Update:
License renewal.

I renewed my license today. It was annoying, but it got done in about 2 hours, if you are Chinese maybe 20 minutes.

First obstacle was that they couldn't find my passport number on the computer that connects to your license. Your passport number/driving license on their computer system will have a prefix of a letter A-G. This is your status in China, F means resident, and G means diplomat, not sure about the rest, probably visitor, student etc. This prefix needs to be entered into the computer to access a foreigners records in front of your passport number.

That sorted I was able to have the new photo and confirm that I hadn't lost my eyesight or gone colorblind since last time.

Then I had a main sheet and my photos, things were looking good! Got to the license issuing desk, sorry you need police evidence that you have a 'lived in China for at least three months sheet', issued at another police station, but I said I have got 6 years worth of residency visas in my passport, wtf? Not good enough, we need to be surer than sure. Got to the other police station, at first he said no, then after some extended pleading including his addition to my Christmas card list we reluctantly issued a piece of paper with a stamp on it.

Back at police station 1, they intensely checked the details and gave me a new license. Cost was 80 yuan all in.

Glad it's still doable and not a blocked wall of impossibility. Sucks that doing anything is so irritatingly annoyingly difficult, x2 if you aren't Chinese. Seems the system has been set up to make things deliberately more awkward if you are a foreigner, and that includes all of Chinese state owned anything, from banks to police to selling houses, police, getting money out, everything.