China - never a dull moment!

[woodyren]

Just spent a few days in Dalian. It is well worth a visit. Even a few ok beaches and the water looked quite clean. Locals getting a good tan up.

 

[maccaisking]

I might be heading to Guangzhou at the end of the year. Any hotel recommendations?

How bad is the economy at the moment?

I lived in GZ for a year in 2018/19. Stayed in Hilton which was fine on initial short trip, then lived in Ascott IFC apartments - which were very good. Excellent staff and facilities. A lot can change in a few years though.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

BJ-SH or vv - Train or Plane?

 

[woodyren]

Always the train for me if I can work it into my itinerary. Just heading off to catch the train along the recently completed Shenyang to Beijing high speed line.

Will reduce the time for the almost 700klm journey down to under 3 hours compared to the 5 hours on the previous high speed line.

 

[Buzzard]

Always the train for me if I can work it into my itinerary. Just heading off to catch the train along the recently completed Shenyang to Beijing high speed line.

Will reduce the time for the almost 700klm journey down to under 3 hours compared to the 5 hours on the previous high speed line.

Sure beats Sydney to Armidale by train, about 500km and 9 hours or more as the train usually runs late.

 

[RealtimeY]

Hi heading to Shanghai soon,

Wondering what VPN services are actually functional right now in China?

If you haven't been/found a solution already, I highly recommend 3HK DIY Prepaid eSIM. It's HK$10 (~A$2) a day for 500mb, or you can get 15GB for closer to $30. You may find an option there for your Japan travels too.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Stairwell Rooms anyone?

 

[elanshin]

Hi heading to Shanghai soon,

Wondering what VPN services are actually functional right now in China?

Also I've read somewhere if you use an international roaming sim, it can work to get pass the great firewall too?

Ended up using my own roaming (need my AU number active) which works.
For VPN i tried LetsVPN and it works fine. You can't access it China so prepare it beforehand.

Alipay/WeChat pay can now link cards, but do all the verification a little before you leave. I couldn't get alipay to work on MU flight for wifi as it needed "cash" in the wallet not a linked card.

Took a lot longer to clear PVG for departure than I expected. 5:30 arrival for 7:55 flight. I barely made the flight on final call despite using business check in. Didn't get a chance to check out the 137 lounge which is new in the satellite terminal. Will check it out on the outbound to Sydney next week.

Currently in Japan and will head back to Shanghai in a few days.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Another long standing Beijing institution

It’s opposite Mango at Ritan Park if you are wondering

 

[TheEmu]

Photo taken 23rd June 2014...

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Boys at the auto shop deserve a spell every now and again don’t they?

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Currently ensconced in Pistolera Mexican Restaurant at base Portman Ritz Carlton in Shanghai enjoying a coupla frozen Margaritas and their Taco combination watching the tennis:


What a wonderful world

 

[Cruiser Elite]

This country never ceases to amaze - Arrival and Departure cards are attached as one card with perforations to seperate - pretty simple and straightforward huh?

Nope this is China - the land of complication and contradiction

You must fill out arrival card or no entry - average person would separate top Arrival section from bottom Departure section - I’m average - and fill out both - presented Departure section with Passport BP and phone showing Digital APEC Card to immig this arvo and promptly told no need fill out Dep section - he went on and on about it with a doz other pax all within ear shot and all with completed Dep sections.

Oh and the pièce de résistance you have to fill out a Health Declaration declaring you don’t have Covid / pox or whatever as you depart the country:


If there is ever a way to complicate or make any task difficult the Chinese will find it - it may take a day or 2 - a week or 2 - but they will find it

China - the land of complication and contradiction

 

[RealtimeY]

Does the health declaration still ask you for your travel history for the last two weeks on departure?

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Yes it does

 

[elanshin]

Yes it does

Just the countries iirc.

Honestly at some point they'll abruptly drop this too imo since its really not serving any purpose now that they dropped testing. It's kind of like they forgot that this was part of their process.

Actually its pretty similar to Japan having to keep doing health declarations for quite a longer after they dropped testing requirements.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Yes you just need list Countries you have been in previous 14 days:

 

[mel-world]

Hey Cruiser. You might want to remove the mobile number.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Hey mel that might be a fictitious number

 

[Cruiser Elite]

From November 1, No More Health Declaration to Enter/Leave China

Follow Expat Focus

mp.weixin.qq.com