If you come in China, and work, receive pay with any other visa then Z, you're illegal worker. 

Both, you and your employer are against Chinese law. Signed Contract has no value, and doesn't carry any repercussions, if you're not working with Z/RP.

If you sign Contract, and School apply for Working permit, and then you sign Contract with another School, you might expect troubles at new WP application. I don't know what happened, because I never did that.

You cannot get new FEC/WP, if you walk out of the School, while in China with Z/Residence permit.

Only come to China on a Z visa. If they ask you to break the law, find another school. Simple.

In reality, it can work, especially if it's a school with enough guanxi outside a large city. That's how I started out. Granted, that was back in 2009. 

But it is a gamble. Even more so if you've never see the school in person. I recommend, if you have the necessary savings, to decide where you want to live first, then seek a job in that city.

Taking jobs sight unseen, or without a backup school, is a recipe for disaster. I've been there myself.

If you arrive on a Tourist visa, your employer holds all the cards.

You are leaving yourself open to being scammed and exploited and there is no reason why you should trust what they tell you.

Basically everything in your contract is worth squat without the minimum of the Z/RP.

CCTV news and China media love stories about illegal workers being caught and deported: just another excuse to bad-mouth foreign workers - even the legal ones.

@dahveed,

thinking you can arrive and look for work on your own is not a good idea: you still have to leave the country to get a 'Z' visa

bottom line it that it's your decision, but you know the consequences if caught.

You say the employer seems flaky, chances are they are looking for a innocent abroad, and if you have learnt anything on this site, you don't want to give them any more ammunition to control you and make your life a misery.

Until you apply for your visa, nothing is official. Point out to them that what they are asking you to do is illegal. Just refuse to apply for the visa unless they provide the correct documents for a 'Z' visa. I would even go as far to suggest that you tell them that you will take the communication (in writing) of their suggestion to enter and work on a tourist visa to your local consulate if they persist in asking you to break the law - again, emphasize to them that they are asking you to break the law. You are NOT under any obligation to a place that wants you to behave in an illegal manner.

Back in 2009 it was far more relaxed. Now there is a glut of FTs willing to take the chance they won't get caught (they won't be staying in China anyway) and there are a lot more recruiters that have found new ways to make a higher profit. (no medical checks, no license to hire foreigners, no FEC to apply for, No visa to pay for, No checking on the validity of the FT's documents) By not having to pay the high costs of legalizing a FT and keeping the wage paid to the FT the same as it was in 2009 the recruiter is making more money now than he ever did in the past.

Mr Star32569, as you appear to be a China Newbie, I thought it pertinent to point out that although we may consider a contract legally binding in one way or another, Chinese companies do not. A contract is mainly used to screw you over and your rights in the contract are meaningless.

Should you come on anything other than a Z visa please be prepared for a few weeks stay in the local lock up followed by a trip home at someone else's expense. The length of stay in lock up is open ended depending upon whether you can have someone outside the prison purchase you a ticket. You cannot buy one yourself.

The best advice, as you can see from the posts above, is to do everything within the law then no one will trouble you and you will have a great time and a happy stay in China. Break the law or cause some trouble and you are in for a world of pain.