Hi,my partner will work in China for 1 yr,what visa shoud i have to stay together? should we marry?

my boyfriend is french, i am romanian, he will have a work permit, i don t for the moment; i want to look for a job but this takes longer. can i go with a tourist visa and apply for a temporary residence afterwards based on his papers? if we marry, is it esier? how?

Thanks a lot!!