Cheap communist block style lowrises, not so bad to live in if you have proper heating for winter, and VERY cheap.

The only problem, local cops might not let you register/live in there, the law says that foreigners can only live into gated communities of a certain standard.

It all depend on your local police station however, here in Foshan they let foreigners live wherever they want, that's not the case in nearby Zhongshan.

Depends on what you consider cheap. Small 2 bedroom apts can be rented for about 3500RMB in older bldgs in SIP.

I pay 2300 RMB/months for a serviced flat, one bedroom, modern building, in the SIP. You might look the plazas around the Liverpool Jiaotong university, they might have some available.