China - never a dull moment!

[mushez]

Here is Cruiser Elites picture, just pointing out how you rotate them 180 - just press this pedal with your foot to unlock the seat and you can turn it 180 degrees.

Note when you do, it may require the next seat to be unlocked and coughed a little to be able to rotate fully - again why the move you are planing on doing requires some negotiating skills or being the first on the train as you are asking others to allow you to move their seat.

Another hint - is pressing that pedal with your foot - it puts all the seat backs up in the grouping you touch it on.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

If you travel Business class as Cruiser Elite - they don't rotate and are fixed, so at times you are sitting in them with the distance of travel going in the opposite direction.

Rubbish:



And:



Doc what you asked is possible in all classes - but it would require some pre planning and certainly advance purchase.

 

[mushez]

Rubbish:

I stand corrected. Then again I am no expert of Business Class on Fast Rail in China - had more seat time in Second & First Class.

Can the bunch of 2's in Business rotate as well?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The exception to rotating business class seats seems to be those in the sightseeing cabins (tiny cabin immediately behind the driver). Although it seems these may actually be sold as a 'first class premium' seat rather than business class.

Beijing to Shanghai by train | Times, prices, online tickets

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Correct MEL - that tiny little cabin also varies from train to train - you should avoid it at all costs. Today it has 2 Business which do rotate and 3 First seats - the First do not rotate:



On train right now and trying to upload another pic but it just will not upload - sorry.

 

[docjames]

Thanks guys - just a hypothetical.

It's be interesting if airlines did something similar but i suspect the weight of the mechanism rules that out.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It's be interesting if airlines did something similar but i suspect the weight of the mechanism rules that out.

Not very common - but a few airlines do/did. AA's 772 seats swivel through 90 degrees. QR supposedly had seats that could be turned 180 for dining.

Historically, Gulf Air and Lufthansa had single or double seat units that could swivel to allow congregation during drink or dining service. But I never saw it used on LH.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Who said the Chinese don't recognise Christmas?



Seriously big Santa huh? Pic taken in new Balian Outlet Mall outskirts Nanjing - every up market USA / European chain you can think of has outlets here - place is huge - almost devoid of customers - you could fire a shotgun in any direction and not hit anyone - gunna be a lot of tears spilled here.

Good part is it is only 5 mins from one of our manufacturers which now means that for first time in 10 years there is a sit down toilet within an hours drive. Don't know about you dudes by my aim aint so good with those squat pans / drains!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Anybody want to buy an Apple?

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I always love to start my day with a check of 'Moments' posted by my WeChat contacts:



And:

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Just Shanghai this trip...................Any must-sees/eats?

Shanghai like ALL major Chinese cities is an absolute haven for tourists - there is literally thousands of interesting things to see and do - but in this wonderful era in which we live GOOGLE is your best friend.

Here is a brief list to start - any queries ask away:
Shanghai Tourist MUST sees:

1. Jazz band at Peace Hotel - all members 70yrs+
2. Night cruise on Huangpu River to view Bund lights - do not miss this
3. Visit the Bund itself - prepare yourself to be photographed with 1,000 Chinese nationals
4. Fake market at Science and Technology Subway Station - sp easy to get to - it's huge - allow at least 1/2 day
5. Xin Tian Di - very touristy but fabulous area - some of my favourite restaurants here - Kabb and Latino
6. Stroll pedestrian mall Nanjing Lu - again very touristy but IMHO a must do for 1st timer
7. Hengshan Lu bar area - it's a big area - not going to be easy for 1st timer
8. YuYu Gardens - again very tourist but you are indeed a tourist
9. Binjiang Park across from Bund – take in Flair at RC Pudong whilst there
10. Shanghai Aquarium - have not been but told excellent

I seldom eat Chinese food when in China - so as for Chinese restaurants I am no help. Goodfellas for Italian I think my favourite right now.

 

[Fiches Mouser]

Shanghai like ALL major Chinese cities is an absolute haven for tourists - there is literally thousands of interesting things to see and do - but in this wonderful era in which we live GOOGLE is your best friend.

Here is a brief list to start - any queries ask away:
Shanghai Tourist MUST sees:

1. Jazz band at Peace Hotel - all members 70yrs+
2. Night cruise on Huangpu River to view Bund lights - do not miss this
3. Visit the Bund itself - prepare yourself to be photographed with 1,000 Chinese nationals
4. Fake market at Science and Technology Subway Station - sp easy to get to - it's huge - allow at least 1/2 day
5. Xin Tian Di - very touristy but fabulous area - some of my favourite restaurants here - Kabb and Latino
6. Stroll pedestrian mall Nanjing Lu - again very touristy but IMHO a must do for 1st timer
7. Hengshan Lu bar area - it's a big area - not going to be easy for 1st timer
8. YuYu Gardens - again very tourist but you are indeed a tourist
9. Binjiang Park across from Bund – take in Flair at RC Pudong whilst there
10. Shanghai Aquarium - have not been but told excellent

I seldom eat Chinese food when in China - so as for Chinese restaurants I am no help. Goodfellas for Italian I think my favourite right now.

This is great, thanks Cruiser! How do you normally get around? Is the PT good? Or are taxis the way to go?

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Subway is a piece of cake to negotiate - all tix vending machines have English option - download Shanghai Subway app on to your phone - get directions from your hotel concierge if you not clear - you will be amazed how simple it is.

I also was remiss in not including a Maglev ride on that list - you MUST do this - fro / to airport - Maglev starts at Pudong Airport and finishes at Longyang Rd station - you can change to Subway here Line 2. Longyang Rd only 2 stops from Shanghai Science and Technology Museum (SSTM) where fake market is - so if fro / to PVG does not suit because of luggage etc you could do Peoples Square -> Longyang Rd - change to Maglev -> PVG / PVG -> Longyang Rd - Line 2 back to SSTM to do fake market - 2 rides on Maglev in an hour or so.

Taxis are everywhere and cheap - again remember no taxi driver will understand a word of English so always have directions written down in English / or smart phone with data available - I thoroughly recommend you download / purchase Taxi-Book for Shanghai - worth it's weight in gold.

 

[penegal]

Subway is best. Efficient & clean.

Taxis - Okay, but as Cruiser says write addresses or landmarks down, and show them. Having cached maps on your phone is another good trick.

You can also use Uber, but you would need data (and travel insurance) for that ... and don't tell Cruiser.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

You can use Uber at your peril if you can't read / write / speak Chinese - good luck with that one. Even expats living full time in Shanghai and who speak / read Chinese fluently get screwed over with Uber - but go ahead - Uber is the one thing that is going to save mankind is it not?

 

[penegal]

You can use Uber at your peril if you can't read / write / speak Chinese - good luck with that one. Even expats living full time in Shanghai and who speak / read Chinese fluently get screwed over with Uber - but go ahead - Uber is the one thing that is going to save mankind is it not?

They are so used to taking fake customers, that they don't know what to do when a real one comes along?

Uber is okay, but the Maps aren't as good/detailed/uptodate as you would be used to in the west.


FWIW, Subway and walking will get you to most/all tourist places of interest. Taxis can supplement where needed, and be used at night.

 

[Fiches Mouser]

Thanks for the transport tips everyone. Really good to know.

Picked up my visa the other day – so incredibly inconvenient having to go into the Visa Centre between 09:00–15:00. Who is free then!? Ridiculous. I get the impression that this might be a taste of things to come...

But alas, I don't really qualify for APEC so it's my only option. Was quite surprised at how difficult they make it. The company I work for has 'Media' in its name, but I am not a journalist, so they were concerned about that. They had me sign a note saying the travel was not work related. Paranoid much!

Regardless, the visa sticker is very handsome in my passport so at least it's a nice reminder even if it takes up an entire (very valuable) page.

 

[Bolthead]

Thanks for the transport tips everyone. Really good to know.

Picked up my visa the other day – so incredibly inconvenient having to go into the Visa Centre between 09:00–15:00. Who is free then!? Ridiculous. I get the impression that this might be a taste of things to come...

But alas, I don't really qualify for APEC so it's my only option. Was quite surprised at how difficult they make it. The company I work for has 'Media' in its name, but I am not a journalist, so they were concerned about that. They had me sign a note saying the travel was not work related. Paranoid much!

Regardless, the visa sticker is very handsome in my passport so at least it's a nice reminder even if it takes up an entire (very valuable) page.

Also don't pick up a taxi unless it is from a bonafide taxi rank. Better still from a major hotel is even safer. There are a few shonky taxi drivers that have metres that spin faster than a poker machine. We have been caught twice, once in Beijing in 2007 and the other in Shanghai only last year. If you like Chinese food then don't hesitate to try the food. Nothing like the Australianised Chinese food. So much better. Try the restaurants on Nanjing Road and if you go one block of the mall the food will half in price. (and just as good) We particularly like the way they cook egg plant. (so many different ways).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Also don't pick up a taxi unless it is from a bonafide taxi rank. Better still from a major hotel is even safer. There are a few shonky taxi drivers that have metres that spin faster than a poker machine.

Thankfully dishonest taxi drivers in China are few and far between. The Maglev station at Longyang Lu is however a known trouble spot (far worse than you're likely to encounter anywhere else with the taxi gangs asking 400RMB flat fare to the city). I wouldn't recommend catching a taxi from there unless you know where you are going and how much the fare should be.

Asking for the receipt is one way to deal with dishonest taxi drivers - your hotel can follow up with the appropriate agency, usually with a quick resolution. (Always asking for a receipt is a good idea anyway in case you leave something behind.)

However as taxis are very cheap in China, it's usually not so much of an issue (a dollar here or there if the taxi takes you a slightly longer route).

The great thing about the cheap taxis is that you can get them from anywhere - hailing them on the street is actually ideal if you are done with walking and can't be bothered to catch a crowded subway, or change lines. And in summer they're air-conditioned. Perfect.

 

[moa999]

. The Maglev station at Longyang Lu is however a known trouble spot (far worse than you're likely to encounter anywhere else with the taxi gangs asking 400RMB flat fare to the city). .

Struck that a couple of years ago and was actually staying Pudong side... First two drivers said the same thing so I walked all the way to the other end of the 20-cab queue and took a guy who had just arrived and could exit (the gang members block the first 15 cars in)...

Horns blaring as I left! Fare was about 40.