Some in Shanxi are heavy handed and inventive with any government regulaitons of foreigners and of the local Chinese population. There are illiterate, uneducated, partisan government people who feel secure for a moment when they keep out or annoy young or old laowei (foreigners). The income level of Shanxi province is very low. The heavy handed Party hacks have not let central Chinese provinces open up. The opening up process has not happened in China, in an equal fashion.