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posted
08-Jun-2004 08:32
by: Zedd_at_LP »

last reply
08-Nov-2009 23:33
by: Trakka »

103 replies , 102,332 views

Pages 1 2 3 4 ... 7

North-East Asia branch Frequently Asked Questions thread

This branch covers China (inc. Hong Kong and *Macau*), Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan and Tibet.

Other information about the region can be found under Lonely Planet Destinations.

Inside this thread we hope you'll find the answers to all your questions, if not, feel free to share anything you feel is missing!

Travel buddies, travel companions or trek partners
If you're seeking any of the above, then please post on our Travel Companions branch, not on the destination branches. Such topics posted on this branch will normally be moved by the moderators to the Travel Companions branch without notice. If you also have a travel question then please post that as a separate topic on the appropriate tr... more »

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posted
15-Jul-2008 17:03
by: chiefnugt »

last reply
11-Aug-2009 10:40
by: monkeyandtiger »

13 replies , 1,070 views

Asia guidebooks now available by chapter in Pick & Mix

Over the years many of you have told us you'd like to take just the parts of our books you really need. We thought about how best to do this, and last year launched Pick & Mix, which enables you to buy, download and print individual chapters from Lonely Planet guides in digital (PDF) format.

Last week, we added our guides to North East Asia to Pick & Mix. That means the entire range of Asia guides is now available by chapter. So you can check it out for yourself, the first chapter of each guide is free to download. You can see Pick & Mix here.

This is still a new thing for us, and I'd appreciate any suggestions or feedback.

Tom Hall
Product Manager, Pick & Mix

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posted
14-Feb-2009 03:26
by: mrcjonesy »

last reply
18-Nov-2009 05:07
by: pazu »

388 replies , 52,894 views location: Tibet

Pages 1 2 3 4 ... 26

PERMIT SITUATION UPDATE

OK.......just spent yesterday trying to get to bottom of the permit situation for the next few weeks. Here is what I have found out.

1. Some Tibetan areas of Sichuan, Gansu and Qinghai are closed to foreigners until the end of March (I could not get confirmation of which areas...sorry!)

2. Lhasa and central Tibet (Namtso, Shigatse, EBC etc) IS open (with permits) at the moment.

3. American and European travellers are being denied Chinese visa's in Nepal. and the rumour is that this will remain until the end of March. (this means there may be NO WAY to enter Tibet from Nepal until the end of March) This news comes from friends in Kathmandu. It is tough to officially confirm this news as this decision comes from the Chinese Department of Foreign Affairs.....not from the Tourism Bureau who is low on the totem pole!

4. As usual there are a few independent travellers (usual... more »

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posted
21-Nov-2009 12:58
by: yowyowyow »

last reply
21-Nov-2009 12:58
by: yowyowyow »

0 replies , 13 views

Yading Park, Southern Sichuan

We went to yading park, in southern sichuan, a nice side trip on the way to yunnan.
transport is a bit expensive and admission is annoying (150RMB, 80 with student card).
for all the details see:
http://yowyowyow.com/?p=1154

enjoy,
yoyo

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posted
21-Nov-2009 12:51
by: yowyowyow »

last reply
21-Nov-2009 12:51
by: yowyowyow »

0 replies , 13 views

Sky Burial, Litang

Hi,
we have witnessed a Sky-Burial ceremony in Litang. it is fairily easy to do, and a very interesting and unique, experience. no doubt, a trip highlight.
for details and photos (not too revealling) see:
http://yowyowyow.com/?p=1157

enjoy,
yoyo

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posted
21-Nov-2009 10:59
by: lolly87 »

last reply
21-Nov-2009 10:59
by: lolly87 »

0 replies , 13 views location: South Korea

Pohang

I have been offered a job as a teacher in Pohang, South Korea. I just wanted to ask if anyone has been there? I know it is an industrial town that is dominated by steelworks, but I would really appreciate an opinion on the town from someone who has been there.
Thank you.
Lou.

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posted
21-Nov-2009 03:48
by: seeworld123 »

last reply
21-Nov-2009 03:48
by: seeworld123 »

0 replies , 16 views

shopping for korean arts, crafts, etc, on line

i was in seoul for several days a few weeks ago. really enjoyed the city and met some nice people. wanted to bring home some nice, authentic little gifts for friends, but i slipped on a rainy saturday at bongsuedo temple (sp?) and fractured my wrist; seoul hospital was not on my list of places to see, but it was interesting to experience. had to live with it for a few days in a cast and quite painful, even after i got home to boston for surgery. i'd like to purchase on line some of the interesting and lovely items which i saw while browsing insadong, but not sure sher to start. any suggestions greatly appreciated.

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posted
21-Nov-2009 01:41
by: mrbassman »

last reply
21-Nov-2009 01:41
by: mrbassman »

0 replies , 20 views location: Tibet

Tibet around mid March/April 2010

Hi,

I am looking to meet easy-going travelers to form a group to cut down the cost doing the Friendship Highway around mid-March/April 2010. Haven't sculpted the final itinerary yet but possibly starting off from Chengdu and travel to Lhasa by train. The plan is to enter Nepal through Dram and do trekking around there. Will post the trekking side of affairs once finalized but feel free to give us a shout if you're gonna be around there approximately the same period, we can discuss the dates as I can be flexible with mine.

Cheers for now.

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posted
21-Nov-2009 01:33
by: huaqiao08 »

last reply
21-Nov-2009 01:33
by: huaqiao08 »

0 replies , 24 views location: China

Dongchuan red earth (Hongtudi), Yunnan

anyone know how to get here from the Sichuan side?

I've read you can get a bus from Xichang, expect you should be able to do so from Yibin as well.
Anyone know departure times and duration?

apparently the good photography season ends with November, so i'm tryig to get there soon

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posted
20-Nov-2009 21:28
by: sytt »

last reply
20-Nov-2009 22:02
by: everbrite »

1 replies , 57 views location: China

shipping a car and person from china to europe

hi there,
in 2010 i will be driving from germany to china by car with a friend. after that, my friend will have to get herself and the car back to europe, prefereably by boat. has anyone a clue whether that is possible and where id have to inquire about it and how much it would roughly cost?
thanks & best,
sytt

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posted
20-Nov-2009 18:45
by: Eddie2X »

last reply
21-Nov-2009 01:28
by: manontheroadagain »

1 replies , 54 views location: China

Tiger Leaping Gorge

I've been travelling through China for about a month now and have unfortunately found myself running from this cold snap that seems to have overtaken most of the country. I'm currently in Kunming and though I have obtained weather reports for the area around Tiger Leaping Gorge I'm wondering if anyone who perhaps lives in the area or is in the know could tell me if its going to be warm enough to hike the gorge comfortably in the next week or so. I'm tired of being cold and am thinking about going to Vietnam if the weather doesn't break soon. Thanks.

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posted
20-Nov-2009 18:07
by: hdeull »

last reply
20-Nov-2009 18:07
by: hdeull »

0 replies , 22 views

Any worthwhile cooking courses in Kunming?

Hello all,
Have a few unexpected days in Kunming to fill up and was wondering if there were any cooking courses worth taking while I'm here.

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posted
20-Nov-2009 17:14
by: chinaindecember »

last reply
20-Nov-2009 18:31
by: akdn1 »

1 replies , 36 views

Beijing Hotel Near Beijing West Train Station?

Hi!

I'm traveling to Beijing in two weeks (dec '09). I am staying one night in Beijing before taking the China-tibet Train to Lhasa. I wanted to stay in a hotel near the Beijing West Train Station. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

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posted
20-Nov-2009 14:06
by: HOMEBREW »

last reply
21-Nov-2009 08:08
by: HOMEBREW »

4 replies , 78 views location: China

Hong kong airport

hello everyone, there will be two of us arriving in HK at 9.00pm(only 7.5 hour flight) and then departing at 8.00am the next morning for Beijing, and we have been to HK many times (love the people and the place) i was thinking of just staying at the airport for this short duration(i can snore anywhere, apparently). can we do this? any suggestions on what to do as we will have luggage?
Also, how long do octopus cards stay valid as i have two that we still have credit on from Feb 2009 and will not be back until march 2010.
any info would be great
thankyou

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posted
20-Nov-2009 12:59
by: loan »

last reply
21-Nov-2009 14:19
by: loan »

2 replies , 51 views location: Taiwan

Kenting to Hualien

Hi
I would like to know how to get from Kenting to Hualien
I tries on the website of Taiwan Raiway and it said the travel take about 8h30!(That is a lot for 300km!)
I got another information that if i take the Kenting express bus,i have to transfer again 2 times for train to Hualien
Is there any way faster? another bus? or may be i have to check again on the TWR website later cause i did see someone said it take about 3h?
Thanks for any information

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posted
20-Nov-2009 12:11
by: ojr2007 »

last reply
20-Nov-2009 18:51
by: Tokheim »

2 replies , 43 views

Cheap hotel in Beijing

Hello

I'd like to find a hotel room in central Beijing for about 150rmb a night. If you know of one and can give approx directions/tel, then please let me know.

Thanks

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posted
20-Nov-2009 11:33
by: kirstysan »

last reply
21-Nov-2009 05:40
by: RichardInSF »

1 replies , 44 views

Osaka: Love Hotel / Luggage Storage while Sightseeing

Hi,

My friends and I will be in Osaka for one night at the start of our trip, before travelling to Osaka by either bus or train the next day, and returning to Osaka a couple of weeks later. We thought that staying in a love hotel on our first night in Osaka could be a good option. Just a few questions:

1) Can anyone recommend a good / interesting / oddly themed love hotel in Osaka, or are we better off waiting until we get to Tokyo?
2) Do they allow more than two people in a room? If so, how many? If not, would we be able to visit our friends' rooms, or is this impossible due to the privacy, etc?
3) If we do stay in a love hotel, is there somewhere in Osaka we could store our bags for the next day, before catching the overnight bus/train? e.g. lockers at a bus station / train station, etc? If so, how big are they, and what are the costs involved? What are our other opti... more »

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posted
20-Nov-2009 09:34
by: womble67 »

last reply
20-Nov-2009 09:34
by: womble67 »

0 replies , 38 views location: Japan

Tokyo / Kyoto Questions

Hi,

I have a week to spend on the way back from skiing in Niseko in January. Rough plan is to spend a few a few days in Tokyo with a day trip to Nikko & possibly Mt Fuji plus a couple of days exploring Tokyo. Then train to Kyoto & spend a couple of days there with a day trip to Nara. Will have to return to Tokyo for the flight home.

Any thoughts on the following would be welcome;

  • any recommendations on good areas to be based in Tokyo. Given the travel plans, this is probably a balance between a good base in Tokyo and close to transport links. Any recommendations on a good mid range hotel?

  • similar question for Kyoto, though as it seems much more compact, I'm assuming it's less of an issue

  • I'm assuming a JR rail pass is the way to go, but any restrictions to be aware of?

Have never been to Japan before & am aware a week is too short, but any general ideas on ... more »

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