It can definitely be hard work but the reward can also be high, its all what you're willing to accomplish. If you can gut out 1 or 2 contracts here you can pay off the mortgage, save for the kids college, build up a nest egg and be well established towards retirement. Many commuting contracts offer contracts which are actually quite efficient flying. You can do 900-950 hours and still get 2 weeks off consecutively every 6 weeks.

Regarding the medical and ATP, I doubt much will change in the near future. The ATP written is actually not too difficult if you prepare well. Remember the European ATP requires 14 tests and 15 months to accomplish. The medical is driven by the CAAC docs being tied to the military standards. When you accomplish a medical in China think of what a new pilot recruit will undergo during a military flight physical and you are on target.