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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 , 104,527 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
29-Nov-2009 14:36
by: gibletdinner »

14 replies , 1,404 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
17-Dec-2009 06:06
by: greensea »

421 replies , 58,919 views location: Tibet

Pages 1 2 3 4 ... 29

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
24-Dec-2009 17:14
by: MLH »

last reply
24-Dec-2009 17:17
by: MLH »

0 replies , 28 views location: China

Update LP China 11th Edition - mostly admission fees and costs

This information dates to October/November 2009.

BEIJING

p 145 Summer Palace through ticket (all sites) Y50 increased to Y60

p 147 Beijing Zoo - Y20 panda admission increased to Y30


SHAANXI PROVINCE

Xī’ān pp 415 - 428

p 418 Great Mosque - Y12 admission increased to Y25

p 419 Da Ci’en Temple (Dà cí’íēnsì) - Y25 admission. You can visit this temple without going inside the Big Goose Pagoda

p 419 Big Goose Pagoda (Dayan Ta) - the Y45 admission shown in the LP is the combined cost of the Y25 for the Da Cien Temple (paid at an outer gate) and then Y20 for the Dayan Ta (paid at an inner gate)

p 426 Hàn Yánglíng (LP English name Tomb of Emperor Jingdi) - Y80 admission increased to Y90


YÚNNÁN PROVINCE

Shangri-La (former name Zhōngdiàn) and area pp 718 - 722

Chinese breakfast food, across the street from Noah Cafe, #13 on p 720 map - hot s... more »

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posted
24-Dec-2009 17:06
by: MLH »

last reply
24-Dec-2009 17:06
by: MLH »

0 replies , 21 views location: China

Update LP China 11th Edition - ATMs in Xi'an and Lijiang

This information dates to October/November 2009.

pp 713 - 716 Tiger Leaping Gorge - no ATM (yes, someone requested an ATM at the entrance)

p 417 Xi’an - there is an ICBC ATM with a Y5000 withdrawal limit. It is located approximately across from the old location of the Han Tang Inn, #21 on map.

pp 704 - 710 Lìjiāng - two China Construction Banks with a Y1000 withdrawal limit accept foreign cards such as Cirrus, Mastercard and Plus/VISA. They are in separate locations, near the square with the water wheels. The Bank of China ATM, mentioned in LP China, has a Y2500 withdrawal limit.

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posted
24-Dec-2009 17:05
by: MLH »

last reply
24-Dec-2009 17:05
by: MLH »

0 replies , 10 views location: China

Update LP China 11th Edition - Han Tang Inn in Xi’an has moved

p 417 Han Tang Inn (a hostel), #21 on map - changed location effective early November 2009 to No. 7 Nanchang Xiang, South of Xincheng Square and generally north east of the Bell Tower

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posted
24-Dec-2009 16:53
by: julieannd »

last reply
24-Dec-2009 16:53
by: julieannd »

0 replies , 11 views

Kyoto...but when?

Kyoto is on my "list" of places I want to experience but maybe I'm delusional. I'm looking for "old Japan"...Will I find remnants in Kyoto or do you have other suggestions for this holy grail I seek. Also, if Kyoto is the place of my dreams, should I go for the cherry festival or one of the other festivals later (and warmer) in the year like this theater festival I see happening in June - traditional theater outside in the pagodas, in the evenings, lit by torches they say...Crazy? or do I book my flight tonight?

Lastly, if it is Kyoto then should I fly to Tokyo (flights are cheap right now) or directly to Kyoto where the fares are almost double in cost.

Cheers!

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posted
24-Dec-2009 14:30
by: gibletdinner »

last reply
24-Dec-2009 19:45
by: drumbrake »

1 replies , 16 views location: China

Xmas in Dali?

Does anyone know of anything going on in Dali for Xmas? Would love to find a Christmas dinner or something along those lines.

Thanks!

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posted
24-Dec-2009 02:06
by: fionach »

last reply
24-Dec-2009 02:06
by: fionach »

0 replies , 30 views

where to stay inTokyo

Our family of 4 with teenagers is spending 3 days in Tokyo which happens to be over the January long weekend. We will arrive at Narita at 7pm and plan to leave Shinjuku station at 7.30am. We plan to visit Hakone for a day trip and do the fish markets, Ginza, electric town etc. We are looking at places to stay in Shinjuku, Ueno and Ginza. Could anyone suggest the best place to stay from the point of view of being a reasonable area but also convenient for transport. with thanks

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posted
23-Dec-2009 23:36
by: kristianlloyd »

last reply
24-Dec-2009 22:51
by: kristianlloyd »

5 replies , 83 views location: Japan

From Japan to Hanoi

Hi there everyone,

Just a little problem Im facing I have my round the world ticket booked :D :D :D and my first stop is Tokyo on the 16th April next year :D

What Im wanting to know is how people have gone from Japan over to the other side if you have pre booked something or just jumped onto some sort of ferry?

Also Id like to know if people think its work booking excursions with STA Travel or is it worth just finding your own way and hooking up with people along the way??

Thank you all and Merry Christmas :D

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posted
23-Dec-2009 23:32
by: hermesalfa »

last reply
24-Dec-2009 15:06
by: 889 »

4 replies , 85 views location: China

Should I buy RMB in Hong Kong or use ATM in Guangzhou?

Should I buy RMB in Hong Kong or use ATM in Guangzhou?

To me, it seems that the exchange rates in Hong Kong are much lower compared to when I check it online.
Would I get more renminbi if I don't buy RMB in Hong Kong, but wait until I reach Guangzhou East train
station? And use an ATM there?

Or is it hard to find ATMs at Guangzhou East Train Station when I arrive?

I have a MasterCard.

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posted
23-Dec-2009 20:03
by: heltom »

last reply
24-Dec-2009 16:23
by: anicka »

3 replies , 78 views location: China

Beijing airport hotel?

I tried to find info about hotels at the Beijing airport because we'll change planes there: we'll have to wait for 9 hours.

I found this:
http://en.bcia.com.cn/shopping/recreation.shtml
(HomePage>Shopping & Dining>Recreation and leisure)
It says: "There is time-meter hotel in the first underground floor, providing quiet and comfortable bedrooms. "
Does anybody have any more information about this hotel? I tried to search but this was the only reference to the hotel I could find.

We are just transit passengers wich means that we don't have a visa. Our plane arrives at terminal 3 and our connectiong flight leaves from there as well. Is it possible to stay at this place without leaving the international area? We need to rest somewhere after a long flight and a hotel right at the airport sounds like what we need. more »

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posted
23-Dec-2009 19:27
by: sah10406 »

last reply
23-Dec-2009 19:27
by: sah10406 »

0 replies , 28 views location: China

Wuyi Shan, Fujian

Anyone else here right now? I am passing through on my way to Hangzhou, and only really have tomorrow to look around (my planned train on evening of 25th was booked solid, so I now have to leave at lunchtime, which is a bummer).

Anyone want to hook up tomorrow for bamboo rafting and exploring a peak? Not sure if I can post my phone number here, but will be checking email again later.

Cheers
Andrew

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posted
23-Dec-2009 13:06
by: timothyb »

last reply
24-Dec-2009 15:59
by: simonandersen »

4 replies , 109 views location: China

Yangshou

Dear China Travellers,

Does anyone have a hostel recommendation for Yangshou?

Or a mountain climbing suggestion... I would like to give this a go, but have not climbed before?

Tim

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posted
23-Dec-2009 10:56
by: suencam »

last reply
24-Dec-2009 18:31
by: suencam »

7 replies , 115 views location: Japan

Blossoms - when and which ones!?

I have read several of the other posts here, and was going to hijack some other threads, but thought it best to post my own.

Planning a trip to Japan for either 7 or 14 days and the trip has to start/finish on Saturdays due to flight restrictions from Papua New Guinea where I live.

The major reason for the trip is to see the cherry blossoms in Kyoto and a few days in Tokyo. If I could pinpoint the date for the cherry blossoms, I would make the trip only one week.

But after reading other posts, I have found out there is actually plum blossoms which last 1-1.5 months, and some find them "better". So maybee I should forget turning up in early/mid april hoping to time it "just right" to see the cherry blossoms, when I can pick anytime in March and see some plum blossoms. (which would probably satisfy the family)

Problem being there doesn't seem to be many in Kyoto, mostly s... more »

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posted
23-Dec-2009 10:46
by: fershad »

last reply
23-Dec-2009 10:46
by: fershad »

0 replies , 35 views location: Japan

Hiking in Japan in Winter

Hey all,

I've got 3 free days in Japan & I'm just wondering if anyone knows if there are hiking trails that are accessible during the winter months (namely January). I don't want anything too intense, just a one day thing. I'd be really keen for anything in the Japanese Alps, as I'll be around that area.

Kind Regards,
Fershad.

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posted
23-Dec-2009 09:16
by: Karl_Kristian »

last reply
23-Dec-2009 15:12
by: MLH »

2 replies , 65 views location: China

Xi'an day tour: When does it typically end?

Yes, it is a rather strange question, but maybe someone can give me an estimate?

I'm searching for that kind of tour that hostels offer, a tour that includes nearby attractions (but not the terracotta warriors - which I'll visit on my own). On a sunday...

The reason for my question, is that I have to choose between a 18.25 flight from XIY, or a 20.50 flight.
The latter makes things in my next city (Guilin) a bit more difficult -( but not undoable) - due to very late arrival.

Karl

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posted
23-Dec-2009 04:21
by: sanddog »

last reply
23-Dec-2009 04:21
by: sanddog »

0 replies , 39 views

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