Australian credit cards usually work as others said but I had one issue at Lugu Lake where I ran out of money and my HSBC Visa wasn't accepted at the only ATM. That caused a LOT of problems. So if you are venturing far from the city I'd keep some spare RMB with you just in case.
Trip to China - advice
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Australian credit cards usually work as others said but I had one issue at Lugu Lake where I ran out of money and my HSBC Visa wasn't accepted at the only ATM. That caused a LOT of problems. So if you are venturing far from the city I'd keep some spare RMB with you just in case.
Cruiser Elite
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And I repeat:
I was in a factory in the boonies out from NKG on Saturday - this factory has hole in ground only / no toilet paper ever. Factory owner suggested we go eat lunch to which I reply 'Do they have real toilet'? 'Do not know - we will check' - pre lunch toilet inspection reveals clean operating proper toilet - lunch was OK - this might just sound paranoia to some - just wait until you get caught - there will soon be a change of view - I am not attempting to be an alarmist - I just have 16yrs of experience visiting China and whilst it is way better than the earlier days in some areas nothing has improved.
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MEL_Traveller
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Re: Rumour:[Denied by RR] Qantas to ban JQ SYD-MEL pax from F lounges & send to J lou
if you are concerned, buy some Travelan from the pharmac_ before leaving Australia... take one tablet before food and pretty much kills any stomach upsets. I travelled around India for a month with not a single problem thanks to these tablets.
if you haven't already done so, the Hep A and Hep B should be a priority.
CE you have me running scared .....thx for the great advice
if you are concerned, buy some Travelan from the pharmac_ before leaving Australia... take one tablet before food and pretty much kills any stomach upsets. I travelled around India for a month with not a single problem thanks to these tablets.
if you haven't already done so, the Hep A and Hep B should be a priority.
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Clazman you are very intelligent guy - whilst I understand this is your first visit to China absolutely nothing to be scared of - I just want to alert you of possible pitfalls - again I repeat:CE you have me running scared .....
And as MEL has posted keeping inoculations up to date for international travel again is just common sense - I have never needed anything specific for China because every couple years I just instruct doctor hit me with whatever I might need.
Whats that lounge like? Ill be there in 3 weeks time.
MEL_Traveller
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The new CA lounges in PVG are quite nice - certainly some of the better lounges to be found in China, and a vast improvement over the old ones in the terminal.
They are bright and spacious, the wifi works well, the food is passable, and they have alcohol. Not somewhere I'd choose to stay in for an extended period of time... or arrive at the airport extra early for however.
Dare I ask how the locals, ahh, 'wipe'?
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By far best F Lounge in China that I have been on - *I have never been in Emirates Lounges.
BUT
Moet almost too warm to drink - food offerings still pretty poor - couple of French reds - excellent facilities overall but showers always tightly locked with no aircon inside so like a sauna if you ever need to take a shower which I regularly need to do if say travel by train NJ-SH then taxi to PVG to depart.
Ecellent toilet facilities - no squatting pans.
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Fair warning that food safety is a huge problem in China (think 'berries' and 90% groundwater contamination) - not a country I would be risking partaking street food or cheaper local establishments on (although I do tend to be quite a bit more relaxed in other Asian countries).
Particularly on a work trip you don't want to risk a hospital stay or gastro problem due to hygiene or adulterants in the food.
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teamhamsandwich
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I live in China.
Aus credit cards work most of the time.
Don't drink the water.
Forget your stomach pills. Food here is pretty good. I tuck into street food a few times a week and have never been sick.
Bring sunscreen, and deodorant.
Some people say to carry toilet paper around with you. I haven't ever needed to. Women might be a different story though.
Summer will be brutally hot.
Aus credit cards work most of the time.
Don't drink the water.
Forget your stomach pills. Food here is pretty good. I tuck into street food a few times a week and have never been sick.
Bring sunscreen, and deodorant.
Some people say to carry toilet paper around with you. I haven't ever needed to. Women might be a different story though.
Summer will be brutally hot.
mushez
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From someone who visits China 3 months a year on business to factories ........ currently here in bed 3 hours inland from Shanghai:
Credit cards work, but not for Cash Advances, personally prefer to bring cash and pay for all with cash including hotels, but again that is personal.
If you have translator/guide supplied by the factories, odds are you will never really choose what or where to eat, nor will you pay a cent to eat. It is Chinese culture when doing business to fight over the bill and everyone wants to pay it. However if you venture out by yourself for a day on your own, that is different.
The only real thing I ever have to pay for is hotels, few factories will cover this cost, but all other costs they will fight to pay the bill for you.
My number 1 piece of advice is to take with you a plastic bowl with utensils, cereal of choice, and long life milk in the 200ml packets for the number of days you are in China, and just eat breakfast in your hotel room by yourself. Having one normal meal a day in your hotel room makes the other two Chinese food meals bearable after the third day, as eating Chinese style cooked eggs 3 times a day is a drag by the third or fourth day. Plus it means only 2 meals a day that takes 2 hours, not 3 and can get some emails done first thing over your Wheaties instead.
While it is different for the main centers, for most of China where most factories are BK or Mcd's are rare, and you never turn down the option as it may be a week or two before it is an option again. KFC is very common and easy to find.
You must try "Hot Pot" & "Street BBQ", the later with beer in the evening.
Beer is always offered part or lunch and dinner, and always is served warm, so you must always ask for cold or ice, ice is more understood than cold. Water is normally served warm or boiling, unless bottled which is room temp. Having 2x600ml bottles of water at all times in my bags is a must and easy to pick up or buy.
Toilet paper is sparse, and everyone at the factories have their own stash, every employee needs to buy their own and supply it themselves when they need to, so carrying a roll in your bag is handy if you need it, but also to clean up any spill or just wipe your hands - but if you find yourself short just ask and some will be found in the bosses office that is under lock and key. Personally use hotel toilets and plan eating/movements to use normal western toilets found in hotels than to have to attempt a squat toilet or hole in the ground, and yes they do stink and are fowl.
Washing machines are rare, most wash their clothes daily by hand, at night, in their hand basins and hang out to dry, so asking someone to wash your clothes mid trip, will be asking someone to hand wash them, and is a 24-48 hour experience, something I have leaned to just do myself when I know I am staying at a hotel for 2 or more consecutive nights.
Try to go to the KTV once, once is enough. So plan to go when there is more than 6, more is better, and expect to get rather drunk with drinking games, which is part and parcel.
If you feel very adventurous, try a bath house. It is liberating, culturally normal and historic. Basically it is a place you go, get your kit off and soak in a big pool with equally clad persons, and then go after a while to get every square inch of your body rubbed down and exfoliated five different ways on a table top by a staff member to then have a shower dry off and leave.
Just note that KTVs, bath houses, and Hair Salons (along with business cards under hotel room doors and calls to your hotel room phone from the not so secret special service room in the basement or on 2nd floor) are the most common fronts for ladies of the night - however this is now a lot scarcer than it was 5 years ago and really need to hunt it out now than it being peddled at you hard core like it was 5 years ago so no need to be as guarded against as one use to have to in the past.
Credit cards work, but not for Cash Advances, personally prefer to bring cash and pay for all with cash including hotels, but again that is personal.
If you have translator/guide supplied by the factories, odds are you will never really choose what or where to eat, nor will you pay a cent to eat. It is Chinese culture when doing business to fight over the bill and everyone wants to pay it. However if you venture out by yourself for a day on your own, that is different.
The only real thing I ever have to pay for is hotels, few factories will cover this cost, but all other costs they will fight to pay the bill for you.
My number 1 piece of advice is to take with you a plastic bowl with utensils, cereal of choice, and long life milk in the 200ml packets for the number of days you are in China, and just eat breakfast in your hotel room by yourself. Having one normal meal a day in your hotel room makes the other two Chinese food meals bearable after the third day, as eating Chinese style cooked eggs 3 times a day is a drag by the third or fourth day. Plus it means only 2 meals a day that takes 2 hours, not 3 and can get some emails done first thing over your Wheaties instead.
While it is different for the main centers, for most of China where most factories are BK or Mcd's are rare, and you never turn down the option as it may be a week or two before it is an option again. KFC is very common and easy to find.
You must try "Hot Pot" & "Street BBQ", the later with beer in the evening.
Beer is always offered part or lunch and dinner, and always is served warm, so you must always ask for cold or ice, ice is more understood than cold. Water is normally served warm or boiling, unless bottled which is room temp. Having 2x600ml bottles of water at all times in my bags is a must and easy to pick up or buy.
Toilet paper is sparse, and everyone at the factories have their own stash, every employee needs to buy their own and supply it themselves when they need to, so carrying a roll in your bag is handy if you need it, but also to clean up any spill or just wipe your hands - but if you find yourself short just ask and some will be found in the bosses office that is under lock and key. Personally use hotel toilets and plan eating/movements to use normal western toilets found in hotels than to have to attempt a squat toilet or hole in the ground, and yes they do stink and are fowl.
Washing machines are rare, most wash their clothes daily by hand, at night, in their hand basins and hang out to dry, so asking someone to wash your clothes mid trip, will be asking someone to hand wash them, and is a 24-48 hour experience, something I have leaned to just do myself when I know I am staying at a hotel for 2 or more consecutive nights.
Try to go to the KTV once, once is enough. So plan to go when there is more than 6, more is better, and expect to get rather drunk with drinking games, which is part and parcel.
If you feel very adventurous, try a bath house. It is liberating, culturally normal and historic. Basically it is a place you go, get your kit off and soak in a big pool with equally clad persons, and then go after a while to get every square inch of your body rubbed down and exfoliated five different ways on a table top by a staff member to then have a shower dry off and leave.
Just note that KTVs, bath houses, and Hair Salons (along with business cards under hotel room doors and calls to your hotel room phone from the not so secret special service room in the basement or on 2nd floor) are the most common fronts for ladies of the night - however this is now a lot scarcer than it was 5 years ago and really need to hunt it out now than it being peddled at you hard core like it was 5 years ago so no need to be as guarded against as one use to have to in the past.
MEL_Traveller
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mushez - good advice about breakfast! Although I would add that you can buy the long-life milk in a major city before heading out to a factory. No need to bring it from australia
Interested to hear that you can't get aussie cards to work for cash advances? I have never had an issue with it... is lack of cash advances a 'rural' thing?
Interested to hear that you can't get aussie cards to work for cash advances? I have never had an issue with it... is lack of cash advances a 'rural' thing?
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Re: Rumour:[Denied by RR] Qantas to ban JQ SYD-MEL pax from F lounges & send to J lou
Claz - you are staying in 5* hotels aren't you? Just eat a big breakfast at huge buffet style on offer at ALL 5* hotels - forget about eating in your room. You can have cereal / fruit / eggs anyway / piles of choices - fill up on food you recognise at breakfast then if lunch turns pear shaped you will still get through the day.
Remember that lunch is main meal of day for most Chinese - you never know you may find your lunch to be fantastic - I never try to be an alarmist - I have been there 1000 times and seen it all - just trying top give you what might be worst case scenario so nothing jumps out and stumps you.
As you can see - definitely carry toilet paper with you daily just in case - major factories may / may not have decent toilet facilities - small factories definitely not..
Your hosts will have meals / banquets planned for you - NEVER eat of the carts in the streets or dodgy little local restaurants - NEVER. (Unless you have a desire for serious food poisoning)
How is the advice bank going? Are you armed with have sufficient information as yet?
Claz - you are staying in 5* hotels aren't you? Just eat a big breakfast at huge buffet style on offer at ALL 5* hotels - forget about eating in your room. You can have cereal / fruit / eggs anyway / piles of choices - fill up on food you recognise at breakfast then if lunch turns pear shaped you will still get through the day.
Remember that lunch is main meal of day for most Chinese - you never know you may find your lunch to be fantastic - I never try to be an alarmist - I have been there 1000 times and seen it all - just trying top give you what might be worst case scenario so nothing jumps out and stumps you.
As you can see - definitely carry toilet paper with you daily just in case - major factories may / may not have decent toilet facilities - small factories definitely not..
Your hosts will have meals / banquets planned for you - NEVER eat of the carts in the streets or dodgy little local restaurants - NEVER. (Unless you have a desire for serious food poisoning)
How is the advice bank going? Are you armed with have sufficient information as yet?
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mushez
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Re: Rumour:[Denied by RR] Qantas to ban JQ SYD-MEL pax from F lounges & send to J lou
Most of what Cruiser Elite says I would agree with, except the breakfast - never have seen a cornflake in sight in any hotel in China let alone my personal favorite which is unique to NZ/AU of the wheatbix, even 5 star ones, including main chains like Hilton/Double Tree. If he fiinds and knows of hotels he is happy with the breakfast serve while he is here, good for him - but for me I find most only serve a cooked, Chinese food style breakfast, which is a little heavy for what I am personally use to and most people I know find also.
However in China you can stay at the more normal/common 168, Home Inn, Jinjang hotels that range from 120-280 RMB per night ($22-55 AUD) which don't offer any breakfast service and are 2-3 star but comfortable and often can be less than 10 minutes to your factory, or 4-5 star hotels, often only in the middle of the city CBD, half an hour plus away from your factory, and most start from 500 RMB ($100 AUD) per night. Unless I am in Shanghai CBD, I have not paid much more than 200 RMB a night for a hotel. For example last week I was in a 3 star hotel in Ningbo CBD, two blocks walk from my suppleirs office, for 179 RMB a night, Suzhou 4 star hotel the oposite side of the road to my suppliers new home in a less than 2 year old housing development for 278 RMB per night, and currently in 4 star Mandarin hotel in Changshu for 178 RMB per night.
If you are about a junket, sure spending an hour or two in the dining hall with your hosts for a third meal of the day is great way to kill time, however I find each meal had with hosts kills 2 hours of the day each time, and eating your own breakfast in your room to me allows an extra hour or two sleep in prior to a 8 or 9am morning pick up, after being kept out until 1-2 am at the KTV, or often the only spare time you have to squeeze in an hour or two of emails. The breakfast in your room is two edged, it is as much as saving you 2 hours sitting in a dining hall as it is to have one normal meal of the day, and yes getting woken by your hosts at 5:30am, after only going to bed at 1am, with a pre-aranged 6am breakfast for 8am on the road is never fun.
For me personally - and most people I talk to about China travel for business with hosts - it makes the whole trip for business turn from being an insomniac nightmare by the 3rd day to a manageable event.
I personally choose to bring all my breakfast needs, including plastic bowl and utensils, and 200ml packets of long life milk, one per breakfast expected from Australia. First up because time to go out and find on day one, is limited at best - the whole exercise is equally for me about buying time in the day when in China. Second because you are buying NZ or AU long life milk anyway which is only at the larger, middle of the main City supermarkets, as I really don't want to touch Chinese Milk, and often I find 1lts are the only option within China - with no refrigeration, is only 2-3 days usage and not really suited if you are traveling around to a different hotel each night which is more the norm in any Chinese Travel.
Cash Advancing Visa - last time I tried was 12 months ago when I got stuck, and wouldn't work and ended up pulling cash from my savings account, but wouldn't draw from my credit card - it also had a daily limit of 1,000RMB/200AUD when I did. Sure credit card works for charging to at hotels, but as to Cash Advancing it, didn't work. While cash is more normal in China than cards, cards have been growing in popularity within Chinese over the years. These days I have a shopping list 150kg long of AU goods from my suppliers that I whittle down to fit within my 50kg baggage allowance which ends up being around $2k AUD, so 8-10,000 RMB each trip, that I get some paid to me of what I need to cover all my costs when in China, and the balance gets paid off our bill from one of our suppliers. 1kg Devondale Milk Powder is popular, as is Bio Islands Milk Calcium, DHA, & Cod Liver & Fish oil capsules - this last trip Goat Soap was the in thing - just if you were looking for ideas to bring as gifts to give to your hosts of items that are worth 4 times more in China than what they cost in AU, as I know most of what I bring in, half is on sold for 4 times more and is in high demand.
- Goat Soap 100g - Chemist Warehouse - Blue or Red most preferred
I would disagree with Cruiser Elite on street food, not suggesting all is good, but need to use common sense in what you see at each stand. Chinese rule of thumb is if it is highly patronized, it is good. Street BBQ is one of the hidden secrets of Chinese food.
Also note ANYTHING GOOGLE DOES NOT WORK. So no google search engines, no google translate, no google maps, even gmail is blocked/banned. If it has a whisker connected to google, it will not work in mainland China. I am finding I use Yahoo for searches, and standard IOS maps app on iphone for maps. Also have VPN to check into facebook for work once a week/when I must - but speed on anything hosted outside of China makes it painful. You get use to looking at websites with linked content that isn't working, like embedded youtube videos.
mushez - good advice about breakfast! Although I would add that you can buy the long-life milk in a major city before heading out to a factory. No need to bring it from australia
Interested to hear that you can't get aussie cards to work for cash advances? I have never had an issue with it... is lack of cash advances a 'rural' thing?
Most of what Cruiser Elite says I would agree with, except the breakfast - never have seen a cornflake in sight in any hotel in China let alone my personal favorite which is unique to NZ/AU of the wheatbix, even 5 star ones, including main chains like Hilton/Double Tree. If he fiinds and knows of hotels he is happy with the breakfast serve while he is here, good for him - but for me I find most only serve a cooked, Chinese food style breakfast, which is a little heavy for what I am personally use to and most people I know find also.
However in China you can stay at the more normal/common 168, Home Inn, Jinjang hotels that range from 120-280 RMB per night ($22-55 AUD) which don't offer any breakfast service and are 2-3 star but comfortable and often can be less than 10 minutes to your factory, or 4-5 star hotels, often only in the middle of the city CBD, half an hour plus away from your factory, and most start from 500 RMB ($100 AUD) per night. Unless I am in Shanghai CBD, I have not paid much more than 200 RMB a night for a hotel. For example last week I was in a 3 star hotel in Ningbo CBD, two blocks walk from my suppleirs office, for 179 RMB a night, Suzhou 4 star hotel the oposite side of the road to my suppliers new home in a less than 2 year old housing development for 278 RMB per night, and currently in 4 star Mandarin hotel in Changshu for 178 RMB per night.
If you are about a junket, sure spending an hour or two in the dining hall with your hosts for a third meal of the day is great way to kill time, however I find each meal had with hosts kills 2 hours of the day each time, and eating your own breakfast in your room to me allows an extra hour or two sleep in prior to a 8 or 9am morning pick up, after being kept out until 1-2 am at the KTV, or often the only spare time you have to squeeze in an hour or two of emails. The breakfast in your room is two edged, it is as much as saving you 2 hours sitting in a dining hall as it is to have one normal meal of the day, and yes getting woken by your hosts at 5:30am, after only going to bed at 1am, with a pre-aranged 6am breakfast for 8am on the road is never fun.
For me personally - and most people I talk to about China travel for business with hosts - it makes the whole trip for business turn from being an insomniac nightmare by the 3rd day to a manageable event.
I personally choose to bring all my breakfast needs, including plastic bowl and utensils, and 200ml packets of long life milk, one per breakfast expected from Australia. First up because time to go out and find on day one, is limited at best - the whole exercise is equally for me about buying time in the day when in China. Second because you are buying NZ or AU long life milk anyway which is only at the larger, middle of the main City supermarkets, as I really don't want to touch Chinese Milk, and often I find 1lts are the only option within China - with no refrigeration, is only 2-3 days usage and not really suited if you are traveling around to a different hotel each night which is more the norm in any Chinese Travel.
Cash Advancing Visa - last time I tried was 12 months ago when I got stuck, and wouldn't work and ended up pulling cash from my savings account, but wouldn't draw from my credit card - it also had a daily limit of 1,000RMB/200AUD when I did. Sure credit card works for charging to at hotels, but as to Cash Advancing it, didn't work. While cash is more normal in China than cards, cards have been growing in popularity within Chinese over the years. These days I have a shopping list 150kg long of AU goods from my suppliers that I whittle down to fit within my 50kg baggage allowance which ends up being around $2k AUD, so 8-10,000 RMB each trip, that I get some paid to me of what I need to cover all my costs when in China, and the balance gets paid off our bill from one of our suppliers. 1kg Devondale Milk Powder is popular, as is Bio Islands Milk Calcium, DHA, & Cod Liver & Fish oil capsules - this last trip Goat Soap was the in thing - just if you were looking for ideas to bring as gifts to give to your hosts of items that are worth 4 times more in China than what they cost in AU, as I know most of what I bring in, half is on sold for 4 times more and is in high demand.
- Goat Soap 100g - Chemist Warehouse - Blue or Red most preferred
I would disagree with Cruiser Elite on street food, not suggesting all is good, but need to use common sense in what you see at each stand. Chinese rule of thumb is if it is highly patronized, it is good. Street BBQ is one of the hidden secrets of Chinese food.
Also note ANYTHING GOOGLE DOES NOT WORK. So no google search engines, no google translate, no google maps, even gmail is blocked/banned. If it has a whisker connected to google, it will not work in mainland China. I am finding I use Yahoo for searches, and standard IOS maps app on iphone for maps. Also have VPN to check into facebook for work once a week/when I must - but speed on anything hosted outside of China makes it painful. You get use to looking at websites with linked content that isn't working, like embedded youtube videos.
MEL_Traveller
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Re: Rumour:[Denied by RR] Qantas to ban JQ SYD-MEL pax from F lounges & send to J lou
Ok - so it was your personal experience with CCs... because it doesn't sound familiar. I have never had a problem with weekly cash advances at a variety of banks. Daily limit was RMB6000 using 28 Degrees, it may be lower with Citibank debit - but I haven't tried to push it to that level. I always recommend friends to use CC for cash withdrawal in China as well... so far no problems.
Agree with BBQ. Can be tasty! But a recent report found something like 70% of all food on BBQ stands was mislabeled
I generally stick to vegetarian only.
Ok - so it was your personal experience with CCs... because it doesn't sound familiar. I have never had a problem with weekly cash advances at a variety of banks. Daily limit was RMB6000 using 28 Degrees, it may be lower with Citibank debit - but I haven't tried to push it to that level. I always recommend friends to use CC for cash withdrawal in China as well... so far no problems.
Agree with BBQ. Can be tasty! But a recent report found something like 70% of all food on BBQ stands was mislabeled
I generally stick to vegetarian only.
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Citibank limit is AD1,000/day - so currently about RMB4,960/day. No matter whether it Credit or Debit Card - if you have available funds the ATM's will dispense for you (I was in Shanghai last week and advanced cash from both Citi Prestige Credit and Citi Visa Plus Debit). Occasionally you will come across certain ATMs that don't like your card - no biggie just walk 100mtrs to the next one and it will work.
ALL 5* hotels in China have a good variety of cereals - almost ALL will offer corn flakes - many also offer cereals such as sultana bran / muesli etc. mushez if you stay in Home Inns and 168s or whatever these are designed almost 100% for Chinese market so no wonder they don't have acceptable western style buffet breakfast - I have seen them multitudes of times and would never stay in these hotels. Indeed OP has been informed he is staying in 5* hotels - their breakfast spreads will be broad and totally suitable.
It will be interesting to hear a report from Clazman after his visit and get his thoughts - I cannot wait for that.
Claz - what dates you in Beijing? I'll probably be back there myself first week in June - if our dates coincide I'll take you out for a night. Only street food you will be offered might be a hot dog outside Maggies - but that's a whole nother story.
ALL 5* hotels in China have a good variety of cereals - almost ALL will offer corn flakes - many also offer cereals such as sultana bran / muesli etc. mushez if you stay in Home Inns and 168s or whatever these are designed almost 100% for Chinese market so no wonder they don't have acceptable western style buffet breakfast - I have seen them multitudes of times and would never stay in these hotels. Indeed OP has been informed he is staying in 5* hotels - their breakfast spreads will be broad and totally suitable.
It will be interesting to hear a report from Clazman after his visit and get his thoughts - I cannot wait for that.
Claz - what dates you in Beijing? I'll probably be back there myself first week in June - if our dates coincide I'll take you out for a night. Only street food you will be offered might be a hot dog outside Maggies - but that's a whole nother story.
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Hvr, I've been trying to find information about Xintiadies in The Google, but so far I'm only coming up with references to a similar sounding area in Shanghai - nothing for Beijing except hotel(s). Can you confirm the spelling please?
PS - I'm doing a bit of research in advance of my own first visit coming up in July...
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As above have stayed in all of the above, I have stayed in 68 RMB a night hotels that are not permitted to take in foreigners and was lined up with a date with a wrecking ball 3 days after I checked out, through to 1400RMB a night 5 star Hiltons. Yes I have stayed in a number of 5 star hotels, and yet to see a cereal in sight. Not saying you have not found them, as it wouldn't be that hard, but it just isn't my experience.
Personally I find better experiences with home inns, 168's etal than 4-5 star hotels, my main reasons for this statement is most Home Inns, 168's etal have a split system inverter per room that are easy to control and set the temperature you want to - vrs some of the 5 star hotels it is hit and miss if the aircon is working or able to set to a comfortable setting to sustain the night. I have also had my fair share of 5 star hotels run out of hot water for a shower after 8-9am in the morning in China.
Again don't doubt you have found 5 star hotels that have cereal as part of their breakfast, over my past 6 years in frequently visiting China, I am yet to find one 5 star hotel that does in China.
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I saw that when Hvr posted and he had clearly been on the turps - there is no 'Xin Tian Di' in Beijing - but there are plenty 'xin tian dis' in BJ. Literal meaning of xin tian di is new world / new land / redevelopment - so an old area greatly spruced up by new buildings and given a total new lease of life is referred to 'xin tian di'.
The best known 'Xin Tian Di' in China is indeed the major tourist attraction in Shanghai - home of some good restaurants - my favourite Kabb and a great Brazilian Churrascaria called Latino - there was a fabulous night club there called Brown Sugar which always had sensational international bands playing - but since closed and changed name / format - broke my heart - I loved that place.
Who is in China next staying in a 5* hotel? For gods sake please go take a picture of the cereals at brekky and post the pic ASAP. I won't be back there til months end.
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