Residence Permit Query

I (and our new baby) wish to join my husband in China. He has a work permit as he has already been there a while and will be staying on for the next two years at least. I am entering on a S1 type but am unsure what specific documentation I'll need to apply for a residence permit (we will be located in Guangdong province). I've read some sites but they seem to vary considerably and are a bit confusing. Apparently the requirements vary from province to province - is that right? Do I need anything to be provided by my husband's employer? Any help would be greatly appreciated.