Odd story of the day: A Singaporean man who has been overstaying in Beijing for six years escaped from a Chinese jail term by tampering with his passport so as to get repatriated. The story via the Straits Times: more ›

ChinaHush has translated a post by a writer named Su Gengsheng detailing her frustration at having her Hong Kong visa rejected even though she had been there before:

In July, me and my husband visited HK for the book fair. And recently I needed to go on a trip to Hong Kong again. Knowing that the second time to apply for HK entry permit, you can just fill a form online and mail the permit certificate to your registered police department for approval. So I mailed both of our certificates to respective departments since my husband’s from Chenzhou City Hunan Province, and me Changde City Hunan Province. more ›

Yet another foreigner caught on camera going crazy. This refined Canadian gentleman appears to have a few small problems with the most recent policy changes at the train ticket window, namely "It's 2011! Chairman Mao is dead! No! CHINESE PEOPLE NEED TO LEARN BRAINS AND WHAT FREEDOM IS!" more ›

The government has just begun rolling out electronic passports but don't get too excited yet. The first batch is for officials only and besides, it'll look nearly the same as a regular one, only "it features an electronic data storage chip that contains personal data including given name, family name, personal numeric code, the document's term of validity, the issuing body, and citizenship." Commoners will get their electronic passports a little later down the line. The move is meant for ease of travel but we don't think it'll make too much of a difference since it's so difficult for Chinese passport holders to travel anywhere. more ›

Attention to all China-based Brits, your UK passport dealings will never be handled in the mainland again. Shanghai Eye has it that from now on all administrative matters regarding UK passports will be dealt with in and from Hong Kong as part of a new “streamlining process” within China. more ›

Photo from shanghaistreets more ›