My host family once took me to one of the hard currency shops (in St. Petersberg, at the Hotel Pribaltiskya, I believe), and the only reason they could get in was because they were with me, and I had a US Passport. Otherwise they were banished like all the other dollar-less Russians to the regular grocery store, which in April 1992 I remember was stocked with piles of cucumbers, piles of potatoes, some scary looking meat patties, tins of apricot juice, and that's about it...

Interestingly, though, by that time Pepsi had started being sold in Russia. In the regular grocery store you could spent 12 rubles for a glass bottle with "Pepsi" printed on the label in Cyrillic. At that time 12 rubles = 12 cents (although still a fortune to a local). Whereas the hard currency shops sold European-imported cans of Pepsi for a dollar, which in 1992 was expensive by anyone's standards. I bought one just for the hell of it anyway, so we could take a "Pepsi Challenge" against the one from the regular store. If memory serves, Russian one was actually better...

I would guess that in regards to the Olympics, the relative ease for foreigners getting tickets is probably because with the sheer amount of Chinese people who want to go to the games, the organizers are probably doing their best to avoid a scenario where the audience is 97% Chinese at every single event. Unlike people of most Western countries, it isn't quite as easy for Chinese people to go to other countries to attend events such as the Olympics. Couple this with the massive population, the fact that much of it now has expendable income for the first time, and this could easily lead to a situation where most non-Chinese are shut out of tickets.

As for train tickets, I'm not really sure what that comment is referring to. Buying tickets during Spring Festival is a pain in the ass for everybody, but for regular tickets I would always buy them at the window in train stations, usually less than 24 hours in advance, just like all the migrant workers. None of us seemed to have any problems.

This could be the opening line to an interesting novel or movie. Actually, your story is very interesting.
On the topic, the reason foreigners used to enjoy so many privileges and sometimes still do, is that they were/are perceived as naturally rich or at least richer than the average local. Some Chinese people say "dakuan" instead of "laowai".

Bottom line is, if you have a western face and are not spitting in the cracks and crevices, you are perceived as "social and economic lubricant" i.e. someone contributing to the growth of China.

I am Swedish and live in China. Nothing makes me happier to see when a foreigner is taken down on earth and treated as locals are. It is so sad to hear foreigners talk and expect to be better trated due to their white skin. Seriously, come back to earth. Chinese will overrun US and most other countries due to the attitude of western people not realising the world is changing.

The negative part mentioned, being charged more. That is because they can charge you more! What lawyer or business man wouldn't do that? Try speaking chinese with them and you will see that you get so much better treated. Take the culture where you go instead of bringing your own, that will help I promise! A mistake I am sorry to say that especially americans do going abroad.

Of course they are less worried about a foreigner being a burglar at a nice compound and therefore not stopping you.

The last comment. Foreigners are not the rich people in china! The are not target group for marketers. The chinese are the ones buying luxury goods and spending money.