China - never a dull moment!

[Cruiser Elite]

Off to A P Xinyang fake market at SSTM today - could not resist these Tommy Bahama shirts @RMB50ea (A$10):



But of course after you buy the shirts you need to buy a fake Samsonite roller bag @ RM150 (A$30) to cart them home:

 

[hummel]

That badge placement...nothing straight about it!

Got back the other day from my first trip to China in 12 months.

Turns out I didn't miss it...

 

[Cruiser Elite]

That badge placement...nothing straight about it!

Im tippin' it'll look pretty damn straight by the time I arrive in SIN tomorrow after 831 from PVG!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Thursday when out in a factory in the boonies I was treated to lunch at this salubrious establishment:



As we wandered out I noticed an 'Electric Car' vendor across the road so we wandered over to take a look:



Not the worst looking designs either:



And the price very competitive - RMB35,000 (A$7,000) - 50kmh top speed / 100km range / 10hr recharge time:



And the front view:

 

[Cruiser Elite]

What's that you say - give you a closer look at the badge on the front? OK:



Yep - genuine fake BMW! Where did they get the BMW badge? Steal it? Find it on the road? NOPE - bought it on the internet!

The interior:



And:



China - NEVER a dull moment!

 

[mushez]

Just landed PEK for the first time ever, thought PVG & CAN were zoos, but PEK takes the cake.

Thankfully I have APEC, and thanks to Cruizer Eliete knew such a line existed so jumped (pushed) past tons of people queuing for the ques and found it. So no queuing for ques that were 40 deep once anyone got there, and only had 7 in que for APEC.

Think I prefer PVG for the big 3 for international, better evil of them all, or maybe cause it is the devil I know well....

 

[Cruiser Elite]

mushez one time I arrived PEK and arr hall was totally empty - never saw it that way again. Last Mom when I arrived they were queued back to temp check barriers - APEC line had 2 in front of me.

Dep PVG Sat and it too was a zoo - Foreiner lines totally full - 3 in front of me in APEC immig line - Security channel 26 designed for VIPs, F pax, APEC only was totally empty - I was only pax going through it - all other security lines 50 deep - if you hold APEC dep PVZg think security channel 26 and do not forget it.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Security channel 26 designed

Is this the one with the red carpet, about half way across the bank of security booths? Or a different one? The one that's half-way across is designated 'VIP' (First and business).

 

[Cruiser Elite]

It's to far right of security channels - I don't think it is the last - but Sat last one they were using was 15 ZiIRC and I has to walk but all the closed channels to get to 26 - I think it is VIP, Diplomats, APEC and F pax - whatever it is it's a god send.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It's to far right of security channels - I don't think it is the last - but Sat last one they were using was 15 ZiIRC and I has to walk but all the closed channels to get to 26 - I think it is VIP, Diplomats, APEC and F pax - whatever it is it's a god send.

Ok. There seems to be two channels (at least) for 'VIP' then. This other one is kind of centre of the hall, with red carpet leading up to it. It's always open and usually max one-two people waiting.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Sat I was in the FT WeChat thread and the China based guys there swear that PP get's you access into CA F lounge in PEK. I have never tried this myself but they swear it is on the money - so anybody dep PEK with no lounge access go flash your PP card and see if it works.

Not sure when I will dep PEK next so I cannot test it myself - so will another AFFer please do so. CA F in PEK nothing outstanding but food reasonable and drinks abysmal - but plenty comfy seats and lots space.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Sat I was in the FT WeChat thread and the China based guys there swear that PP get's you access into CA F lounge in PEK. I have never tried this myself but they swear it is on the money - so anybody dep PEK with no lounge access go flash your PP card and see if it works.

Not sure when I will dep PEK next so I cannot test it myself - so will another AFFer please do so. CA F in PEK nothing outstanding but food reasonable and drinks abysmal - but plenty comfy seats and lots space.

I thought both the CA F and CA J lounges were PP. If it's just the F lounge that's a bonus. But it's really an ordinary lounge. Domestic Qantas clubs (not the business section) are beter!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Maybe 1,000 better lounges MEL but they ain't in PEK - take the post as it was meant - to assist ant pax who may not have lounge access but holds PP.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Maybe 1,000 better lounges MEL but they ain't in PEK - take the post as it was meant - to assist ant pax who may not have lounge access but holds PP.

Several PP lounges at PEK: https://www.prioritypass.com/en/Lounges/Asia-Pacific/China/Beijing/Beijing-Capital-International

 

[mushez]

My reference to PEK vrs PVG is in regards to arrivals only, and the process from getting to customs through until you are at the baggage carousels.

I guess the long train ride doesn't help either at PEK in my feelings.

But if I am to be fair - PEK was a lot easier to get out of through customs once I had my bag drama resolved - and is better than the Zoo T1 and PVG is - most directly related to how slow MU is in delivering any bags at PVG to the carousels - but I have a theory that has to do with them working in conjunction with customs to delay letting the bags out, to control the length of the lines they have trying to go through customs - but that is a theory from mid air.

On the other hand, PVG at T1 is a breeze for departures even without an APEC line for security, but T2 is and has always been a Zoo as while you have an APEC line that helps a lot - that doesn't translate to an APEC line for security.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

My reference to PEK vrs PVG is in regards to arrivals only ................. PVG at T1 is a breeze for departures even without an APEC line for security, but T2 is and has always been a Zoo as while you have an APEC line that helps a lot - that doesn't translate to an APEC line for security.

Next time dep T2 and post immig just head right to security channel 26 - it's way down the end.

 

[mushez]

Never thought I would see a sign like this, but never is not a word when you are in China:

 

[moa999]

I suspect needed around CNY -- it's crazy..

I was in Beijing a few years ago. Fireworks going off absolutely everywhere and sellers on every corner.

Was on a street where it almost ended in disaster. Few youths had bought a nine shooter and set it up about 50m from a firework stand. First shot tipped the firework over, so the next 8 went off in various directions along the ground with everyone ducking for cover and a few shooting very closely to the fireworks stand

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Never thought I would see a sign like this, but never is not a word when you are in China:

yeah - new restrictions. Interesting to see if they're enforced. Although friends tell me they're asked to report use of firecrackers now.

 

[mushez]

Female only security que at domestic flights for T2 at PEK, but no such que for males.