Would you like to hear about how they crack down on illegal immigration in Guangzhou?  These stories comes from my Italian bud and music partner who performs in Guangzhou each weekend.  Apparently, they are much more strict in Guangzhou about immigration than Shenzhen because of the upcoming Asia games, which Guangzhou is hosting.  So, when visiting Guangzhou, you should have your passport on you at all times.  Some true stories:

• A foreigner comes out of a Starbucks.  Cops are outside and ask him to produce his passport.  He’s simply left it at home.  But instead of accompanying him home to get it, he’s hauled to the police station and has to have someone go fetch it for him.
• Two nights in a row at a dance club:  Thirty police come in, turn on all the lights, and separate the male and female foreigners and require everyone to produce passports.  Fortunately, most of these are Guangzhou locals and know the routine.  However, two new arrivals are unaware of this requirement and get hauled off to the police station.  Nice welcome for them.

They’re also super strict about having your passport when checking into a hotel.  No passport and you’re not sleeping.  It wasn’t nearly this strict when I first came here.  Even if you stayed the week or day before and are checking in again, you’re not getting a room without your passport and legal visa.