Ya it's really amazing how many foreigners I used to see in Guangxi and how many are leaving. Yes, it does seem like a few went to Thailand last I heard. Some said they were going to Vietnam but then I heard they actually just went back to the USA, UK etc wherever their home country was.

Now, i DID notice quite a few young Russians roaming about this winter. One told me they would have typically gone to Turkey for winter vacations but since there is a 'boycott' of Turkey somehow Southern China is the winter warmup getaway. (tho they may have been surprised how cool it was last week hehe).

I'm not sure what the hell is going on exactly but you are right that people are getting ruder. I mean its really really noticable to me now. Ruder to foreigners, less respect than ever. I attribute a bit of that to a huge influx of hustlers and a-holes who are moving into Nanning during its boom from the Changsha's and Beijing's and so on. But its really noticable in just the last year alone!

but the thing is - chinese tend to 'double-down' like nobody else can. the more leave the stricter they will get and the more they will show they don't need to be welcoming anymore and will be even less so. this is a strange mentality though ive noticed its becoming more popular in the west too these days.