Gotta disagree with you Gibson. Your words make no sense as far as favoring an F over a Z. Unless you are someone unreliable who hops from school to school, or wants no real protection. If you have no other choice, meaning if you can only get an F without returning to your home, that is one thing. However this, in truth, varies from province to province.

The bottom line is, if you can get a Z, you should get a Z. As I and Turnoi and Silverboy also seem to agree, it is the best option. Otherwise, your employer can feel free to screw you 9 ways to Sunday, and you have "zero" recourse. It's actually far less likely you will get played on a Z. It can happen, but if it does, you have a lot of options. Options that, if even threatened with being exercised, can get results. Not so with an F visa. You can bark all you want, your words will have no bite.

Not only that, but it is illegal, and can get you deported, and that is no joke. If that happens, you could very easily get banned from China for a good long time.

Too many risks, too many "not in your favor" eventualities that can arise from this. Indeed English you are right you have more freedom to leave a crappy job, however, if that's the only plus, it's not enough to outweigh the negatives. Also, most contracts have a clause that allows one to quit if they give sufficient notice. Make sure this is in any contract you sign.

Bottom line, an F visa is a poor alternative. It is a viable alternative, but hardly the best one, don't takes Englishgibsons word for this one, he's wrong when he says it is the better route to take. Maybe to say it is the better route for him, though that is even arguable.