China - never a dull moment!

[MEL_Traveller]

As with most things here, I eagerly await the actual enforcement of such sensible new laws and regulations.

In 2011 the Chinese tobacco industry (including profits + consumption tax) gave USD95 billion dollars to the central government by way of revenue (profits were even higher at USD115 billion dollars).

Moving to ban smoking, especially where it is considered socially acceptable such as restaurants, clubs and bars, will take time.

Personally I'd prefer not to have restrictions, save for limited places such as schools and some hospitals. I can choose to avoid venues where there is smoking if I wish to.

 

[seanpodge]

Easy for you as a customer to avoid such places. Not so easy for workers at said establishments to avoid these places (unless one considers unemployment an acceptable alternative). The screws on public smoking in Australia really started to turn not from customer pressure but when waiters started suing and winning court cases for compensation for second hand lung cancer.

In any case, it's not just with smoking where enforcement is a joke. If only the much talked about police state would enforce some decent traffic laws, or even just the ones they have already.

 

[Mitch_W]

Had a really interesting experience in Beijing back in March which has really left a bad taste in my mouth for this capital city.

A friend and myself had just finished a tour of the Forbidden City and emerged to find that Taxis don't pick up from the exit. We found out later there are buses to take you back to the start at Tianamen Square but all the signage was in Mandarin. We began the long walk back, a number of kilometres, and we were constantly asked by auto rickshaw drivers if we wanted a ride back for 3 RMB. We finally took his offer and confirmed 3 RMB a number of times before we got on board. A little way down the road he gets on his phone and a minute later another rickshaw turns up. He says to us too heavy and signals one of us to get in the other rickshaw. We continue on and all of a sudden we are in these very narrow old city alleys (hutongs) no where near where he was supposed to take us. Finally they stop the rickshaws in an alley with seemingly no exit. They tell us to get out and the ride is over. They separate us and demand 300 RMB each!
In this deserted alley there were a number of them waiting in the shadows. As we refused to pay the 300, they all came at us pushing and hitting me in the stomach demanding the 300 yuan. We were really outnumbered and we are not as young as these guys (55 and 60 years old). I gave him 100 and he hit me again until he got the full amount. My mate also had to pay 300 after being pushed up against the wall and threatened. What worried us was that they may have pulled a knife or anything. We are in a foreign country and out of our comfort zone. After we got back to the hotel, I got on Trip Advisor and searched Rickshaw Scam and found that this has happened to many people. The exact same scenario! Beijing tourism needs to do something about this as it will turn visitors off!

My friend managed to get a photo of my driver (see below). The only photo where they did not look away from the camera purposely for obvious reasons.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Had a really interesting experience in Beijing back in March which has really left a bad taste in my mouth for this capital city.

That's a sad story

Did you report this to the police (perhaps even via the hotel)? Police are usually quite serious when it comes to issues like this... anything bad for tourism will be clamped down on.

 

[hummel]

Had a really interesting experience in Beijing back in March which has really left a bad taste in my mouth for this capital city.

A real shame and I'm sure would have made you think twice about going back to China/Beijing!

300RMB is quite a bit of money but I suppose safety comes first. Disgusting that they would do that.

 

[Mitch_W]

That's a sad story

Did you report this to the police (perhaps even via the hotel)? Police are usually quite serious when it comes to issues like this... anything bad for tourism will be clamped down on.

No, didn't report it after reading the forum where other victims had reported wasting up to 6 hours at the police station with no result. The police know this happens but seem to turn a blind eye unfortunately.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Mitch this is a really serious matter and I am so sorry for you. Unfortunately shake downs of many descriptions are becoming more prevalent in China in general - but as MEL has alluded the police / government take a very VERY seriously dim view of any illegal action by Chinese nationals against tourists.

You MUST report this type of incident - DO NOT LET IT PASS WITHOUT REPORTING IT ASAP.

If you cannot readily find police close by then probably your best bet is to get back to hotel ASAP and seek assistance from management. They will quickly summon English speaking police to interview you - they will not just let it slide - they will act.

Clearly police right on the spot or close by would be best but maybe serious problem finding someone who can speak English or even understand your plight. Google translate or such on a smart phone is an ABSOLUTE MUST. You MUST also have a SIM card with 3G - whether local Chinese SIM or your own from home - but it is a MUST.

There will be no stone left unturned by police to track these hoons if they substantiate you are telling the truth - and they will catch them over time - they are not averse to using foreigners as bait. When they are caught they will spend a good deal of time in a 're-education centre'.

I am just so so0 sorry for you - China is a wonderful country full of beautiful people - hocking and spitting aside - their sense of national pride is exceeded only by the Yanks - and then I might be wrong here too - but no Chinese person would want this happening to tourists who come to visit their country. But Mitch whilst these types of incidents do happen occasionally you were just unlucky - clearly it would have coloured your view of China and understandably but please don't let it put you off revisiting.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

No, didn't report it after reading the forum where other victims had reported wasting up to 6 hours at the police station with no result. The police know this happens but seem to turn a blind eye unfortunately.

Sorry Mitch I was typing as you posted this - the police WILL NOT turn a blind eye if you get to the right police which is where your hotel management will assist you. YES would not be beyond realms of possibility for local cop dudes to be in on the shake down - but plenty above them would never contemplate tolerating these actions.

 

[Mitch_W]

Mitch this is a really serious matter and I am so sorry for you. Unfortunately shake downs of many descriptions are becoming more prevalent in China in general - but as MEL has alluded the police / government take a very VERY seriously dim view of any illegal action by Chinese nationals against tourists.

You MUST report this type of incident - DO NOT LET IT PASS WITHOUT REPORTING IT ASAP.

In hindsight, I should have reported it when I returned to the hotel. We have a good rapport with the Assistant Manager at the Sheraton Great Wall where we usually stay. I think we felt a bit rattled and wanted to put the incident behind us. To be honest, it has put me off Beijing but will continue to return as I am there transiting thru for business a couple of times a year. I have a few friends in Beijing who were horrified at what happened to us and felt badly on behalf of their country men's actions.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I bought my first train ticket through Ctrip last week - Beijing South to Nanjing South - RMB1,404 + RMB19 Fee = RMB1,423 - this allows you to pay by CC - in this case Citi Prestige ~$0.01/pt. Only downer is you need to queue at station to pick up ticket - queue was like 50 deep at 07:15 and I just made platform at 07:55 for 08:00 dep - I did make the train but jeez it takes a toll on the heart.

I did see on Ctrip site AOPIT where tix could be delivered to a hotel address but I could not find it this time - that would make life a whole bunch easier.

 

[TheEmu]

I bought my first train ticket through Ctrip last week - Beijing South to Nanjing South - RMB1,404 + RMB19 Fee = RMB1,423 - this allows you to pay by CC - in this case Citi Prestige ~$0.01/pt. Only downer is you need to queue at station to pick up ticket - queue was like 50 deep at 07:15 and I just made platform at 07:55 for 08:00 dep - I did make the train but jeez it takes a toll on the heart.

I did see on Ctrip site AOPIT where tix could be delivered to a hotel address but I could not find it this time - that would make life a whole bunch easier.

Ctrip is how I buy train tickets in China now. I haven't used the delivery service because there is a little ticket office just around the corner from my place so I just take the booking reference and pick them up there - very quick and easy and saves the station queue thing. I'm sure I saw one of those little ticket offices between RBCH and ZhiChunLu metro station, or somewhere around there. The hotel would be able to tell you.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Ctrip is how I buy train tickets in China now. I haven't used the delivery service because there is a little ticket office just around the corner from my place so I just take the booking reference and pick them up there - very quick and easy and saves the station queue thing. I'm sure I saw one of those little ticket offices between RBCH and ZhiChunLu metro station, or somewhere around there. The hotel would be able to tell you.

Tks mate - I was not aware you could collect from those ticket offices - YES there is a small tix office directly across 3rd ring road - that will make life much easier.

I did not stay in NKG the night mate as we had to go to Changzhou then I trained to Shanghai that night.

 

[TheEmu]

Tks mate - I was not aware you could collect from those ticket offices - YES there is a small tix office directly across 3rd ring road - that will make life much easier.

I did not stay in NKG the night mate as we had to go to Changzhou then I trained to Shanghai that night.

I'm enjoying the harsh northern "winter" in TSV at the moment

 

[mushez]

Ok, must say I am a ctrip convert today and lost my cherry.

Finally got a business class ticket/seat/trip under my belt. My desire for always has been lost in translation somehow, but no more.

 

[mushez]

Couldn't pass up this taking a snap of this worlds best practice for concrete cutting on stairs system adopted. Few bricks and piece of ply with vibrating huge concrete cutter - no problems......

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Ok, must say I am a ctrip convert today and lost my cherry.

Finally got a business class ticket/seat/trip under my belt.

From where to where?

 

[mushez]

From where to where?

Ningbo - Shanghai

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Big cabin or small cabin? PEK-NKG 2 weeks ago big cabin - 12 seats / NKG-SHA next day small cabin - 5 seats. I used to love the big cabin when only half full - I used to rat the slippers from all seats not occupied - the slippers were then packed with a proper show bag included - not now - bummer. I have like 50 shoe bags now - will never ever run out.

 

[mushez]

Big cabin or small cabin? PEK-NKG 2 weeks ago big cabin - 12 seats / NKG-SHA next day small cabin - 5 seats. I used to love the big cabin when only half full - I used to rat the slippers from all seats not occupied - the slippers were then packed with a proper show bag included - not now - bummer. I have like 50 shoe bags now - will never ever run out.

Small Cabin - 5 seats - 444 RMB - would have been a lot better if the 3 ladies in the row behind me - were 55 plus, were not gas bagging - but noise canceling headphones soon dealt to that, and then they would let out old man farts - long, deep and loud - and giggle about them like a bunch of teenage boys.

Didn't see any slippers, but wasn't looking. The girls behind had blankets, which I couldn't see - and was too chicken to ask - but would have been nice as it got quite chilly with the aircon on.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Slippers are always in pocket in seat back - but if you in front row they should have handed them to you or had them sitting on your seat with blanket - if not there most times they will come and give them to you - if not just ask - oh I have like a dozen of their blankets also!