China

[tonyh29]

On 12/03/2019 at 19:24, Xela said:

Thread resurrection. 

Anyone been to Shenzhen? Worth a visit? 

Yes ..and No

it was my entry point into China when I took the train from Hong Kong to China yonks ago  ... its about a 2 hour journey  so you could enter via that route if its cheaper / easier to fly to HK   ... Shenzhen doesn't have a lot of international connections , though BKK and KL are two of them if you wanted to fly in via those  and avoid domestic China flights

 

no idea what is there to see or do though I'm afraid

[villa4europe]

yeah shenzhen seems a strange place to want to go!

came across it doing my dissertation at uni, it was the city that started it all...the 1st special economic zone, so id expect it to be well developed however very much in the shadow of hong kong and guangzhou (the SEZ is only for 10 years and i think it shot up in the 80s so its all "new" but not as new as other parts of china) ts another one these chinese huge places no one seems to have heard of, its a big place, it doesnt have the history that other chinese cities have

you can use it as a base for HK, guangzhou and macao and i think travel north to yangshuo (but you would be better doing that from guilin)

[tonyh29]

54 minutes ago, villa4europe said:

you can use it as a base for HK

been a while since i was in HK but wouldn't  they treat leaving "China" to go to HK as needing a multiple entry visa  in order to return to "China" ?

 

Edit : - though if they treat HK as a third country then you could qualify for visa on arrival , i did it in Beijing last year , going from Beijing to Pyongyang back to Beijing  for a few more days before returning home  .. worth checking as it might not be available throughout China 

Edited March 19, 2019 by tonyh29

[Xela]

Looking at combining it with HK. Shenzhen seems to be the tech capital of Asia now and one of the fastest growing cities. Seems to be a very young and dynamic city and will soon overtake HK in GDP according to reports.

It just looked a fun place. They have huge electronics markets as well, which you can seemingly get anything. Also the HQ of Huawei and I believe all iPhones are made there as well? 

I think if you are visiting from HK you can get a visa on arrival, which is valid for a set time. 

[villa4europe]

yeah because its a SEZ* a load of foreign investment came in to the city but because its the original SEZ its quite well developed in terms of workers rights and wages etc so its not the feast and famine of some other chinese cities plus then because the government moved a lot of the SEZs on to different parts of the country, mainly inland now, a lot of the migrant workers who travelled for the far flung outreaches of china and flooded the city have been able to go back home (and quietly because they dont like to admit it the likes of apple have moved a fair chunk of their operations to the new SEZs whilst keeping the base at the likes of shenzhen)

looking at it lonely planet has shenzhen down as 2nd place as best places to visit in 2019

* the special economic zones were designed to encourage foreign investment, im pretty sure the first ones were tax free for 10 years, so if you're a big american tech firm you get the cheap chinese labour and no tax...its what caused the country to boom

[tonyh29]

21 hours ago, Xela said:

I think if you are visiting from HK you can get a visa on arrival, which is valid for a set time. 

there is a 5 day voa but double check that as I think it's only if you arrive by plane or boat ..... in case you were considering the train option 

 

 

[Xela]

2 hours ago, tonyh29 said:

there is a 5 day voa but double check that as I think it's only if you arrive by plane or boat ..... in case you were considering the train option 

 

 

Will do - I only briefly researched it but seemed that VOA was available on one land border (Lo Wu?) and wasn't available for ferry arrivals. Seems to change monthly! Ferry would be preferable as it was stress free when we did HK to Macau last year. 

[sne]

Probably nothing, right?

Quote

China urges families to keep stocks of daily necessities ahead of winter

SHANGHAI/BEIJING, Nov 2 (Reuters) - The Chinese government has told families to keep daily necessities in stock in case of emergencies, after COVID-19 outbreaks and unusually heavy rains that caused a surge in vegetable prices raised concerns about supply shortages.

The commerce ministry directive late on Monday stirred some concern on domestic social media that it may have been triggered by heightened tensions with Taiwan, while some said people were rushing to stock up on rice, cooking oil and salt.

 

"As soon as this news came out, all the old people near me went crazy panic buying in the supermarket," wrote one user on China's Twitter-like Weibo.

Local media has also recently published lists of recommended goods to store at home including biscuits and instant noodles, vitamins, radios and flashlights.

 

The public response forced state media on Tuesday to try to soothe fears and clarify the ministry's statement.

The Economic Daily, a Communist Party-backed newspaper, told netizens not to have "too much of an overactive imagination" and that the directive's purpose was to make sure citizens were not caught off guard if there was a lockdown in their area.

 

The People's Daily said the ministry issues such notices every year, but had issued its instruction earlier this year because of natural disasters, the surge in vegetable prices and recent COVID-19 cases.

The ministry's statement late on Monday urged local authorities to do a good job in ensuring supply and stable prices, and to give early warnings of any supply problems.

https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-urges-families-keep-stores-daily-needs-ahead-winter-2021-11-02/

[Danwichmann]

Has anyone visited Xinjiang? I'm going there next month, probably for a couple of weeks. While I've got some recommendations from students who come from there, the Chinese way of doing tourism differs quite a lot from mine so I'm curious if anyone has experience of the place. I'd like to get out in to wilderness, more interested in hiking, running, cycling etc than food and culture. I'd especially appreciate ideas on how to get around, as the trains don't reach a lot of places and there are few high speed trains in the province. 

[Zhan_Zhuang]

On 25/05/2023 at 03:44, Danwichmann said:

Has anyone visited Xinjiang? I'm going there next month, probably for a couple of weeks. While I've got some recommendations from students who come from there, the Chinese way of doing tourism differs quite a lot from mine so I'm curious if anyone has experience of the place. I'd like to get out in to wilderness, more interested in hiking, running, cycling etc than food and culture. I'd especially appreciate ideas on how to get around, as the trains don't reach a lot of places and there are few high speed trains in the province. 

I will hopefully visit there at some point within the next year...

About to move out to China (in June) for one year to work in Nanjing.

[Danwichmann]

1 hour ago, Zhan_Zhuang said:

I will hopefully visit there at some point within the next year...

About to move out to China (in June) for one year to work in Nanjing.

Xinjiang is great, I really loved Kashgar. Felt more like Central Asia than China. 

Unfortunately, I'm moving the other way, back to UK in the summer. But hopefully only temporarily. 

[Zhan_Zhuang]

17 minutes ago, Danwichmann said:

Xinjiang is great, I really loved Kashgar. Felt more like Central Asia than China. 

Unfortunately, I'm moving the other way, back to UK in the summer. But hopefully only temporarily. 

Yes I have a few friends who have been there, I've seen the photographs...it does look wonderful.

All the best to you.

[tonyh29]

1 hour ago, Danwichmann said:

Xinjiang

I only spent a day there as its where I caught the train to Tibet from 

At the time , (2011 ) they were just building sky scrapers everywhere in anticipating of growth from Microsoft and other tech companies moving there 

there is surveillance everywhere in China , but it was a lot more noticeable in Xinjiang , i guess what with it being Uygur  ... felt safe enough , I seem to recall it was hard to get a beer there , wasn't thriving with bars  

[Danwichmann]

19 minutes ago, tonyh29 said:

I only spent a day there as its where I caught the train to Tibet from 

At the time , (2011 ) they were just building sky scrapers everywhere in anticipating of growth from Microsoft and other tech companies moving there 

there is surveillance everywhere in China , but it was a lot more noticeable in Xinjiang , i guess what with it being Uygur  ... felt safe enough , I seem to recall it was hard to get a beer there , wasn't thriving with bars  

I guess that was Urumqi? I never went there but certainly not many sky scrappers in other cities around the province. 

Seems our experiences don't have much in common. Before going there we were warned by plenty of people our phones would probably be checked, hide our VPNs etc but there was absolutely nothing like that. Security can be a bit OTT everywhere in China but no more noticeable is Xinjiang than anywhere else. Kashgar has a large Muslim population but there were plenty of bars about, maybe because it's quite popular with tourists. 

[T-Dog]

Those of you that work, or have worked, in China - What do you do if you don't mind me asking?

There have been a few opportunities to work in APAC through my current employer, and I'm quite tempted, but it's not really a world I've ever ventured into before.

 

[Pongo Waring]

Going to China for 10-12 days.  What is the best places to go for a first timer? Is Beijing and Shanghai enough?

[Zhan_Zhuang]

On 14/05/2024 at 00:35, T-Dog said:

Those of you that work, or have worked, in China - What do you do if you don't mind me asking?

There have been a few opportunities to work in APAC through my current employer, and I'm quite tempted, but it's not really a world I've ever ventured into before.

 

It will be my first time working in China from June, I will be teaching English at a Private School in Nanjing.

Previously I have been visiting there many times since 2003, I am fascinated by the country.

19 hours ago, Pongo Waring said:

Going to China for 10-12 days.  What is the best places to go for a first timer? Is Beijing and Shanghai enough?

Possibly because 10-12 days is not that long and China is a massive country. If you have longer places like Hainan, Hong Kong, Taishan, Xinjiang, Anhui, Guilin and Yunnan are wonderful places to visit but you would need literally several weeks.

When in Beijing the parks are wonderful, Forbidden City is a must and around Tiananmen Square are interesting places. Jingshan Park is the back of the Forbidden City and the view at the top of the hill overlooking Beijing is wonderful. Beihai Park is also nice. If you have time, try to visit the Great Wall at Simatai or Jinshanling as there are less people, last time I was there for half a day and we saw literally five or six people.

Many people don't like Beijing because it is very Westernised and the air quality is still one of the poorest in China because of the industry.

Shanghai is Nuts, so many people. Zhujiajiao water town is on the outskirts of Shanghai and worth a visit, it is an ancient and very beautiful little place, great food, museums and shops but can be very busy at the weekend.

For Shanghai itself the Bund is interesting as it the Light Show at night, the Yu Garden and the Old Town is great but again always VERY busy. I really love the Waldorf Astoria on the Bund and its Long Bar, elegant and like you are in a time warp.

Have a great time!

[Pongo Waring]

6 hours ago, Zhan_Zhuang said:

It will be my first time working in China from June, I will be teaching English at a Private School in Nanjing.

Previously I have been visiting there many times since 2003, I am fascinated by the country.

Possibly because 10-12 days is not that long and China is a massive country. If you have longer places like Hainan, Hong Kong, Taishan, Xinjiang, Anhui, Guilin and Yunnan are wonderful places to visit but you would need literally several weeks.

When in Beijing the parks are wonderful, Forbidden City is a must and around Tiananmen Square are interesting places. Jingshan Park is the back of the Forbidden City and the view at the top of the hill overlooking Beijing is wonderful. Beihai Park is also nice. If you have time, try to visit the Great Wall at Simatai or Jinshanling as there are less people, last time I was there for half a day and we saw literally five or six people.

Many people don't like Beijing because it is very Westernised and the air quality is still one of the poorest in China because of the industry.

Shanghai is Nuts, so many people. Zhujiajiao water town is on the outskirts of Shanghai and worth a visit, it is an ancient and very beautiful little place, great food, museums and shops but can be very busy at the weekend.

For Shanghai itself the Bund is interesting as it the Light Show at night, the Yu Garden and the Old Town is great but again always VERY busy. I really love the Waldorf Astoria on the Bund and its Long Bar, elegant and like you are in a time warp.

Have a great time!

Thanks for your reply! 
So for 10-12 days you think Beijing and Shanghai is doable? 

[Zhan_Zhuang]

1 hour ago, Pongo Waring said:

Thanks for your reply! 
So for 10-12 days you think Beijing and Shanghai is doable? 

No problem.

Yes of course but have a plan of where you are going, when and how to get there.