Tips for business travel within China?

[RSD]

I've got to visit a number of different Chinese cities on a trip in November to meet with several potential suppliers. Any tips as to the best way to get between cities (fly or train etc), and for getting around in the cities?

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Need much more specifics on which cities and in which order - simple answer without being a smart cough is plane or train and taxi or DiDi.

 

[Mogul]

Do you know any of these suppliers already even from just phone calls? Most will pick up from your hotel and return you there as well.

 

[RSD]

Need much more specifics on which cities and in which order - simple answer without being a smart cough is plane or train and taxi or DiDi.

No particular order - whichever makes the most sense - would like to fly QF as far as China or HK.

- Zhejiang
- Henan
- Shaanxi
- Hebei
- Guangdong
- Shanghai
- Guangzhou
- Qingdao

If I had a preference then Qingdao first followed by the others in any order

 

[RSD]

Do you know any of these suppliers already even from just phone calls? Most will pick up from your hotel and return you there as well.

Mostly conversed via email so far, but they are aware that I am aiming to visit towards the end of the year.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

No particular order - whichever makes the most sense - would like to fly QF as far as China or HK.

- Zhejiang
- Henan
- Shaanxi
- Hebei
- Guangdong
- Shanghai
- Guangzhou
- Qingdao

If I had a preference then Qingdao first followed by the others in any order

Shorter journeys - plane and train same same. This might just include something as far as Shanghai-Beijing on the fast train compared to flying the same route. What you gain with speed in the air you'll lose waiting around airports. Delays are common, and they can range from an hour to several hours.

Longer distances or slow trains you'd fly.

Bottom line... if you need to be somewhere at a specific time for an important meeting, either fly the night before, or take the train on the day.

 

[seanpodge]

A little difficult to be precise since you've listed provinces rather than cities, but it is possible to go for rail for a fair bit, perhaps even most, of this trip, I think. I generally echo the sentiments of MEL_Traveller. Anything that can be done by rail in 4 to 5 hours is likely to be better done that way than air given that airports are often a bit out of town and the chances of delays being much much higher than with rail. Note too that the rules about electronics in flight are stricter than in most other places, including a total ban on mobile phones during flight, even in flight mode so if you need to be productive/contactable while travelling, then the trains have a clear advantage.

One small note on High Speed trains (HSR) in China: the stations that these trains stop at are often a little away from the city centre. Not as far out as airports, but still needs to be factored in to travel time.

 

[Timtammi]

I vote trains, where practicable. The flights are a nightmare in my experience, always delayed, airports too far, lines too long. The larger train stations can get very busy too but it just seems to run better and more efficiently and the HSR is excellent and runs on time.

 

[Melburnian1]

I also vote rail.

Don't forget over longer distances there are sleeping car trains. Try to obtain the best sleeper that you can if using these in addition to HSR (high speed rail) by day.

Airports - a nightmare, and flights unreliable.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I also vote rail.

Don't forget over longer distances there are sleeping car trains. Try to obtain the best sleeper that you can if using these in addition to HSR (high speed rail) by day.

Airports - a nightmare, and flights unreliable.

While this is an option, this is probably where I would fly (ie distances involving a sleeper).

Flying the night before, even allowing for delays, still gets you to a hotel and a proper bed, with midday checkout the next day, rather than a potential morning arrival and having to hang around the city till your appointment, or when the hotel allows you to check-in.

 

[theblank]

Be aware that travelling by train doesnt necessarily mean efficient transit. I have spent 3 hours in the taxi queue departing from one of the Shanghai stations - that was around 5pm so rookie mistake I know.

Plus trying to figure out how to catch the train in the first place is a bit overwhelming, The chinese love red writing on the led signs with tiny english letters and there are a million signs, for my crazy eyes it just all looks blurry. You still need to arrive just as early trains as you do for the flights. This is for the major trainstations, like at Shanghai, which are bigger than australian airports, the smaller stations in provincial cities are much easier to figure out whats happening.

p.s. the sales rep for suppliers have a primary objective to take clients out drinking and getting them smashed to the eyeballs. Whilst some might think thats a benefit, it seriously isnt if you are trying to keep a cool head in business negotations. The tip from my freind who did this job for a while, suggests when asked "do you like to drink" to always respond with something like "yes but only a couple".

 

[michaelj]

Like many say, if there is a high speed train <4-5 hrs, take it. They are listed on timetables as G trains. I've lost count of the number of times I've been delayed on internal flights, often sitting on plane at gate for hours after boarding. No fun!

An oddity on the G train, Business class is the pinnacle, then First and Economy. first is a relatively small premium over economy and well worth it.

 

[Timtammi]

Agree with Michael, first is worth it. I checked out business on our G train trips, looks like QF sky beds!