China - never a dull moment!

[Cruiser Elite]

Absolutely need passport to buy - and you need to show passport to verify your bona fides before boarding also - welcome to China.

 

[Bolthead]

Absolutely need passport to buy - and you need to show passport to verify your bona fides before boarding also - welcome to China.

This reminds me of the time I was in Shanghai on business. At the time my son was living in Beijing so he decided to visit me in Shanghai on the weekend. His 2 roommates also came so I shouted them the accommodation at Sofitel Hyland. (They were all interns back then) I'm getting off topic. I took a day off and we decided to go to Wuxi for the day. Of course we made our way to the train station and we never got to Wuxi because father and son didn't have their passports. I tried to convince them that my drivers license was an Australian passport but they didn't buy it. Spoilt day and lesson learnt.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I usually just use a laminated colour copy of data page of my passport - but I am certainly not suggesting others try this at least not until post APEC later this year.

 

[Foreigner]

Funny but China-specific

 

[seanpodge]

I usually just use a laminated colour copy of data page of my passport - but I am certainly not suggesting others try this at least not until post APEC later this year.

A photocopy often works for buying tickets (they usually need to print the passport number on the ticket), but I'd still bring the real deal when travelling in case one bumps into an overzealous conductor.

One needs ID to do a lot of things here (e.g. banking, domestic flights). Sadly, China won't issue convenient wallet sized ID cards to foreigners like the locals have, so I have to carry around my passport a lot more than I'd like to.

 

[Bolthead]

Just booked to go to Shanghai to visit son. We will also visit Nanjing and Wuxi as well. My 84 year old father is going as well. He hasn't been since 1986 so he is looking forward to comparing what it looks like now from then.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Well done - if you need some info / tips / suggestions just ask away. Dates? TheEmu lives in Nanjing - he is always good for info. You never know I might just be there also - we could have an AFF get together in NKG with more than 2 attendees for once.

Specific reason for going to Wuxi? Aint much there. Plenty to see SHA / NKG - your father will be amazed at changes.

 

[Bolthead]

Sounds good. We arrive 21st November and leave 30th November. We normally stay at the Sofitel Hyland however we have found a great apartment in the French area that includes 2 servants. My son lives in that area. My 2 daughters are suppose to be coming as well however they are procrastinating asking for annual leave. We think an apartment makes sense considering we will have 5 in total. Cheaper than getting 2 or 3 hotel rooms. I prefer traveling in winter because the crowds are less and (touch wood) the weather and pollution has been on our side. If we have any further questions we certainly will ask. Thanks.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

OK perfect - so dad is 84 - so it is a must that you take him to The Jazz Bar at Peace Hotel - check the average age of the musos - Shanghai Jazz Bar - The Jazz Bar at Fairmont Peace Hotel in Shanghai - even if it only for 1 drink it is a MUST. If you going to see The Jazz Bar then you right on the Bund - might I suggest you combine this with a night cruise on the Huangpu River - the lights on The Bund as you return are simply spectacular. Shanghai - so much to see.

 

[Bolthead]

OK perfect - so dad is 84 - so it is a must that you take him to The Jazz Bar at Peace Hotel - check the average age of the musos - Shanghai Jazz Bar - The Jazz Bar at Fairmont Peace Hotel in Shanghai - even if it only for 1 drink it is a MUST. If you going to see The Jazz Bar then you right on the Bund - might I suggest you combine this with a night cruise on the Huangpu River - the lights on The Bund as you return are simply spectacular. Shanghai - so much to see.

Thanks for this.... I have heard of the Jazz club so will definitely check it out. As for the cruise, 2 trips ago my wife went with her mother and they did this cruise. However the local tourists on the boat were more interested in taking photos of my son who at 6' 5" tends to stand out and everyone wanted their photo with him. This also happened to our girls when we visited the terracotta warriors in Xian a couple of years ago. A lot of the young lads wanted their photos taken with our girls. I am not sure if it was because there was not many other white girls there or because both our girls are tall at 6' and 5' 11''. Funny, nobody ever wants my photo.... I suppose they are not interested in a fat old white boy...

 

[TheEmu]

Sounds good. We arrive 21st November and leave 30th November. We normally stay at the Sofitel Hyland however we have found a great apartment in the French area that includes 2 servants. My son lives in that area. My 2 daughters are suppose to be coming as well however they are procrastinating asking for annual leave. We think an apartment makes sense considering we will have 5 in total. Cheaper than getting 2 or 3 hotel rooms. I prefer traveling in winter because the crowds are less and (touch wood) the weather and pollution has been on our side. If we have any further questions we certainly will ask. Thanks.

OK perfect - so dad is 84 - so it is a must that you take him to The Jazz Bar at Peace Hotel - check the average age of the musos - Shanghai Jazz Bar - The Jazz Bar at Fairmont Peace Hotel in Shanghai - even if it only for 1 drink it is a MUST. If you going to see The Jazz Bar then you right on the Bund - might I suggest you combine this with a night cruise on the Huangpu River - the lights on The Bund as you return are simply spectacular. Shanghai - so much to see.

+1 for the Jazz Bar! I haven't been for a couple of years - I should renew my acquaintance if I stopover in SHA when I head back to NKG late next week.
Bolthead, I will be in NKG in November so feel free to get in touch.

 

[sinophile888]

I can’t travel for the foreseeable future and am desperately missing China. Maybe late 2016 might be the go.

We went to China at least once, sometimes 3 times, a year for 10 years and loved every single minute of it. My husband studied Mandarin at TAFE for a quite a few years and finally passed Cert. 2. He still managed to communicate reasonably well with the locals.

The last trip we did was last November when we did a trip to Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Wuhan, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong, all by train. Tried the Marco Polo in Wuhan, both Hiltons in Guangzhou, the Shangrila in Shenzhen and the Conrad In Hong Kong. It was holiday completely off the tourist track and we loved it. Lots of funny mistakes.

We both feel like we are home when in China and have decided we were Chinese in a previous life.

So enjoy yourselves in China. You lucky dogs!

 

[Bolthead]

+1 for the Jazz Bar! I haven't been for a couple of years - I should renew my acquaintance if I stopover in SHA when I head back to NKG late next week.
Bolthead, I will be in NKG in November so feel free to get in touch.

Thanks TheEmu. Will certainly drop you a line. I think we will be in NKG the weekend of 22nd-23rd Nov. I mentioned the Jazz Club to my SWMBO and it looks like it is on the agenda.

 

[Bolthead]

I can’t travel for the foreseeable future and am desperately missing China. Maybe late 2016 might be the go.

We went to China at least once, sometimes 3 times, a year for 10 years and loved every single minute of it. My husband studied Mandarin at TAFE for a quite a few years and finally passed Cert. 2. He still managed to communicate reasonably well with the locals.

The last trip we did was last November when we did a trip to Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Wuhan, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong, all by train. Tried the Marco Polo in Wuhan, both Hiltons in Guangzhou, the Shangrila in Shenzhen and the Conrad In Hong Kong. It was holiday completely off the tourist track and we loved it. Lots of funny mistakes.

We both feel like we are home when in China and have decided we were Chinese in a previous life.

So enjoy yourselves in China. You lucky dogs!

We love China as well and now with our son there we are always coming up with reasons to visit. Not sure if he will come back. We (I) have made funny mistakes as well. It's all part of traveling in China.

 

[Bolthead]

........A lot of the young lads wanted their photos taken with our girls. I am not sure if it was because there was not many other white girls there or because both our girls are tall at 6' and 5' 11''.....

I just found one of the photos of my elder daughter at the Terracotta Warriors with her male admirers... as well here is another classic [Humourous] Chinese sign.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Bolt at the risk of posting too much if you are arriving into PVG don't forget the Maglev - 431kmh before CRH crash in south I think it's back to 400kmh now - either way must be experienced once in a lifetime - it will only take you to Longyang Rd where you swap to subway or grab a taxi.

Don't forget to download China Taxi Book onto your smart phone - it is a must.

 

[Bolthead]

Bolt at the risk of posting too much if you are arriving into PVG don't forget the Maglev - 431kmh before CRH crash in south I think it's back to 430kmh now - either way must be experienced once in a lifetime - it will only take you to Longyang Rd where you swap to subway or grab a taxi.

Don't forget to download China Taxi Book onto your smart phone - it is a must.

You can never post too much.... we have all done the Maglev except for my father. Last year the speed was onky 330kph. I went on it in 2007 when it did do 430 so will have to do it again. My dad is a bit of a techno fobe so he will enjoy it.

As for Taxi book, already have it based on your other posts. It's fantastic however it has crashed a few times when I have played with it here. My son has down loaded it as well. Thanks.

 

[Foreigner]

There's bagful of signs in this link though some appear to be doctored:

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=...6E4q68gXGxYH4DQ&ved=0CCoQsAQ&biw=1238&bih=660

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Any of you dudes see any news articles re the pollution experienced in Beijing yesterday to coincide with the running of the Beijing marathon? Unbelievable - no sorry - very believable. Beijing marathon runners brave thick smog as pollution levels rise - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

 

[Bolthead]

Extremely believable, one of our visits to Beijing was just as bad but luckily only lasted for a day or 2. Our first trip back in 2007 you couldn't have asked for better weather. I think they were practicing for the Olympics.