Other threads have noted extra security measures round about. Got a hint of that even with the annual pass at the park.

Chinese nationals (but not foreigners) must supply two visa photos. One is mounted into a book kept by the park, the other returned to the individual.

Then you have to wait 15 days before returning for the actual pass. I assume the interim is used for some kind of ID/background check. You bring back the second photo to prove its you (plus the payment receipt and old pass if it's a renewal).

I was able to renew the pass for my Chinese wife even though she was out of town. Required: the old pass, photocopy of Chinese identity card (they need the ID number), her phone number, two visa photos, payment. Will return after 15 days with photo, old pass, and receipt of payment to get the pass card.

Interesting, the process more onerous for Chinese than laowai. The difference: Chinese need visa photos and waiting period. Foreigner, no photos, no waiting.

Today I renewed my annual pass to the Kunming Expo Garden Park (昆明世博园旅游区).

It is located in the northeast part of the city near Golden Temple Park. I like to walk there to get away from traffic and exhaust fumes, see the flowers, and also to walk between the two parks.

Entrance fee for one visit is outrageous at 100rmb, but residents and foreigners can get a deal by paying 158rmb for an entire year with unlimited visits.

Each year the park offers a low priced pass for a limited time, this year from March 8 to 12.

They told me these dates were chosen in honor of International Women's Day (三八妇女节). After March 12 the annual pass goes up to 300rmb.

To get the pass go to the ticket counter, pay the fee and take the receipt to a nearby desk, where they take your photo on the spot and print the card.

Bring passport or Chinese ID.

I paid 138rmb which is the price for a renewal.

I walk two or three times a month, and my effective price per visit around 5 rmb.

The info above is summarized on a sign at the photo/card table:
世博园付惠年卡办理时间2017年3月8日到3月12日。新办卡158元，老卡换新卡138元。本人携带身份证或老卡可直接照相取卡，他人代办需携带办证人员身份证复印件或老卡以及照片一张。

While walking in the northern part of the park I noticed new construction, irksome as it prevented me from entering the woods with some of my favorite walks.

Signage indicated construction of a water park.

Not sure if that means lagoons or water slides.

Not sure why my posts are separated into paragraphs, one sentence per.

Anyone know why?

Wife and I just bought an apartment in a still-under-construction building located in Chenggong near subway station:

6,000rmb/sq meter.

Buying to be near her future workplace and avoid brutal commute.

I worry about lots of things (earthquake sturdy? shabby construction?) but have to trust her instincts since I'm the foreigner and she's the local with past real estate dealings.

They had this lottery for choosing apartment layout and floor.

A couple hundred people in attendance had plopped down a deposit for opportunity to participate.

There was an enormous, ear-blasting sustained burst of firecrackers, names and numbers flashed on a big screen, then the DJ-like barker read out the names of those successful in the first round.

They immediately went inside to pick their apts.

Then the second round picks, etc.

This went on for a number of rounds and finally my wife's name was called.

By this time our first choice layout and floors were long gone, so we settled on our third choice.

But after awhile this didn't sit well and I finally told my wife to cancel our selection.

She went and found someone to complain about it and went into her special outraged anger mode (seldom directed at me fortunately).

It worked better than expected.

They cancelled and actually offered us our first choice layout on a good floor.

Seems that they had held back certain apartments for who knows what reason, but in the end we got what we wanted.

Just hope we don't get bumped later by someone with greater guanxi.

My wife successfully enrolled in EVUS just now.

Entering the required information took forty minutes.

I helped her understand what to enter in each field.

I was surprised they ask for parent's names (required field).

Some data must be entered in both English and Chinese.

After all the data was entered, she submitted the form and received a successful enrollment response in one minute.

Her enrollment is good now for two years.