Best travel mode for getting from Hong Kong to this destination in southern China?

[RSD]

That's the main ones.
Shanghai is a bit different with
Shanghai Hongqiao being the main station (and kind of West of the city). There is a future East station under construction next to Pudong Airport.

Cheers! Its a bit of a headfull down south with Dongguan in Guangdong etc - throw in the wacky offset in google maps and it is a bit of a learning curve for newcomers!

 

[moa999]

throw in the wacky offset in google maps

Assuming android. Download Amap (by Alibaba). Fully in English these days.. just ignore any prompts to login (still needs a Chinese number).
For apple, Apple Maps works ok.

Can Favourite locations (hotels, train stations easily).
Also MetroMan is a good English app for public transport once you know where you are going.

 

[RSD]

Assuming android. Download Amap (by Alibaba). Fully in English these days.. just ignore any prompts to login (still needs a Chinese number).
For apple, Apple Maps works ok.

Can Favourite locations (hotels, train stations easily).
Also MetroMan is a good English app for public transport once you know where you are going.

I've just downloaded Amap now and will check it out tomorrow (yes I'm an Android kinda guy)

Will take a look at MetroMan tomorrow too - cheers!

 

[RSD]

Bing Maps seems like it is useful when planning China trips. Like google maps it has an offset - from what I have seen during a play around the offset in Bing Maps is pretty consistent in distance however the direction varies - for instance in Shenzhen you need to look 500-600 metres northwest of where the location is given when you type in the address or location you are looking for, but in Yantai you need to look WSW the same distance. Overall though Bing Maps seems to be another useful tool in the toolbox for China.

 

[RSD]

Any recommendations for things to do on a Sunday afternoon in the area around Shenzhen North/Shenzhenbei railway station? In about three weeks I'm taking QF29 on the Saturday to HKG, then staying at the Regal that night and training into Shenzhen on the Sunday, and I'm going to have the Sunday afternoon free - will be staying at the Pullman Shenzhen North right by the railway station.

 

[elanshin]

Bing Maps seems like it is useful when planning China trips. Like google maps it has an offset - from what I have seen during a play around the offset in Bing Maps is pretty consistent in distance however the direction varies - for instance in Shenzhen you need to look 500-600 metres northwest of where the location is given when you type in the address or location you are looking for, but in Yantai you need to look WSW the same distance. Overall though Bing Maps seems to be another useful tool in the toolbox for China.

The tldr is that any western mapping service is always off because of security reasons (similarly in korea).

The chinese maps are the accurate ones. The only exception being apple maps because iphone is such a popular status symbol in china.

 

[skylabsea]

Any recommendations for things to do on a Sunday afternoon in the area around Shenzhen North/Shenzhenbei railway station? In about three weeks I'm taking QF29 on the Saturday to HKG, then staying at the Regal that night and training into Shenzhen on the Sunday, and I'm going to have the Sunday afternoon free - will be staying at the Pullman Shenzhen North right by the railway station.

Nothing to do around that area, I only stay there overnight if I’m catching HSR the next day. Get off at Futian station which is in the eastern centre of the city, spend the arvo there, and then taxi to the hotel. Or just stay in Futian if you’re not traveling by rail the next day.

The offset is also interesting. China doesnt use WGS84, so assuming a prior coordinates are WGS84 will result in this drift

 

[RSD]

Nothing to do around that area, I only stay there overnight if I’m catching HSR the next day. Get off at Futian station which is in the eastern centre of the city, spend the arvo there, and then taxi to the hotel. Or just stay in Futian if you’re not traveling by rail the next day.

The offset is also interesting. China doesnt use WGS84, so assuming a prior coordinates are WGS84 will result in this drift

Cheers! I might check in and drop the bags then head down to Futian then - will be easier than dragging the bags around. What are the best things to see in the Futian area?

 

[markis10]

Cheers! I might check in and drop the bags then head down to Futian then - will be easier than dragging the bags around. What are the best things to see in the Futian area?

Definitely check in first, the subway is not fun with security checks and bags. As for what to do, depends on your interests:

Art : Dafen Oil Painting Village (大芬油画村) Longgang District
Shopping: General goods - the mall near the border
Electronics / Gadgets- SEG Plaza Huaqiangbei
Food - Coco Mall

Like Singapore folk are so busy looking at their phones they have put lights in the pavement at crossings as you can see in the photo.

 

[RSD]

Definitely check in first, the subway is not fun with security checks and bags. As for what to do, depends on your interests:

Art : Dafen Oil Painting Village (大芬油画村) Longgang District
Shopping: General goods - the mall near the border
Electronics / Gadgets- SEG Plaza Huaqiangbei
Food - Coco Mall

Like Singapore folk are so busy looking at their phones they have put lights in the pavement at crossings as you can see in the photo.

View attachment 442401View attachment 442402

Many thanks - will check those out!

The problems created by people looking at their mobile phones are many - I accidentally got off at the wrong MTR stop in Hong Kong and so was walking down Nathan Road with a huge plastic crate and people kept walking head first into it!

 

[skylabsea]

Many thanks - will check those out!

The problems created by people looking at their mobile phones are many - I accidentally got off at the wrong MTR stop in Hong Kong and so was walking down Nathan Road with a huge plastic crate and people kept walking head first into it!

I second the recommendation of SEG plaza if you’re into electronics (e.g. with a bit of haggling you can get good quality knockoff airpods for under 50AUD, although you gotta be careful as not all knockoffs are created equal)

Dongmen old street for crowd gazing and late night BBQ

Coco park for night life

 

[RSD]

A quick question for all you China gurus - does anyone know of a good airfreight consolidator/forwarder?

 

[RSD]

More Shenzhen help needed from the gurus - having experienced today the HKG Airport line from the airport to Kowloon and then the walk across and down and down and then walk a lot more to get the high speed rail to to Shenzhen - are there any other ways of doing the reverse getting from Shenzhen area back to Hong Kong airport that don't involve anywhere near as much walking? I am going to be dragging two massive duffel bags and and the distances from the high speed train across to the airport train are concerning me due to dragging the huge duffel bags. Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated!

 

[moa999]

More Shenzhen help needed from the gurus - having experienced today the HKG Airport line from the airport to Kowloon and then the walk across and down and down and then walk a lot more to get the high speed rail to to Shenzhen - are there any other ways of doing the reverse getting from Shenzhen area back to Hong Kong airport that

Maybe the ferry.
Routes from Shenzhen Shekou Port and Shenzhen Fuyong Port to SkyPier at HKIA.
Suspect you can get a Didi/ Taxi pretty close to both ports.

Not done it myself

 

[equus]

Depends on the budget. If you have lots of luggage, and want point to point, something like Asia Car Service will pick you up from wherever and drop you at the airport. Depending on how the wind is blowing / what changes have happened, have had both just sit in the car as you go through customs / immi back into Hong Kong (IIRC in the car back to HGK is normal) to get out and lug your luggage through the queues (but I think this is more going into China - but have had both).

Definitely hassle free - but far from cheap (just depends how much stuff you have to lug). I think around US$220 - makes more economic sense with mutlipe pax.

 

[kamchatsky]

How big are the bags? I would just catch the taxi from West Kowloon Station to Airport for say $300 hkd? There is dedicated taxi rank there.

 

[SYD]

Depends on the budget. If you have lots of luggage, and want point to point, something like Asia Car Service will pick you up from wherever and drop you at the airport. Depending on how the wind is blowing / what changes have happened, have had both just sit in the car as you go through customs / immi back into Hong Kong (IIRC in the car back to HGK is normal) to get out and lug your luggage through the queues (but I think this is more going into China - but have had both).

Definitely hassle free - but far from cheap (just depends how much stuff you have to lug). I think around US$220 - makes more economic sense with mutlipe pax.

I recently used Trip.com a couple of times to book airport pickups in China (less than A$30 at PEK (to/from) and pickup at XIY. Quite happy with the service and price. I couldn’t work out how to book non-airport transfer and I need to get to Kay Tak cruise terminal later in the year. The link above was quoting US$114 from downtown HKG….

 

[equus]

They really up the price when you start involving dual registered vehicles and transits across the border, but that price form downtown Hong Kong to Kai Tak is over the top - just get a taxi or an Uber for that sort of trip.