China - never a dull moment!

[Jacques Vert]

Legal:

View attachment 453628

Just checked the one I picked up in France last year and it does have "RoHS" on it (but doesn't include the word "compliant"). Can only hope they will accept that.

 

[NM]

Just checked the one I picked up in France last year and it does have "RoHS" on it (but doesn't include the word "compliant". Can only hope they will accept that.

RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) has nothing to do with safety in terms of likelihood of fire or danger for transport . It just means that the materials and manufacturing process complied with the European regulations for not using the most nasty chemicals and that it can be safely recycled without causing too much hazardous waste or risk during the recycling process..

 

[Jacques Vert]

RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) has nothing to do with safety in terms of likelihood of fire or danger for transport . It just means that the materials and manufacturing process complied with the European regulations for not using the most nasty chemicals and that it can be safely recycled without causing too much hazardous waste or risk during the recycling process..

OK thanks; misread the Cruiser's post and thought it was referring the RoHS rather than the CCC. My bad.

 

[Matt_01]

Looking at visiting:
Beijing 3/4 nights
Harbin 2 nights
Shanghai 4 nights + day trip to Suzhou
Hong kong 4 nights
Macau 1 or 2 nights

Booked this trip to visit Harbin so that is a must. We need to stop going to cold places in December

Just my 2 cents worth, when are you planning on going to Harbin and is that for the ice festival. The festival normally kicks off in late Dec and runs through to Mid Feb, we were there in 2019. In Harbin there is the main Ice festival area, there is also a number of smaller areas (3-4) around Harbin and there are also Ice Sculptures areas which are dotted around various parks. There are other places like the Tiger Park, the opera precent, the aquarium and Unit 731, from memory we were in Harbin for around 5 days and could have easily spent a couple more days there. If Harbin is the non negotiable I would give up days in Beijing, Shanghai or Hong Kong as these places are all easy to get to. I did a small TR on Harbin back in 2019 Harbin 2019 I know @Hvr has also been to Harbin and he may have a different view or additional comments.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Courtesy my #1 Chinese staff member this morn and will collect in August on next visit ~AUD41.46:
View attachment 454205View attachment 454206View attachment 454207View attachment 454208View attachment 454209

False alarm with this item - it wasn't actually purchased rather Amy was jusat showing the price and availability of my existing power bank.

BUT

Mew rules explicitly forbid compliance details being applied by a 'sticker' - labelling reqts now require all compliance details being 'printed' permanently onto outer shell body such as this:


This is laterst item she is looking to buy but just trying ti get a handle on quality from the various locations reliable info is available.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Update on trains:

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/8wFcBHWcfOdnbkcl0e1ZhQ

 

[Ktan89]

Just my 2 cents worth, when are you planning on going to Harbin and is that for the ice festival. The festival normally kicks off in late Dec and runs through to Mid Feb, we were there in 2019. In Harbin there is the main Ice festival area, there is also a number of smaller areas (3-4) around Harbin and there are also Ice Sculptures areas which are dotted around various parks. There are other places like the Tiger Park, the opera precent, the aquarium and Unit 731, from memory we were in Harbin for around 5 days and could have easily spent a couple more days there. If Harbin is the non negotiable I would give up days in Beijing, Shanghai or Hong Kong as these places are all easy to get to. I did a small TR on Harbin back in 2019 Harbin 2019 I know @Hvr has also been to Harbin and he may have a different view or additional comments.

Thanks @Matt_01 i just read your trip report and it looks amazing - cant wait! I have never heard about unit 731 and will look into it. The main thing at the moment is just the snow festival and spending the day and night walking around sightseeing.

Not set in stone yet but looking to arrive 30th December late night.
31st - full day and snow festival at night - hoping they will do something for NYE.
1st Jan- full day/night exploring
2nd flying out afternoon or evening flight.

Im surprised the city is not covered in snow in your pictures..

 

[Matt_01]

Im surprised the city is not covered in snow in your pictures..

I was also surprised the ground wasn't snow covered. From memory it had been quite dry prior to our trip and snow on the ground was light on. It was apparently a warmer winter and @Hvr had sent me a message or posted in the TR that the ice city was starting to melt much earlier than expected.

Also, if you are planning to stay on the main city side (which is on the opposite side of the river to the main snow festival) I would highly recommend getting a cab and paying the AUD20-30 for the driver to wait for you and bring you back. It is not uncommon, the driver will drop you off at the main entrance and then all the cabs seem to go to a waiting area. Our cabbie gave us his number and pointed in the general direction of where he would be waiting. On leaving the night festival there were a bucket load of people looking for cabs, arguments breaking out around who called which cab, which cab was mine etc. The drivers who had been paid to stay and wait refused to take other fares and just waited for you to return, there were other people around the cab waiting area and would ask if they could get in the cab with you. From memory MrsM agreed to another couple getting in the cab with us, we were dropped back at the hotel first and I can only assume the cabbie took the other couple to wherever they were wanting to go.

Have fun.

 

[mel-world]

I lived in Beijing a while back for 4 years and there was never much snow in the winter due to the desert location. 'Bloody' cold at -15C on occasions, much more so when the wind blew down from Mongolia to the NW. But not a lot of snow. This is a typical view from my apartment.
Never got to Harbin - it was on my list but so where a number of other, less cold locations.

 

[Ktan89]

I was also surprised the ground wasn't snow covered. From memory it had been quite dry prior to our trip and snow on the ground was light on. It was apparently a warmer winter and @Hvr had sent me a message or posted in the TR that the ice city was starting to melt much earlier than expected.

Also, if you are planning to stay on the main city side (which is on the opposite side of the river to the main snow festival) I would highly recommend getting a cab and paying the AUD20-30 for the driver to wait for you and bring you back. It is not uncommon, the driver will drop you off at the main entrance and then all the cabs seem to go to a waiting area. Our cabbie gave us his number and pointed in the general direction of where he would be waiting. On leaving the night festival there were a bucket load of people looking for cabs, arguments breaking out around who called which cab, which cab was mine etc. The drivers who had been paid to stay and wait refused to take other fares and just waited for you to return, there were other people around the cab waiting area and would ask if they could get in the cab with you. From memory MrsM agreed to another couple getting in the cab with us, we were dropped back at the hotel first and I can only assume the cabbie took the other couple to wherever they were wanting to go.

Have fun.

Great tip for the taxi! Will 100% do this instead of waiting around in the cold getting frustrated. Thank you

Will probably stay at Fairfield downtown since its in the heart I think. Anything north of of the sun island /snow world island? I think Songbei

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Yep CCC Sticker application in full swing - Google Photos

And are they ever getting a good collection together - Google Photos