China - never a dull moment!

[stm1sydney]

If you have longer stays you can also day trip out to places like hangzhou.

For a day trip, I would also suggest Nanjing/Nanking. Not "nice" as such but a visit to the massacre museum provides an opportunity for reflection.

 

[moa999]

And another..

What the.


Plus another sign of the amazing connectivity in China.

 

[daft009]

Yeah the traffic light API access to cars is amazing!

I travelled in the cool hiphy EV which has since gone broke but amazing and so many other EVs!

The CBD is so quiet with EVs zooming around everywhere

On the way back home now, in Singapore for the day

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Any other must-do's in Shanghai?

Shanghai Tourist MUST sees:

• Jazz band at Peace Hotel
• Night cruise on Huangpu River to view Bund lights
• Visit the Bund itself
• Fake market at Science and Technology Subway Station
• Xin Tian Di
• Stroll pedestrian mall Nanjing Lu
• YuYu Gardens
• Shanghai QiBao Ancient Town,
• Binjiang Park across from Bund – take in Flar at RC Pudong whilst there
• Shanghai Aquarium
• Jing’an Temple

 

[Cruiser Elite]

And whilst I am at it I should add Beijing also:

Beijing Tourist MUST sees:

• Great Wall
• Forbidden City
• Tiananmen Square / Mao Tomb
• Summer Palace
• Temple of Heaven
• Ming Tombs
• Hutong Tour
• Beijing Duck Restaurant
• Wanfujing Street
• Pearl Fake Market

FTR - I have always preferred Beijing much more than Shanghai

 

[SYD]

FTR - I have always preferred Beijing much more than Shanghai

Doing both soon for the first time (Long overdue but still playing Covid cancellations catchup). A similar trip booked for early 2020 was of course the first of many to “enhanced” into a staycation…

 

[TheEmu]

For a day trip, I would also suggest Nanjing/Nanking. Not "nice" as such but a visit to the massacre museum provides an opportunity for reflection.

I found the massacre museum deeply unpleasant and quite disturbing. There are hundreds of great places to visit in Nanjing, with recorded history back to 475 BC. Some places to visit off the top of my head: the Presidential Palace with the Xuyuan Gardens inside; XuanWu (lake) Park area is huge, with a Japanese Garden on one of the islands, all of which are connected by footbridges, parts of the original city wall, Jiming temple are all close by. Purple Mountain (Zijin Shan) is also huge and has an Observatory, Dr. SunYet-Sen's mausoleum, the Xiaoling mausoleum from the Ming Dynasty (1300s), among other things. Zheng He (the Navigator) Culture park also from Ming period, ZhonghuaMen (Zhonghua Gate) is southside - a castle-city gate, a Qinhuai River cruise at night is quite spectacular but avoid the Confucius Temple (Fuzimiao) tourist trap which the river cruise will pass through.

 

[mrsterryn]

Hoping to have our first real trip to China some stage this year or next
Hoping to bribe a son and his family to come with us .
Looks like loads of posts I will need to read
Though which is better to fly in/out of , if there is a difference between Shanghai and Beijing. Most likely with Cathay

 

[Cruiser Elite]

IME over 25yrs ZERO diff which to fly in / out - done both by 100s of tines.

Whatever you do a Business Class trip on HSR usually knocks peoples socks off when they experience not only the train ride itself but the terminal experience also. The infrastructure the Chinese have built coupled with the precise on time operation just needs to be experienced. But as always YMMV

 

[SYD]

Most likely with Cathay

That’s what we’re doing. There was an excellent J Sale a few months ago. I think it was a Beijing Sale but open jaw home from Shanghai was the same price.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I should have mentioned if you arr / dep PVG you could have trip on the Maglev but you will need to pre-plan as it terminates at Longyang Rd and you are still half way into city centre - but certainly worth it if you can get the 430kmh* experience.

*Not all Maglev trips are / were operating at highest speed - I will try to check current status

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I should have mentioned if you arr / dep PVG you could have trip on the Maglev but you will need to pre-plan as it terminates at Longyang Rd and you are still half way into city centre - but certainly worth it if you can get the 430kmh* experience.

*Not all Maglev trips are / were operating at highest speed - I will try to check current status

I thought they had suspended the 430km entirely? I was hoping to take a friend on it but could t get anything last 320km.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

They may have I am not sure - there was limited trips AOPIT which were still at 430kmh but that might have even been pre Covid - I am asking in the SH dudes in the FT China WeChat thread for clarification

 

[stm1sydney]

I found the massacre museum deeply unpleasant and quite disturbing. There are hundreds of great places to visit in Nanjing...

Yes, disturbing is the word. And yes also lots of nice places to see in Nanjing.

 

[mrsterryn]

@Cruiser Elite just checking can questions be asked on this thread or should I make a new one ? Just basic 'oh my gosh I am going to China first time what are the current hints, tips, bewares " type questions lol

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I am not posting Police but AFAIAC ask anything you want and we will all answer as best we can

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I do think anybody intending to go to China to visit a phone store when you arrive and get the kids there to assist you set up the Chinese DiDi App there. I had trouble setting mine up years ago and the kids in Apple Store got it done in seconds - it requires changing location services or something but they will know how it’s done.

Once you get it installed and setup input your CC details then just use and enjoy - you will be staggered just how good and easy it is,

Of course there will be the ‘experts’ here will say never put up a CC on a Chinese App cause they will steal all your but dignore them and go enjoy what that amazing country has to offer

 

[elanshin]

IME over 25yrs ZERO diff which to fly in / out - done both by 100s of tines.

Whatever you do a Business Class trip on HSR usually knocks peoples socks off when they experience not only the train ride itself but the terminal experience also. The infrastructure the Chinese have built coupled with the precise on time operation just needs to be experienced. But as always YMMV

Id only add that for the first time taking HSR, give yourself at least 1.5hr before the train to figure everything out without stress panicking. Its quite simple once you get it but the first time can be nerve wracking as it's a different way of doing things.

I do think anybody intending to go to China to visit a phone store when you arrive and get the kids there to assist you set up the Chinese DiDi App there. I had trouble setting mine up years ago and the kids in Apple Store got it done in seconds - it requires changing location services or something but they will know how it’s done.

Once you get it installed and setup input your CC details then just use and enjoy - you will be staggered just how good and easy it is,

Of course there will be the ‘experts’ here will say never put up a CC on a Chinese App cause they will steal all your but dignore them and go enjoy what that amazing country has to offer

I just do it through Alipay/wechat for Didi after i set both those up. You'll need the payment solution anyways.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Maybe but done may not setup Alipay or WeChat if first timers only there for a short period.

As for currency yes virtually all vendors will take payment via Alipay so you can install that or these is 100 ATMs in every street corner and exchange rate is set by Babk of China daily so you cannot get stung on exchange rates if you use bank ATM

FWIW I use cash 95% of time except for DiDi but there are specific reasons for that that prolly do not apply to others

 

[mrsterryn]

I am not posting Police but AFAIAC ask anything you want and we will all answer as best we can

Just wanted to check thank you. After reading quite a lot I realise that chinas rules and suchlike do change a bit. We have been once but that was the big visa etc from about 15 years ago or so

Post automatically merged: Thursday at 1:27 PM

Maybe but done may not setup Alipay or WeChat if first timers only there for a short period.

As for currency yes virtually all vendors will take payment via Alipay so you can install that or these is 100 ATMs in every street corner and exchange rate is set by Babk of China daily so you cannot get stung on exchange rates if you use bank ATM

FWIW I use cash 95% of time except for DiDi but there are specific reasons for that that prolly do not apply to others

From readings online I definitely got the impression that cash isn't acceptable

Post automatically merged: Thursday at 1:28 PM

I do think anybody intending to go to China to visit a phone store when you arrive and get the kids there to assist you set up the Chinese DiDi App there. I had trouble setting mine up years ago and the kids in Apple Store got it done in seconds - it requires changing location services or something but they will know how it’s done.

Once you get it installed and setup input your CC details then just use and enjoy - you will be staggered just how good and easy it is,

Of course there will be the ‘experts’ here will say never put up a CC on a Chinese App cause they will steal all your but dignore them and go enjoy what that amazing country has to offer

So no real risks using an Aussie credit card
Hoping to convince my daughter in law to set it all up lol or possibly her mum lol

Thank you
There is hope of traditional tourists things and of course theme parks lol