well, it obviously worked, so it can't be false.

reality is: rules change. bank-clerks are not always up-to-date on rules. also, there are local variations. things that work in beijing or shanghai may not work in smaller cities, or vice versa. it also depends on the bank.

all you can take is that: one person was able to open a bank account, another was not.

when something doesn't work somethimes this means, other experiences are old, sometimes it means that it's worth trying a few places.

> This is false, you cannot open a bank account unless you > live in China (work & residence proof required).

This is completely false.

I went to ICBC and ABC branches last week in Beijing near Tsinghua and they both told me no bank account on my tourist visa. What am I missing?

hmm, tourist visa. Perhaps this is the key. I have a work visa.