China - never a dull moment!

[hummel]

Arrived in Guangzhou a couple of hours ago.. the immigration lines were a nightmare as usual.

Got to use my APEC card for the first time, happy days!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Yep taxis hard to hail in Shanghai - is this why?

Apparently also many taxis are getting pre-booked these days. The annoying thing is that they don't change the colour of their lights accordingly... still driving around with green (it should be red if pre-booked).

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Arrived in Guangzhou a couple of hours ago.. the immigration lines were a nightmare as usual.

Got to use my APEC card for the first time, happy days!

Best thing since sliced bread huh?

 

[woodyren]

Only just discovered this thread. Have been visiting China once or twice per year since 2008 and having read much of this thread it brings back many of the funny or annoying moments.

Will be flying direct to Shenyang from Vancouver on Sichuan Airlines in early June for another visit. This will be at the end of a Sydney-Seattle cruise, another Alaskan cruise and some time in NW USA and SW Canada.

7 weeks in China just taking it easy (and eating some sensational food) in Shenyang, where we have an apartment and also travelling around to some as yet to be decided on locations that I have not yet visited. We travel by train whenever possible. Usually high speed but at times we also use the older trains in either soft or even hard sleepers.

Will be flying home from Beijing on Singapore J.Our first ever pts J flight. Super exited.

Now I am subscribed to this thread I will keep checking it out and post some photos once I figure out how it's done.

 

[mushez]

Just popped into a Walmart in Ningbo tonight and was surprised and shocked to find premixed Jack Daniels for 15 RMB a bottle on the shelf.

Useful information to put away I think.

Oh, it also has full range of Whittakers Chocolate for 30 RMB a block - but noted that last year I went to the same store.

 

[hummel]

I was last here in Guangzhou/Foshan in late November and coming back today I swear the smog/pollution has got even worse. This does'nt normally bother me but visibility is just atrocious today and normally in winter it's a little better??

 

[Cynicor]

I was last here in Guangzhou/Foshan in late November and coming back today I swear the smog/pollution has got even worse. This does'nt normally bother me but visibility is just atrocious today and normally in winter it's a little better??

I'm not from there, and have never been, but smog in most areas is very seasonal- prevailing winds move it away and the rainier seasons pull a lot of the particles to the ground.
It's why asthma/hayfever settles more on rainy days.

 

[mushez]

Just done a 4 day trip to China, flying MU return from SIN to PVG, plus 3 domestic flights, Spring, Xiamen, and MU.

To my surprise, all 5 flights were on schedule, and pushed back to scheduled departure time, and took off without any major issue or delay.

Accepted, the 3 domestic flights were first thing in the morning flights, between 6-8am departure times, 3 days in a row.

Just "seemed" they have got things sorted somehow for now..............

And yes, PVG security is above all others for departures of any kind. Went from T1 to T2 for some BK, and being searched that many times because I went between the terminals iced the cake a little.

 

[seanpodge]

I'm not from there, and have never been, but smog in most areas is very seasonal- prevailing winds move it away and the rainier seasons pull a lot of the particles to the ground.
It's why asthma/hayfever settles more on rainy days.

Up here in Harbin, the smog is seasonal too, but that is because the coal powered public heating system is switched on for winter, which tends to cause pollution. This is especially so if there is a string of days with no wind or snow. Obviously because the winters here are long and harsh, the heating system period is longer too (from mid October to mid April), so pollution can be a problem, although this winter has been relatively good.

Usually, medium to strong winds or significant snowfall will clean up the air pretty well.

 

[woodyren]

Any recommendations on the best VPN to use at present?

 

[Mr He]

The last few times I went back to China for a week or two, I used Speedify, which served me well.

Any recommendations on the best VPN to use at present?

 

[hummel]

The last few times I went back to China for a week or two, I used Speedify, which served me well.

I use VyprVPN when here.

 

[hummel]

I'm not from there, and have never been, but smog in most areas is very seasonal- prevailing winds move it away and the rainier seasons pull a lot of the particles to the ground.
It's why asthma/hayfever settles more on rainy days.

Yep understood, and that's partly why I asked. The last few winter/spring times I've been in Foshan the sky has been reasonably clear, with occasional blue skies.

I expect it to be bad in summer as experience tells me it will be just thought it was a little out of the ordinary.

Still it's only ~164 on the pollution scale today!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I bet all the ladies are just soooo jealous of the exquisite little scuffs I have been given to wear on train this morn.



The pic doesn't actually do them justice - they are really a much more like green than yellow - just delicious - this should solve the Ett's bday gift dilemma for me later this year!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

So I guess when you are riding your #1 electric bike and you need to relocate your #2 electric bike then this would be one way to do it:



And:

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Duya reckon Yuan Jiao likes her gift?

 

[Atleastonce]

We have had to cancel our cruise with RCL from Shanghai after they changed the itinerary from south Korea to Japan. Was really looking forward to South Korea, and have Ben to Japan, so now doing bullet train from Shanghai to Beijing and will do the Great Wall and other sights around Beijing. Booked the Hilton in Beijing just waiting for complimentary velocity partnership to come through. Is CTrip the best place to book train tickets for Shanghai to Beijing? Have only just been able to book the Disneyland hotel and Disneyland tickets ( would have done all disneyland sites after doing Shanghai). Booked points tickets through VA for Singapore J flights to Shanghai and return from Beijing with really low surcharges through VA.

 

[TonyHancock]

A new reassuring addition to the gym equipment in the Hongqiao Hilton........but not quite as reassuring as it might be. The little white cards are just placed on the equipment without any sanitizing taking place!!!!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Is CTrip the best place to book train tickets for Shanghai to Beijing?

Almost certainly YES - but not just as simple as inputting names / CC number and job is done - you have to somehow physically get the train tix in your hand. Couple ways to do this and CTrip will explain - collect at Hongqiao pre dep on day of travel or have tix delivered to a nominated address for I think ¥40. This is by far best way to proceed.

I assume you are staying a day or 2 in SH pre travel to BJ. If YES contact with your hotel via Reservations Manager and ask her / him can you have the train tix delivered to them. Some SH-BJ CRH trains sell out so earlier you buy the better. If tix waiting for you at hotel you can then readily check everything is ok prior to your day of travel and if changes need to happen you have time to affect change. Date / schedule changes of CRH trains readily available.

Which class of travel are you contemplating? Remember the classes differ from airlines - from top down Business to First to Second Class. Business Class is a fabulous exp - they will give you lunch also but beware - I ate their lunch only ever one time and had thrust case of diahorea for 48hrs following - never again but YMMV. I always just buy a sandwich at Starbucks and eat that. Your hotel may well prepare you a 'lunch box' also if you ask.

Always remember this is China - the land of complication and contradiction - if their is even the remotest chance something could go wrong don't be surprised if it does. Most important - you MUST have your passport to purchase CRH train tix and to board trains also. Good luck and enjoy the wonderful country of China.

 

[seanpodge]

Does the Beijing-Shanghai HSR almost operate as a turn up and go service? Just looking at the official China Railways website, there are 43 HSR services from Beijing to Shanghai per day. As long as you're not travelling during peak periods (usually Chinese New Year and maybe the October national holiday Golden Week) and weren't too worried about which class you sat in, then you could possibly just go to the station and ask for the next train to Shanghai/Beijing. Given that the train ticket prices are set in stone, this seems like a good way to go for those who's plans won't come together until the last minute.

This certainly seems to be how the HSR line between Beijing and Tianjin operates. Despite being a very busy day with everyone heading back to work after Chinese New Year, I still easily managed to get a ticket for the next train to Beijing. From reaching the ticket booth to bum on seat was about 20 minutes. Very handy.





* It might be fair to add that I can speak reasonably good Chinese, so others' results may vary.