Thorn Tree travel forum

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 »

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

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.

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

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

How do I go from Tsim Sha Tsui to Hung Hom in Hong Kong?

How do I go from Tsim Sha Tsui to Hung Hom in Hong Kong?

I live in Kowloon on Nathan street no. 50 at Mirador Mansions (close to Chungking Mansions), at Tsim Sha Tsui MTR.
On Friday 25th December, I want to go by bus at 7 in the morning from Hung Hom bus station in Hong Kong
to Guangzhou. So I wonder if I should just try to avoid the rush hour and leave before 6 in the morning and sit
on cityflier bus A21 that passes directly outside where I live, on Nathan Street, and goes to Hung Hom?
Or should I take the MTR? How early in the morning can I take the cityflier bus A21 and the MTR respectively?

I will be carrying a lot of luggage (50 kg: 4 bags), so when I arrive in Hung Hom, I want to get off as close as
possible to where my Guangzhou-bus leaves from.

What about Christmas and 25th December in Hong Kong, are these normal working days here? more »

Chinese Visa

Hi

Me and a friend are in Nepal at the minute and will be applying for a chinese visa in a couple of days. From what we know, they will only issue us a 30 day tourist visa but we want to be in China for 3 months. Is there a way around this? I've looked in the LP book and it says a one month extension is pretty easy to get but what if need another month. If all goes well and i get 2 months with the extension, we will roughyl be in Hong Kong around the end of the 2 month. Will that make a difference of getting a nother month on our visa. Any advice wuld be appreciated. Thanks

Tricky Visa Question

Oh boy, over 20 years ago as a dumb _ kid, I picked up a few DUIs and spent a couple months in jail. Just young and immature, no problems since (married, family, job, etc) I have had a number of seasoned travelers suggest i just check "no" to the "any convictions in China or elsewhere" question on the Visa form to avoid problems. But, as you can guess, that makes me REALLY nervous. Anyone have any experience or advice on this? I am considering going over for business at the invitation of one of our company office in Shanghai, but not if it will become an embarrassing issue for myself and our company travel staff. That stuff doesn't go away -- and honestly I don't think it should -- but, wow, the headaches last forever.Thanks for the input. Feel free to e-mail my if you prefer: mailformarty@gmail.com.