Anyone any experience of traveling China ?


Just been asked (read told) that I'm off too China at end of month for two weeks, back for a month then back too China for two more weeks, Ive traveled a fair bit but never china, not sure I fancy it.....

Any experiences too share ?

avoid the beef stomach soup - it really is that, sea slug and the sweet boiled peanuts.

look forward to you - it will open your eyes if Taiwan is anythihg to go buy.

what do you do? You seem to go all over!

Friend lived there for a little while (in a uni campus) & loved the experience.

Another friend did a tour and really enjoyed herself. Lots of people in built up areas speak english, but most don't. Get a menu guide for when you eat out on your own. Without it - you're really taking pot luck with what you get.

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Originally posted by MikeR
what do you do? You seem to go all over!

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male escort lol ?

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Originally posted by MikeR
what do you do? You seem to go all over!

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I've been.

If you are going on business you will possibly be looked after by the client? If so i'm sure they will guide you in the right directions.

I found a culture shock really. You might get used to men and women coughing and hoicking up greenies! but i didn't.

It's like amywhere really, there are good and bad places, and rich places and places where people are terribly poor.

The main cities like shanghai are ok. There is a good restaurant called 'M on the bund' (nice steak but expensive, one for company credit card)

As you can tell, I wasn't that impressed but I was doing the touristy 'lets experience China' thing, so you might and i'm sure others will have different experiences.

I wont be rushing back.

I travelled through southern n china by train, from Hong Kong accross to Nanning, then down to the Vietnamese border.
It was only a week but pretty amazing - the cities are developing and sprawling out so rapidly - construction everywhere. Out of the main touristy and westernised places its a complete contrast and you really are on your own - very little english spoken or written. I'd love to back some time, but it would deffinitely be worth learning some Mandarin first!

keep off the chicken feet (not much to chew on) and don't go for the chopped up jelly fish (it glistens)

been there a couple of times. where in china are you going?

I work for a Chinese company. Been over there at least 12 - 14 or so times in last 3 years. i enjoy it. Ive had some of my best meals out there and experienced some first rate hotels.

Where are you headed for? I normally go to Hangzhou and Ningbo in the East and Chengdu and Mianyang in the West. Hong Kong for an overnight stop over is fantastic.
I should be out there w/c 29th January all being well.

Darren.

I'm waiting to go out again having been last year and the year before. I should have gone back in november but the test vehicle is still stuck in customs and I have no idea when it will be out.

Where are you going? I have been to or through Shanghai, Xiangfan, Nanjing and WuHu. This trip comnig up i will be going to Xiangfan proving ground again.

The food I've had has been generally good but you can't be fussy about what animals or parts of animals you will eat. Chicken feet are rather chewy and tasteless. To answer your questions you could see the hole in the slices of Marinated Ox Penis and no i don't know what it was marinated in

The Chinese i have worked with were friendly and VERY keen to learn, but can be sneaky when it comes to business and always try and get more than was agreed.

Don't forget to get out of your hotel and have a look around you at how people really live out there.

Cream of Sum Yung Guy - Definitely a dish to avoid

Off there on Sat. The food is great if you eat local stuff. The beer is cheap. In Beijing, the pollution is so bad that the vegetation looks asthmatic. Cheap golf clubs, cheap clothing, cheap leccy stuff. Take an empty suitcase and bring back some bargains!

Check out the snake stew - yummy..... I was last there when there were two currencies, I think things are a little easier now. Just don't expect the Chinese to like you - like the Thais and Indo's do - they're the rudess buggers I've ever met on my travels!!

Awesome place - wanna go bacl some day.

Last time I was there I got to go in to an enclosure with a giant panda and have my picture taken

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Originally posted by Jasper
Last time I was there I got to go in to an enclosure with a giant panda and have my picture taken

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I have always found the Chinese people to be extremely friendly and welcoming. Sure if you wander too far off the beaten path you may find some that arent - no different to UK really. Working for a Chinese company i do of course have some good friends / colleagues out there who look after me very well indeed.

I have never had a problem with the food. The people i meet over there help me in that respect. I didnt do the Chickens feet and asked them to not serve dog. The food is nothing like Chinese food over here, it is far far better. In the West i go to Szechuan province and it is excellent. East is also great. No 2 restaurants seem to be the same so it is extremely varied. the sea food is superb as are the local specialities (there is huge selection of proper food without worrying about stomach etc etc).

Beer is generally good. Im not a lager drinker but find it OK. Dont bother with Guiness etc if you see it over there - very expensive and not as good as you will want it. I have however had a decent pint in Hong Kong Airport. You can sometimes find decent spirits to drink - a tip given to me by a local was dont buy them in a hotel by the glass. If you are staying a few nights its better to buy a bottle after haggling on the price, its OK to bring it back down to the bar on the following night (if it lasts that long).

Ive taken a solo 40 minute taxi drive across a city before with no issues. Driver didnt speak English but still OK. Dont know if id recommend that to others until you know the place.

All in all i havent had a bad experience. As with anywhere if you have your wits about you you will be fine, hopefully you will be with others.

Ref shopping, i have rarely found anything worth buying over there. Fashion is very different. Leccy goods are not always cheaper. Even in Hong Kong you have to know what you want and prepare to trawl around for hours and barter. I got a PSP a few quid cheaper but factor in taxis, food etc and its not worth it unless someone else is paying.

Some of the hotels are fantastic and usually have some great entertainment on. They often have one floor dedicated to health spas, reflexology, cabaret, KTV etc.

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Originally posted by DarrenW

Where are you headed for? I normally go to Hangzhou and Ningbo in the East and Chengdu and Mianyang in the West. Hong Kong for an overnight stop over is fantastic.
I should be out there w/c 29th January all being well.

Darren.

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I often fly into PuDong.
Weather this time of year will be cold. Ive often found it quite cold but dry enough. Think England then you wont be far off. In summer it is quite a bit hotter than here. and when it rains, boy does it rain!

Im just looking into flights at the mo. Possibly flying out 29th Jan and back 5th Feb. Need to confirm agenda first. If we just so happen to be on same flight that would be great - theres not much else to do for 11 or so hours (the flights are the worst bit unless you can fly premium economy or better - i often leave booking as late as poss so economy gets full).

You should have a great time if you are so close to Shanghai, its a fantastic city. Its not too large either so you can walk around it (LOL). I will be about 2 hours drive south in Hangzhou for part of the trip, and a 3 hour flight west for the rest.

I strongly advise trying to get at least 1 free day and head off to a tourist bit. There are some fantastic places to visit, my problem is i rarely leave time and come home exhausted. 2 weeks will fly over, its not worth going out for much less.

Looks like I'm off this coming weekend, the 27th or 28th from Manchester with BA, have you any idea when your off ?

Good luck with your China trip but check with BA,,,, it said on the news tonight they may be going on strike next week.
Regards Kipper AKA Denis.

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Originally posted by Jon Ison
Looks like I'm off this coming weekend, the 27th or 28th from Manchester with BA, have you any idea when your off ?

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See you on the plane then, I'm on same flight...........

How you getting too Heathrow.....

I'm guessing the flight isn't too full as the prices where very low, just booked it.



Edit too add...........Small world........


[Edited on 24/1/07 by Jon Ison]

I dont believe it!!!! I would have never guessed you would be on the same Virgin flight. That is great.
VS250 departing Heathrow T3 @ 14.30 on 28th. Im booked on Economy, flying with my boss. We are shortlisted for Premium Economy but doubt we will pull off the upgrade! Last time i flew out Economy i spent most of the time at the back in the galley trying to blag plenty of free drinks!

Im flying from Teesside to Heathrow on the red eye flight, leaves 06.50, arrives T1 at 08.05 so have a few hours to kill. Let me know when you get there and we will hook up for a coffee or 2.

I will U2U my mobile number.

Economy here too, just hoping its 1/2 full & can stretch out across the middle aisle, been lucky recently having 4 seats too myself on a regular basis, once the seat belts are out the way its sound.

have a story about upgrades, will share it over a coffee n full English, have too have a full English before I leave, its custom.