China - never a dull moment!

[Cruiser Elite]

 

[Scarlett]

What happens to Jack if the problem happens again?

 

[Cruiser Elite]

What happens to Jack if the problem happens again?

Smack on the hands - don’t worry his name is Jack and not Navalny - Jack will be part of the team for a long time.

So what will happen next? Manufacturers will pull down 100 tricycle rear section cartons to inspect - all up prolly 10 to 15 mins per carton - open / inspect / close and reseal - that’s life in the manufacturing industry.

Inhouse over last 3 weeks our team has opened / reprogrammed / resealed 500 cartons cause our Chinese partners have failed to install and test the correct software program - our labour cost maybe AUD10/carton - Chinese partners will reimburse - China - Never a dull moment

 

[laffer]

Genuine question for the China regulars. Do you need a guide/driver for Shanghai. I imagine the metro is sufficient so no need for a driver but what about a local guide. Can you cut it with translation apps on your own or do you really need someone to translate/guide for you?

Where would people recommend as a shortish high speed train second destination out of Shanghai?

Subject to getting wechat/alipay working, I would be looking for perhaps a 10 day circuit (visa pending). Young child might be in tow but they are early teens so should be fine. Any experiences to share?

Hows the visa situation these days? A bit easier for the tourist?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

You can get a local guide if you wish, for example if you have a special interest such as antiques, or art deco. But for the main touristy things you will be fine without a guide. There’s sufficient signage in english, and restaurants/cafes etc will either have english language, or a member of staff who will be able to understand you.

I never took the metro. Always taxi. These days I guess you could use rideshares. Transport is so cheap it’s easy to just get form A->B without mucking around on the metro!

For an ultra short high speed… maglev! Only 8 mins. Or Suzhou, also by high speed. But lots and lots of tourists.

 

[laffer]

Thanks Mel_Traveller. Appreciate the tips and suggestions. Based out of Oz Cruiser. So travelling from Oz hence the q about whether the visa situation for tourists (sans family) might be easier.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks Mel_Traveller. Appreciate the tips and suggestions. Based out of Oz Cruiser. So travelling from Oz hence the q about whether the visa situation for tourists (sans family) might be easier.

If you can manage to fit within the 144 transit without visa it’s much simpler and cheaper. Requires you to be in transit to a third country, so AU-HKG-AU is fine for example, or v.v. But otherwise, if you need to go to the consulate or visa centre, I found going on a wednesday to drop off was better, and pick-up the following Monday or tuesday.

This is because everyone else drops off Mon/Tue, and picks up Thu/Fri. So by dropping off later you generally miss the crowds.

 

[moa999]

Do you need a guide/driver for Shanghai. I imagine the metro is sufficient so no need for a driver but what about a local guide. Can you cut it with translation apps on your own or do you really need someone to translate/guide for you?

Signage in English is generally good at/near tourists spots and on the metro. Many tourist spots have those radio self guided tours which have an English option.

As above Metro is easy, as is Didi (rideshare) app.

It's a big city and traffic can be poor.

Really depends on what you are looking to do and how comfortable you are when almost no-one around you speaks English.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Signage in English is generally good at/near tourists spots and on the metro. Many tourist spots have those radio self guided tours which have an English option.

As above Metro is easy, as is Didi (rideshare) app.

It's a big city and traffic can be poor.

Really depends on what you are looking to do and how comfortable you are when almost no-one around you speaks English.

Also depends on the time of year. Summer can be crazy hot. Having to walk to and from the metro, and crowded trains is the trade off for a longer journey time, but door-to-door in an air conditioned car.

I lived there for 6 years, didn’t speak any chinese. I could count on one hand the times I thought ‘oh, I’m having a language issue’. There are so many people that you’ll find someone, or some place, that has enough english to get you through.

The main problem was taxis, not understanding where you wanted to go. but not an issue with Didi.

 

[laffer]

Thanks for the tips all. For those interested, CX seems to have some decent J pricing around late Dec. $3.5k out of Sydney is not too bad. What is Christmas like in China? Mass tourism? It wont be CNY levels but curious if western new year is just as busy.

 

[mushez]

Personally I would address the visa issue first. My understanding is you can only get a visa with an invitation of someone in China - aka business inviting you to come to conduct business hence a business visa - or tour operator inviting you to come as you are part of a tour group.

China isn't a location anyone can apply and get a tourist visa and do their own thing. Most of us here are going to China on our business Visa's and then venturing out on our own for a day or two here and there.

Regarding plans near Shanghai:
1- Ancient Town of Xitang - is always top of my list - spend 2-3 days here, eating and taking up the town - bar nightlife was always good and well worth it. Getting there has always been a long distance bus journey - so 1-2 hour bus trip from Shanghai - or get the highspeed train to Jiaxing or Suzhou and a 30 minute bus trip from there. Tons of very beauitful girls travel here daily to dress up in antient dress and walk around town taking photos of themselves - both day and night. The town is awsome, but the people watching aspect of the town is where it is at and few places in China you can go and experience the cutural experience you do here with your only admision price being your marginally inflated transport in and out and accomidation in the town.

2- Suzhou is a 30 minute high speed train ride away from Shanghai - but note you need to buy your tickets a good day prior as they are selling out with commuters. In Suzhou the usual is Humble Administrator's Gardens. Easy well taken path of 1,000's daily.

3- Changshu is now on the high speed train line post Covid and is a better option than Suzhou and is my personal home town in China. Only place in China I am almost guaranteed clean blue skys and where you will find me relaxing in China. 48 minute high speed train ride from Shanghai. Yu Mountain Ancient City Wall is a less populated and mini great wall of China, but it honestly will give you a work out climbing it. You can easily chew through a couple of days doing the raft of tourist things in Changshu - and itself is a tourist destination for Chinese - but you will not feel like you are being bombarded like any other tourist - you will be left alone to your own devices and enjoy things at your own pace.

4- While it is a 4 hour odd High Speed Train Trip - and half way to Beijing - in Xuzhou being the Guishan Han Dynasty Tombs is on my well worth it list. Seeing 100 meter dual tunnels carved out of rock with the precision no apprentice today could achive with our modern tools will leave your jaw on the ground and thinking the Chinese know a thing or three if they put their minds to things.

 

[ChaoLong]

There is a china visa office in William st Sydney. You can do most of it online before going to the office. Crowded but efficient.

 

[woodyren]

You can definitely get a tourist visa without an invite letter or business requirement. You just need to supply copies of your air tickets and hotel bookings etc. If you book refundable hotels it is easy to cancel once visa is granted and then travel more independently.

There is a requirement to only stay in hotels that can report directly to the PSB (Public security bureau) when you check in or you must report to the PSB yourself by visiting the local police station if you stay in a private residence.

 

[elanshin]

Not quite sure where to ask, but if i was to look at landing in hong kong, is it easy to get to Guangzhou/Foshan without additional flying.

I could fly to CAN airport and I'm sure transport can be arranged from there. Just trying to figure out if HKG can be done.

 

[mel-world]

Not quite sure where to ask, but if i was to look at landing in hong kong, is it easy to get to Guangzhou/Foshan without additional flying.

I could fly to CAN airport and I'm sure transport can be arranged from there. Just trying to figure out if HKG can be done.

A bit of public transport but easy enough. Airport Express, the MRT then a High Speed Train to any number of stations in China.

 

[elanshin]

A bit of public transport but easy enough. Airport Express, the MRT then a High Speed Train to any number of stations in China.

and I imagine in terms of passport control, that'd be done at HK station?

 

[ChaoLong]

There is passport control in Hong Kong and it was pretty fast for foreigners when I crossed recently

 

[TheEmu]

Not quite sure where to ask, but if i was to look at landing in hong kong, is it easy to get to Guangzhou/Foshan without additional flying.

I could fly to CAN airport and I'm sure transport can be arranged from there. Just trying to figure out if HKG can be done.

Bus, ferry or train... but train is the way to go. Take the Airport Express train into Kowloon Station. There was a (free) shuttle bus to Hong Kong West Kowloon High Speed Train station - check if that's still the case. Also work out where you want to go in Guangzhou/Forshan as there are several stations - GungzhouNan (South) & GuangzhouDong (East) for high speed trains.

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[elanshin]

Bus, ferry or train... but train is the way to go. Take the Airport Express train into Kowloon Station. There was a (free) shuttle bus to Hong Kong West Kowloon High Speed Train station - check if that's still the case. Also work out where you want to go in Guangzhou/Forshan as there are several stations - GungzhouNan (South) & GuangzhouDong (East) for high speed trains.

China Trains Tickets, Best Rail Booking Service, Realtime Schedule

China train ticket online booking service offers real-time railway tickets availability, official price, and door to door delivery service for travelers planning train travel to China.

www.travelchinaguide.com

Cheers - will look a bit more into that.

Didn't really think about visiting Foshan until potentially a reasonable supplier for something we need and sometimes it might be easier / less headaches involved with a hop over to see them than try to explain things online.

Shanghai area I'm familiar with but haven't really visited Guangzhou much.

 

[TheEmu]

and I imagine in terms of passport control, that'd be done at HK station?

Yes, at Hong Kong West Kowloon station.