Actually Doug, this recruiter is offering you some good advice.

I have been teaching here in China for 7 years and what Golden Staffing is suggesting is a good idea in the current climate. China is a huge country so the quality of school can vary quite significantly from good schools and really really bad ones. So his suggestion of coming first on a tourist or business visa is a good idea. You should check out the school, check out the city and check out the culture. So many Americans come her expecting China to be exactly like the US. Well, it not the same... AT ALL.

His suggestion about the visa is not a bad one. One of the requirements about obtaining a work visa here is that you need to apply from outside of China. This is why he is suggesting you come here first, see if you like it and then, go to Hong Kong to obtain your work visa. This loophole may close sometime soon and they may require you to apply for the work visa from your home country, but for now, you can still apply from Hong Kong.

And he is correct about changing jobs. When you work for a school, your contract is normally one year in length - this is a requirement by the government. Just like the US, your visa is tied to your employer. If you don't like your employer, you cannot simply just go to another school. There are financial penalties for cancelling your contract before the full year is complete. So Golden is correct is advising you to be sure of the school before you commit.

Doug, please be careful about making statements like " anyone who would suggest such a thing should be avoided at all costs." Based on this one post, I would not agree with your characterization.

When you come to China, you have to come with the right attitude. The culture is different here and it is more than just the food. The way that they do business, the way that your manager will deal with you, the way that you teach. It will all be different. if you come with a positive attitude that you are willing to learn and adapt to the culture, then you will last longer. if you come with an "colonization" attitude or a "American superiority" attitude, then you will hate it hear and will be on the first flight home.