We were supposed to visit Entry & Exit in Baoshan on our CNY trip, but they are still closed and we are still stuck in mountains, so settled for phone call with some staff that was in office.

I'm not convinced that the person on phone had it right, but different deal from Kunming seemed to be that instead of fixed 100 000 RMB deposit, they want to see a deposit that equals the living expenses for next 10 years - how ever much or little that would be, in bank for duration of 6 months.

These required living expenses would be calculated from local average or some other offical figure - even if we would be living in Kunming.

Furthermore, because my wife's huokou is not in Baoshan city, but in one of the surrounding counties, the person couldn't say how much the living costs are there. A figure of 1300 per month was thrown out as a guess. Which would be about 160 000 RMB.

We were told that in Baoshan there has been "many" applications, but only 1 succesfull, and warned that it's really difficult to get.

I don't know, but I'm speculating that in the prefectures there may be more mixed marriages from neighbouring countries, and that may contribute to the "many" applications.

@cosimo:

Perhaps you have different idea of "countryside" than what constitutes "rural countryside" in China, in Yunnan in particular?

In Yunnan most rural schools will not be able to pay you more than the "rural experience", and even if they had the budget, you wouldn't have the possibilities locally to get more out of it than that. Other than perhaps chasing chicken and dodging goat herds on roads (or often the road), entertainment is limited.

What you probably should want, is looking for opportinities in a city in Yunnan other than Kunming or Dali. There's usually plenty of ads for such jobs on this site, though now those may be suspended also.

Also, will we see a spike in China's birth figures come November...

I trust everyone on this forum is still healthy, so that's one.

Probably many who take the measures to avoid this virus, will thanking to that avoid regular flu and other illnesses as well, so behind the corona virus figures we might see a healthier nation in the spring. Save perhaps putting on a few pounds from sitting home... and more time with loved ones.

I would say that they don't have to turn everything back to way it was before the epidemic.

For example, there have been lot of articles and commentary urging people to work remotely from their homes or where ever they are stuck, if they can.

Understandably this applies to small minority of work force, but I hope this becomes an increasing trend. Less people commuting and sitting in offices needlessly wouldn't be bad, epidemic or no epidemic.

Probably applies to some other perspectives of the mess as well.