[FreedomToCreate]

Its very difficult to get any type of semi-permanent/permanent work visa for foreigners in China. A lot of foreigners who go to Shenzhen to work on a hardware start-up, are doing it illegally in technical terms. They are all on business visas on which you can't start a business in China. And beyond just work, civil liberties are extremely limited in China. You are good as long as you don't get the government looking at you.

[robocat]

And to add, Shenzhen is a special economic zone (SEZ), which has relatively less harsh attitudes towards enforcing visa rules.

It felt like an extremely capitalist city when I visited a few years ago - everyone is trying to make a buck. I did see hundreds of cops get bused in to deal with some sort of street vendor fight (which at the time reminded me of when I visited South Lake Tahoe one night).