Chinese. Only one item did not mention "Chinese" but it referred to living with "immediate family" which may include a Chinese spouse.

Onlyone: I would say, not much. I seems like it is geared towards "humanitarian" reasons, that is, it is an effort to unite families. All the preconditions seems to be if you have a relative in china that you need to take care and if there are no other relatives that can take care of them. The other is targeted at children of Chinese nationals who are born abroad, allowing them to stay in China for two years at a time be be reunited with their Chinese family. For the causal foreigner, you're out of luck.

Nicko: Extensions are routine last time I've heard. You can extend twice I believe, so you can get to stay for 90 days with one tourist visa. Once your time is up, you need to go for a visa run. Most popular destination is HK and Thailand. I've heard Vietnam is possible, but might come with some risks.

Thanks Tonyaod.I was not so lazy as to not have read this somewhere myself but was interested in some info from someone on the ground so to speak.So thanks again.

Is a visa run to Laos doable? I'm gonna need to do one and also need to go to Vientiane as well