China - never a dull moment!

[TheEmu]

Hot in PEK:

View attachment 31967

Not so bad in NKG:

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My NKG spies tell me it's a sweaty 33 there at the moment with about 80% humidity… enjoy!

 

[GazzaOak]

Yep.... no smoking but an ashtray is provided.... you know what that means.....

but anyways.... my mate decided to smoke anyways....

 

[jetlagger]

Yep.... no smoking but an ashtray is provided.... you know what that means.....

but anyways.... my mate decided to smoke anyways....

Like many situations in China - contradictory terms abound.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

CHINA = TOTAL PARANOIA

Example 1: Youth Olympic Games to be held in Nanjing next month - 3,000 competitors + 3,000 support staff and they have deployed 70,000 security staff to ensure security. 2,000 factories in and around Nanjing and in Jiangsu Province have been forced to close for 6+ weeks to attempt to clean the air. For all intents ALL construction within Nanjing city limits has also been stalled for same period - they want no machinery of any type operating within city limits during this period.

From July 1 I think - only registered owners of vehicles - and they must be carrying vehicle registration papers and their current drivers licence to purchase gasoline for their vehicles - noncompliance = no sale - they are paranoid about storage and stockpiling of gas to make homemade bombs.

Also strict enforcement of vehicles entering / leaving Nanjing - residents need to apply for Access Permission Certificate to leave Nanjing and then return - you apply and sticker on windshield - similarly visitors from outside Jiangsu Province are supposed to apply for Permission to enter - total chaos apparently. No public notification - just enforcement.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Example 2: APEC summit coming up in Beijing in November - Beijing site of next Apec summit designed to impress | South China Morning Post - the crackdowns already started. Security will be far greater even than 2008 Olympic Games.

Google again has been pulled from air - it sometimes starts to work but whole week I was there impossible to access.

Huge police visibility EVERYWHERE in Beijing. Visa restrictions now in place - they are vetting every application extremely thoroughly - if you are thinking of applying do so early.

Like YOG in Nanjing - to buy gas you must be registered owner of vehicle and carry rego and licence with you. I have a German friend who is married to A Chinese National - his motor bike rego in her name cause just easier to do so in past - he is now screwed - cannot buy gas for it - he now rides a push bike everywhere - no choice.

ALL sales of guns and knives now 100% illegal - hard to even but cutlery sets in shops. Also impossible to buy any chemicals anywhere that might be in any way inflammable or go poof in any way.

Again same like NYOG in Nanjing - restrictions on driving from / to Beijing - you must apply for Permission Certificate which is affixed to car windshield.

I will post info on further restrictions as I learn them - this is China - nobody in general public really know what they can or can't do as nothing is ever published - you just find out as you go along apparently.

 

[hummel]

I will post info on further restrictions as I learn them - this is China - nobody in general public really know what they can or can't do as nothing is ever published - you just find out as you go along apparently.

About sum's it up I think.

 

[hedge]

Cruiser, if you are in Beijing in August, we should catch up for a beer! I'm studying some corporate finance at PKU so will be there for just under 3 weeks.

 

[Bolthead]

China Taxi Book now TOTALLY FREE for iOS and Android - here is link for iOS - https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/china-taxi-book-city-guide/id445493942?mt=8 - anybody planning a trip to China at least download it and try it - I use it EVERY day I am in China - a must IMHO.

What a great App... does it work without wifi or data signal?? I will let my son know as he lives in Shanghai however he has been there for almost 3 years and does't have a major problem communicating.

 

[TonyHancock]

What a great App... does it work without wifi or data signal??

Yep. It is probably the best app I have...and all thanks to Cruiser Elite

 

[Cruiser Elite]

What a great App... does it work without wifi or data signal?

Sure does.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Cruiser, if you are in Beijing in August, we should catch up for a beer! I'm studying some corporate finance at PKU so will be there for just under 3 weeks.

Sorry bit ATPIT I won't be in PEK at all in AUg - prolly not back in PEK til Oct at earliest - absolutely we would catch up if was. If you need any help with anything just pm me.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

and all thanks to Cruiser Elite

Not thanks to me but rather thanks to this fabulous web site - the free and open exchange of info has truly changed my life - if I can give a tiny bit back am more than happy to do so.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Whenever I am contemplating train journey in China this is the site I start with to search schedules:

Beijing To Harbin Train Schedule and Fares

Don't be fooled by names in URL just open it and type in your origin and dest and find most suitable.

 

[TonyHancock]

Whenever I am contemplating train journey in China this is the site I start with to search schedules:

Beijing To Harbin Train Schedule and Fares

Don't be fooled by names in URL just open it and type in your origin and dest and find most suitable.

Yep, big fan of this site.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Tens of Thousands of Flights Delayed in China Due to Military Exercises - See more at:

Tens of Thousands of Flights Delayed in China Due to Military Exercises | Frequent Business Traveler

China - Never a Dull Moment!

 

[TheEmu]

Whenever I am contemplating train journey in China this is the site I start with to search schedules:

Beijing To Harbin Train Schedule and Fares

Don't be fooled by names in URL just open it and type in your origin and dest and find most suitable.

Tens of Thousands of Flights Delayed in China Due to Military Exercises - See more at:

Tens of Thousands of Flights Delayed in China Due to Military Exercises | Frequent Business Traveler

China - Never a Dull Moment!

Situation Normal for China air travel and one of the reasons the train website is so useful! :shock:
The timing for this SNAFU will contribute to some interesting travel experiences: it is summer holiday time there (lots more people travelling) and Nanjing is hosting the Youth Olympic Games in August.
Probably a good time to stay away from the mid-east coast area of China, Cruiser!

 

[hummel]

Even more reason to do business in the south.

 

[Bolthead]

Whenever I am contemplating train journey in China this is the site I start with to search schedules:

Beijing To Harbin Train Schedule and Fares

Don't be fooled by names in URL just open it and type in your origin and dest and find most suitable.

Thanks for this. I have used other sites however this one is easier to read and understand. When we went to China the first time in 2007 we could only pre-book for a train ticket I think 4 days in advance unless we went through some sort of ticket agent. Is that still the same of can you book on-line further in advance. Can you book directly at the train station further than 4 days in advance these days. I have now been back to China a further 5 times however have not used any long distance trains.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

TBH I do not know - I usually only book day before or just buy tix that day at station.

 

[hummel]

TBH I do not know - I usually only book day before or just buy tix that day at station.

Cruiser,

Do you still need your passport to buy a ticket? Last time I bought a ticket from Guangzhou East out to Shenzen I had to provide passport, along with my staff translating...