China - never a dull moment!

MEL_Traveller said:
Transit without visa has been around for years, and while it's an easy process, the basics are not negotiable... you must have an onward ticket (evidenced by a ticket number). Without that ticket you will be refused boarding in Australia (or other transit point before getting to China). If you did somehow manage to make past those checks, you would be refused entry to China (sent back to your last point of embarkation).

The cheapest option in your circumstances would be a one year multiple entry visa.
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Thanks MEL,
Yes I thought as much. Will just keep on with the one year multiple entry.
Cheers,
Mitch
 
Mitch_W said:
Thanks MEL,
Yes I thought as much. Will just keep on with the one year multiple entry.
Cheers,
Mitch
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Given the current situation in Nth Korea there's increasing uncertainty with flight schedules. A visa will protect you in the event flights are cancelled or moved just before you leave Australia (flight schedule changes before arriving in China will invalidate TWOV, flight changes while you are in China on TWOV will give you a grace period).
 
straitman said:
Cruiser,

If you had 5 days/4 nights starting from the Shanghai port and flying out of PEK at 2345 what would you suggest? (In July)
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@ straitman – firstly thank you so much for the opportunity to share my thoughts – what follows is MY PERSONAL OPINION – it can never be right or wrong – but I do hope it hits the mark:

Sun Jul 09 – Abandon ship 10:00

  • Taxi to Waldorf Astoria Hotel and check in ASDAP - courtesy your HH Dia settle in to your upgraded room at best hotel in SH status (no Exec Lounge)
  • Take your passports to Concierge and request they purchase your tix via CRH train to BJ on Tue Jul 11. Train schedule HERE – ¥1748ea plus probably ¥40ea service fee. Best by in advance for certainty. Take G14 or G 16 – quickest trains at <5hrs and best dep / arr timings.
  • Go online and book a table at Jazz Bar at Peace Hotel – don’t chance a walk in – either way there is min spend ¥300ea to sit and enjoy entertainment. Do not book for later than 20:00 – enjoy a unique experience.
  • Head out and walk Nanjing Lu from Bund down to Peoples Square and return – should include leisurely lunch and just a quiet relaxing few hours.
  • Try to You must walk to Nanjing East subway Station and take line 2 -> Pudong 4 stops – visit fake market at Shanghai Science and Technology Museum for an hour – take subway again 2 stops to Longyang Rd – ride Maglev to Pudong and ret imm to Longyang Rd – subway back to East Nanjing Rd to your hotel. (check Maglev schedule – some are not >300kmh – some >430kmh – I will try to get schedule for you – Concierge should have it.
  • Enjoy a pre-dinner drink in Long Bar at WA – just a fabulous environment – just keep in your mind you are sitting in what was a Maccas restaurant.
  • Choose a restaurant for dinner – gazillions of alternatives – again hotel Concierge your best friend – I will not offer suggestions as you know your tastes – work this out with Concierge.
  • Enjoy your visit to Jazz bar either pre-dinner or post dinner – 19:30 – 21:30 best timing IMHO but you need to work that one out and work dinner around it – stroll Nanjing Lu for a further hour or so to experience the after-hours vibrancy.

Mon Jul 10 – don’t sleep too long – time is short – experiences are many:

  • Walk Nanjing Lu again for 10 mins out then 10mins back and check the locals indulging in their daily Tai Chi exercises – just a lovely gentle experience
  • Back to hotel for brekky – then get directions to the Red / Blue / Green hop on / hop off bus – NO this is not a joke - they will show you more in 3 hours than you can dream of. Get a map from Concierge and ask advice on routings – you can hop one to other no restrictions 24hrs for ¥100ea – in 1 day you can see most of what you need to in SH – don’t worry about Bund – you will see it tonight. Back to hotel ~17:00 and enjoy a drink in Long Bar. You could do the fake market / Maglev this day – up to you.
  • ~18:30 get taxi to bottom end Bund to book a night cruise on Huangpu River to take in lights on both Pudong and Puxi sides – this is stunning – DO NOT miss it. Your hotel only 15mins away but maybe 30-60mins to board – cannot pre buy tix – go there instead.
  • Return and walk back along Bund to your hotel – Google Maps is a must – this is one of the most sensational experiences you can ever have – wall to wall locals and visitors just out enjoying life – what an experience! Head back to hotel when it suits – or kick on in plenty available local bars.

Tue Jul 11 – Again don’t sleep late – get your brekky in earlyish:

  • Train to BJ - you need leave hotel 2hrs prior to your train dep – you will have pre purchased tix - depending on your luggage – I assume no shortage – then subway to Hongqiao probably not suitable – take taxi instead. You have 5hr train trip – Business Class only way to go – they will offer you lunch – maybe edible – maybe inedible – take a sandwich with you just in case (buy at Subway / Costa Coffee / hotel might make you one) – water / coke / ****ty coffee provided on board – 100% MUST take roll of toilet paper from hotel with you – no guarantee will be any on train towards end journey – at least toilets are not squat pans (OK some are – seek out others) – enjoy your 300kmh train trip.
  • Arrive Beijing Sth and seek out taxi queue – can be 5 mins wait – can be 60mins wait – good luck with that one. No taxi driver speaks English – preprint on cards or have image in your phone of your hotel address in Chinese – taxis from stations etc 100% legit meter only – settle into your hotel. Note: I stay solely at RBCH in BJ – if you want I can arrange Studio Suite for you incl EL access net ¥1160/nt but up to you.
  • Confirm your next day Great Wall / Ming Tombs tour with Simon service – Cost ¥800/day with private car – you will have pre-booked this weeks before your travel
  • Go see Concierge and get his / her advice on best / most accessible local Peking Duck restaurant for that eve. Or ask them book you duck restaurant at Wangfujing St and you can walk the street after dinner. Enjoy a pre-dinner drink in Exec Lounge then to duck restaurant for the real thing – what an experience – get camera ready. Call it a day or enjoy a drink in a local bar.

Wed Jul 12

  • Simon will collect you ~07:30 for your day long tour to the wall and return approx. 16:00 – Then relax in EL with pre dinner drink.
  • Consult Concierge for restaurant recos – you know what you like – they will match you up – choosing resto each day can be a lot more fun than too much pre-planning. Concierge your best friend – they know all – give them parameters of what you seek then choose on their advice – more fun that way.

Thu Jul 13

  • Simon will collect you ~08:00 for your City tour incorporating Tiananmen Square / Forbidden City / Temple of Heaven / Summer Palace - ¥600/day with private car – returning you to hotel at ~16:00
  • Your visit to BJ just about done – depending on hotel / status / negotiations etc you may or may not be able to get shower pre dep to PEK – I assume QF flt will give you access to CX lounge in PEK? Do they have showers there? I know nothing of OW flts / lounge ex PEK.

My job is done here – for specifics feel free to ask – I will help if I can – above all – go forth and enjoy – China is one of the safest and most fascinating countries on the planet.
 
Appreciate the train has its advantages but I'm partial to flying to PEK... first class on China eastern is ¥1705... with widebody a330s depending on flight choice. No running out of tp!
 
straitman said:
We have only had a brief trip to China previously and our preference is to use the high speed train to Beijing.
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MEL_Traveller said:
Appreciate the train has its advantages but I'm partial to flying to PEK... first class on China eastern is ¥1705... with widebody a330s depending on flight choice. No running out of tp!
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straitman has done like a million flts MEL - but never the HSR before - yep flt 3hrs quicker - unless ................ - unless you get those way too frequent 1 to 2 to 3 to more hour delays - I will never again fly internal in China if HSR available - but again YMCV.
 
MEL_Traveller said:
Appreciate the train has its advantages but I'm partial to flying to PEK... first class on China eastern is ¥1705... with widebody a330s depending on flight choice. No running out of tp!
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Thanks for the thought MEL_Traveller. As Cruiser Elite says the HST is our preference on this one. Another time we may do something different. (A side note. I have been involved in training some Chinese pilots and I am not very keen on their abilities)

Cruiser Elite said:
straitman has done like a million flts MEL - but never the HSR before - yep flt 3hrs quicker - unless ................ - unless you get those way too frequent 1 to 2 to 3 to more hour delays - I will never again fly internal in China if HSR available - but again YMCV.
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Thanks so much Cruiser. It looks awesome.

Just got home from a day trip to Melbourne to pick up our passports and Chinese visas.

I'll look at this get back to you.
 
moa999 said:
Australian owned... But brewed in Belgium !
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Yep - that is what got me first up.

And it is more Authentic than Authentic - because it is written on the front logo, not once, but twice.

I did try a can, and was just not to my taste. Mind you, idea of watering beer down with Sprite is not really my taste anyway - was not as sweet as I was expecting it to be.
 
Love flying in China in the afternoon. Being sent for a long wait to the trade store when a young apprentice has come in handy for patience:

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Cruiser Elite said:
I have totally given up on flts internally - plan around CRH train travel and all is good.
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Yeah - I also do normally - but Shanghai to Xiamen - the choice of a 80 min flight with all the risks around that, vrs 6.5-8 hours on a CRH train - has me picking flying every time.
 

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