I did PVG-PEK-ARN in June. Shanghai security took less than five minutes with no issues whatsoever and there was a golf cart waiting to take me to the lounge.

I've gotten a little annoyed at the identity requirements but since my wife is a native speaker it's not a big deal.

It's stupid to have to keep registering that we are staying at such-and-such an address. Why can't they simply keep it on file?

In the early days I could simply walk into an internet cafe and use it. The first ID requirements were meaningless (given the language barrier and I was obviously over 18 they didn't bother to ask me except once when someone else who was stopped for no ID made an issue of it {my name not being in the book}.)

Then I had to show my passport to pay, although once I had a prepaid card that was all I needed. Then it changed and even with the prepaid card that calls up my photo I still have to show my passport and at present they scan the passport every time--never mind that there is already a scan tied to the card that comes up! Once in a while I draw a clerk who doesn't know how to scan my passport.

FYI, I tried to register a few months ago (because I wanted to get a drivers license) and the PSB people almost didn't know how to process the form (because very few people bother).

First of all, the PRC is authoritarian, not totalitarian. Second, the gate frisk you experienced was not at the instance of the PRC, but of TSA, which requires all U.S. airlines (I don't not about foreign carriers) to conduct private screening at the point of origin to TSA specs. The people who inspected you were either private security or government employees who were "moon-lighting."

I agree 100%. I have often commented on the courtesy and professionalism of Chinese airport security.

People have rights in the PRC. These rights differ from those in the U.S. and are also not deemed inalienable and inherent -- in that regard the U.S. is actually rather unique in the world. Please don't equate the PRC with Stalinist Russia (or, for that matter, Maoist China), in which people really did not have any rights.

Same here.

They are indeed. I make a game of trying to get them to smile.

Neither statement is correct. Foreigners can roam freely anywhere (and I have and continue to do so), except military installations, of course. In the first 10 months of 2010, China reported 75 million foreign visitors.

It sounds like you're about 30 years behind the times.

This is absolutely ridiculous. Apparently you've never traveled in China. Airfares are inexpensive, even by Chinese standards, and you'll find a mix of leisure and business travelers, just as in the U.S. No one is "vetted" for political reliability unless they're Party members.

You're completely wrong on both counts.

We've never had to do this. How long do you stay?

If you're staying at a hotel, the hotel registers you automatically. Otherwise, you're supposed to go to the PSB in your apartment's district (may or may not be the closest) within 24 hours of arrival with your passport(s) and a copy of the lease or title. I've never heard of anyone doing this unless they had a secondary need (e.g. Z visa).

But if Mohammed Atta had been subjected to such requirements, the US govt wouldn't have lost track of him and his cell.

Read about this - fairly extraordinary - DH's coworker just return last week via PVG on a non-stop, plus sister-n-law along with 5 others also came back last week via PVG-JFK on China Eastern nonstop and didn't see or hear anything on their departuring flight. To them, it was routine & business as usual as I was outbound via PVG after seeing the Expo - after border control/immigration, then custom and finally x-ray screening with a quick hand held wand scan, no "basic" patdown & shoes on, and onward to the concourse for our gate.

On their regular MU flight - it was a full A340 load of pax last week and it would need a small army to do this sort of search & pat-down on top of the stairs and/or down by the gangway leading to the a/c.

My nephew working out of JFK's T1 for LH but also handling Air China flights @ground check-ins hasn't heard anything either as I'm sure some of his VIP/regular FT's on these routes would probably have a fit & raise hell about getting it on both ends (they aren't happy at all with the TSA new "routines" on our side, for sure)

I never suggested you made up anything. And I couldn't care less if you'd like to make China look bad or not on most dimensions including airport security. But I don't like to see questionable insinuations go unchallenged.

Go re-read your original post, in which you omitted details such as you were flying to the USA, also whether you were singled out for extra treatment vs everybody was getting the same, US TSA-style. Frankly, you made it sound as if your experience was SOP in Shanghai. I believe that plenty of other posters here (besides myself) have put forth their own experiences, which are completely inconsistent with yours. So, whatever provoked their interest in Shanghai was either specific to YOU, or else you were the lucky 888th passenger of the day or whatever.

China has its share of petty and silly governmental requirements coming Down From On High, such as the household address registration and re-registration mentioned above. However, the general population as well as the front-line agents that must carry out the regulations BOTH recognize the stupidity, and do just enough to play along, or devise workarounds. In the USA, the front-line agents (such as the TSA) actually believe they are doing something worthwhile.

I get the impression they didn't know very well but since the conversation was entirely in Chinese and I speak only a few words of it I'm not sure.

3-4 weeks. The thing is we stay with relatives rather than in a hotel. If you stay in a hotel they do it for you.

A few years back there were reports on here of the police actually checking up on this. We hadn't bothered until then.

Violation is theoretically punishable by a fine if you are caught without, or if you miss the deadline--I believe the fakuan (penalty) is RMB 500 per day, usually to a maximum of RMB 5000.

Regulation to register has been on the books for many many years, but was rarely enforced on foreigners unless you lived in Chinese housing in some neighborhoods. Started being enforced stringently in Beijing in late 2007 as part of run-up to Olympics, and has remained in place since. Beijing tends to be stricter than more outlying or smaller cities--checking including police door-to-door was frequent between March-August 2008 but then dropped off to nothing. As stated before, people staying in hotels or hostels don't have to bother as the establishment takes care of the police (PSB) address registration. People on Residence Permits (Z or X status) only have to register address once per year, unless Permit # changes or renewed, or address changes. People on F or L visas are supposed to re-register after EVERY re-entry into China. In Beijing time limit is 24 hours, other jurisdictions may be longer. Since being on an F multiple-entry visa, I have ALWAYS trotted over to my friendly local police station and gotten an updated registration, within 24 hours after returning. It's not a big deal, as they only need to see me, my passport, and the previous slip of paper--I'm in and out in under 5 minutes. But this little piece of paper is needed for visa extensions, getting drivers licenses, and a few other things--mostly of interest to residents not short-time visitors.

During my DL attempt, I went to the PSB near Palm Springs (Chaoyang) and I was the only foreigner one of the two ladies there had registered (ever). Fortunately her colleague had done one a few years prior. A few years ago, I registered at the PSB near Guomao and they were a bit more on the ball, but were equally apathetic about it.

Yeah, if you are living in Chaoyang Park/CBD or foreigner-heavy areas, usually the police aren't too pissy about late registrants anymore (though in 2008, I know PLENTY of people who were given small fines--usually RMB 500. But Wudaokou is a different story--they are more hard-@ss over there.

I have my own reasons for wanting to stay absolutely in compliance right down the line on things like this, and have not found it burdensome. But then, my continuous time periods inside China are likely longer than most peoples on this forum, so I've got more opportunity to get caught if I wanted to scofflaw things. YMMV.

My personal experience was 1800 RMB fine and had to read the card about the 3 to 10 days in "jail". Snafu by husbands employer that should not have happened, but all in all not that bad. Yes, it was kinda scary sitting there for the hour thinking about the jail thing. I am now anal about every thing I am supposed to do and register, the manager and I at my hotel are on a first name basis.

As far as security at the airports I find it much easier than the US or Germany. Worst was when they decided you could not take liquids of size on US bound flights and seized all water and booze purchased airside at the gate. But they smiled.

Funniest is the obsession with umbrellas. Some look them over as if they will find gold in the ribs. Others just wave them on.

And the pat-downs are professional. Worst pat-down I ever had was LHR in the 90's. It was done so fast I thought I imagined it, but the checked every inch of me. And I mean every inch. And there was NO warning. But looking at it, it was during the IRA days and I had red hair (just for a few years) and was wearing a very full and loose jacket (cause I felt fat). It was no big deal.

I'm sorry for continuing to bring this thread way off topic, but the registration thing continues to fascinate me. Basically, it's an official rule, but one that few people (both the ruled and the rulers) seem to grasp.

In my recent case, I spent 3 hours on the phone attempting to identify the appropriate PSB. I was using a Palm Springs lease, so I needed to use their PSB. Basically, every person I spoke with gave me a new phone number. And, when I finally identified the proper place, I went there and officers = deer in headlights.

I'm going to register when I go back because I really want to get a car out there, but I plan on using a CBD lease this time around.

Moondog and others, is there a China topic for us to discuss these issues?

Appreciate any help here and would like to talk to FT peeps about the area.

Got you PM thanks,

Nola

Sorry Mods for taking advantage