if you have enough money, anything* is allowed.

many of my friends don't want to know - they like the surprise because the sex of the child is not important, just that the baby and mother are both healthy

* within reason obviously

You can if you know someone at the clinic!

Yes, there are soooo Manu know it all middle-aged women that will give you an expert opinion based on nothing remotely factual. Just go stand in a lift with a pillow under your clothes and you will get advice.... Works best for women.  

The hospital could be fined 5000

If you have connections, it's fairly easy to get a sex determination at 4 months, as soon as it's visible. I believe abortion laws are very forgiving (not from the foetus' point of view), so parents can opt to have their daughter terminated. Or son, because nowadays traditionalists salivate over the dowries, and won't completely lose support from their daughter either if they play their cards right. My wife was actually hoping for a daughter last time, but her disappointment was minimal when Owen revealed his sex to us. This week we'll know the sex of our second one, and despite a small preference for a daughter, abortion is completely off the table at this point. Not every family is as tolerant of disappointment, but it's hard to blame them when the government mandates unsubsidized schools for everyone, and forces children by law to act as surrogate pensions again without giving any actual support. This is China.

A distant relative of the Chinese side of the family some months back employed the power of hongbao to be told they were having a girl.... and presto, the other evening a boy shows up. I wonder what a pinkish nightmare the boy will grow up in. 

Yes,can check it out ,but it's illegal .

I've heard they drop a hint on you like, "Time to buy an apartment," indicating you're having a boy without actually saying it.  Actually, that's not a hint, it's a smack upside the head!

It's illegal but as mike said if you know someone, it's pretty easy. My son was born in China 8 months ago and they told me as soon as it was possible without any problems.

Either have guangxi at the hospital or bribe somebody there.  My friend calls it "honest corruption."  Everybody knows that for "extra services" or "expedited" processes you have to pay an extra service fee.

Burst into the ultrasound room with a phone and start recording. That's what I did! I also got kicked out, and was given a "psychiatric evaluation" by a really weird Russian woman.

They called me, "you bing," "shen jing bing," etc, but it was worth it. Damn commies aren't keeping me from seeing my baby. I got it all on video, except for the psychiatric evaluation, of course.

I'd like to add - if you abort your child due to an undesired gender, please do us all a favor: go to the highest building in your city, climb up to the top... and jump.

Legally? No.  But hundreds do it every day in Beijing at special clinics that charge 1,000 yuan for a sonogram.