I lived in Hong Kong 2010 to 2013, but actually ended up living in Shenzhen for most of 2011. 18 pages of my passport are taken up with visas and stamps from the mainland (plus several more from HK and Taiwan)
As a Hong Kong resident I had a 6 month visa and then a 1 year China visa. Notably, though, both times it was a 30 day maximum stay, and as a UK citizen they still always just give me 30 days per entry.
I know all about the sneaky 1 year business visa I could get. (there's some guy who sits in a hotel in TST and sorts it out for you)
But I still frequently hear stories of people who've been living there for a year or so, but when it comes to renewing they turn up in HK, apply for a new visa, and end up being granted just 15 days.
Usually they fix this, and pay someone a few thousand dollars, and they get another one year visa. But this is a hassle.
The internet thing is easily overcome with a vpn, but it's just annoying, especially as latency to western services is already pretty high.
So my choice, is "go live in Taiwan", China without some of the hassle.
Notably when I say "I love China", I frequently mean "I love Greater China".
As a Hong Kong resident I had a 6 month visa and then a 1 year China visa. Notably, though, both times it was a 30 day maximum stay, and as a UK citizen they still always just give me 30 days per entry.
I know all about the sneaky 1 year business visa I could get. (there's some guy who sits in a hotel in TST and sorts it out for you)
But I still frequently hear stories of people who've been living there for a year or so, but when it comes to renewing they turn up in HK, apply for a new visa, and end up being granted just 15 days.
Usually they fix this, and pay someone a few thousand dollars, and they get another one year visa. But this is a hassle.
The internet thing is easily overcome with a vpn, but it's just annoying, especially as latency to western services is already pretty high.
So my choice, is "go live in Taiwan", China without some of the hassle.
Notably when I say "I love China", I frequently mean "I love Greater China".