Going to China

[harryviking]

18 hours ago, Bangkok Black said:

Febuary my wife and I will be going to China for 5 days.

It is a paid-for trip with flights, hotels and tours and part of a group trip.

I have applied and had my visa application approved.I just have to collect it on the 10th of Feb in Bangkok.

 

Has anyone here been to China recently? i have a few questions.

Did you change money in Thailand at Super rich or in China?

I have a Wise card, did you use your Wise card in China? Does it work?

Mobile phone, Does AISor DTAC work there? Or did you rely on Wi-FI ?

I am a UK passport holder and have a thai work permit, did you have any problems with immigration going/coming back to Thailand and in China?

 

Any tips and advice are welcome.

 

 

LOL! Eat some street food with oil from the gutter. Eat veggies soaked in poisonous water! 80Pct of the Chinese water is not suited for human use. Not even for use for pants! I guess only ignorant people goes to China on their own free will!!  😆

[impulse]

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

4 hours ago, impulse said:

Be aware that they have a list of questions they ask everyone, every time.  It's not onerous once you realize that it's just their procedure.

They didn't speak to me at all, just waved me through.

 

Happens to me occasionally, too.  My point was not to get nervous if they do follow their procedure and ask some questions.  At first (post Covid), I thought they were really scrutinizing me.  But after about 4 or 5 entries, I realized they were reading off a script and not to worry.   I wasn't on any kind of hot seat.

 

They are all business and can be intimidating.  (Not unlike many Thai IOs).  Especially the IOs with limited English skills. But it turns out they're okay people.  Not hard to understand why, especially when they're welcoming visitors from too many countries to know all the languages. 

 

[thjames88]

19 hours ago, PomPolo said:

What is the particular reason you are going to China? I really haven't heard of many foreigners going there for a holiday, Hong Kong is probably a better bet if it is just that part of Asia you want to experience.

not sure thats exactly true  35 mil toursists to china and only 7m to hong kong (ex Chinese)  i lived in Hk 20 years and without Chinese tourists its a ghosttown   fyi same time frame  28mil to thailand   🤔

[Yellowtail]

Just now, thjames88 said:

not sure thats exactly true  35 mil toursists to china and only 7m to hong kong (ex Chinese)  i lived in Hk 20 years and without Chinese tourists its a ghosttown   fyi same time frame  28mil to thailand   🤔

Hong Kong used to be great, last few times I was there was enough. I would not go back unless the family wanted to go to Disney. 

[PomPolo]

2 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

Hong Kong used to be great, last few times I was there was enough. I would not go back unless the family wanted to go to Disney. 

Yeah very true I used to like and visit with friends working there but you might as well be in a more expensive and robbing version of Pattaya in the centre of HK now if you are into nightlife.
As for stuff to do I went up the hill on that vertical train which was OK.  I think Disney opened after the last time I visited. 

But yeah the comparison stats on visitors, China receives on average the number of visitors equivalent to 10% of its population, Thailand receives visitors the equivalent of 60% of its population, I think I'll stay put here.

[zmisha]

20 hours ago, Bangkok Black said:

I am a UK passport holder and have a thai work permit, did you have any problems with immigration going/coming back to Thailand and in China?

1 hour before departure at Shanghai airport. They wanted me to show "valid visa". That time I did not know that Re-entry permit was the "valid visa" they wanted me to show. So I lost a lot of time solving this problem.

[connda]

20 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

I'm not a big fan of China, but it was okay the times I was there for work.

 

Did not seem very friendly, and the food kind of blows. 

You can say the same thing of New Yorkers.

[Yellowtail]

1 minute ago, connda said:

You can say the same thing of New Yorkers.

Anyone claiming the food in New York blows is delusional. 

 

What kind of food do you like? 

[renaissanc]

It's cold there now. I hope you like the cold. Just try to enjoy every minute. The Chinese people are friendly and there's a lot of beautiful scenery. Hopefully, the trip will include that more than shopping malls. Show the people compassion as life is hard for them. I wouldn't risk going to China as I've been too critical of the CCP online, and they've threatened to arrest people like me. I've backpacked around China before. It was tiring, but certainly worthwhile.

[sandyf]

On 1/30/2025 at 8:06 PM, Bangkok Black said:

Has anyone here been to China recently? i have a few questions.

Did you change money in Thailand at Super rich or in China?

I have been a couple of times, last time in 2019 for niece's graduation.

I would suggest getting some money before leaving Thailand. If not change at airport on arrival otherwise you may run into problems at a bank. When I tried they wanted social security details that I did not have available. My wife had a Chinese account in Thailand and transferred from there. Try and get small denominations, it is almost cashless society so if you do pay in cash getting change can be difficult.

Enjoy the trip, a real eye opener. Most from the west have preconceptions that will be blown away.

[Watawattana]

I've been to Mainland China a few times, and generally had a great time.  Paying for stuff is generally easier using an app like AliPay than cash, a VPN is useful so you can use the map and translation apps that you are used to, and a data plan is pretty much essential to help with these items just mentioned.

 

I found some of the cultural behaviours a bit odd, like taking 300% of what someone can eat from the buffet, then wasting it 200% of it.  Also doors not being held open and left to shut in your face, people on their phones walking around without a care for anyone else, groups of people walking on a sidewalk at a snail's pace taking all of it up and more selfies that you can imagine. 

 

But I've generally found people to be nice, friendly and helpful.

 

The one exception was Sanya (Hainan island), where I did not feel welcome at all.  But I worked out why in the end, on my last day there; the locals thought I was Russian.  When I got over that the locals turned back into being the normal friendly people I've met elsewhere.

 

Hong Kong is still an amazing place, but it is expensive and many people's opinion of the place has been stained by negative statements from politicians and the media.  In some cases the negative comments have some basis, but are generally not or are hypocritical.  Still one of the safest cities in the planet with great beaches and forest walks a short ride on the bus from the main city areas.

[Bangkok Black]

I have a Wise card and will be taking that and may also change some cash at swampy on the way out.

I have Torguard VPN

 

[Doctor Tom]

On 1/31/2025 at 8:13 AM, KhunLA said:

why do I bother sifting though hours of posts, just for 5 interesting ones.

I suggest that the OP doesn't  ask, if he/she/them is not going to like the wide range of replies that will come back. China evokes strong reactions from people, as indeed does Russia, both positive and negative.  My reply to the OP of, 'don't go', was heartfelt. I meant it. I hated almost everything about the country.  I hope he/she/them,  find it a positive experience.

[impulse]

On 1/31/2025 at 2:56 PM, Liverpool Lou said:

On 1/31/2025 at 2:17 PM, bobeychao said:

Many places are using online payments and cash is not used.

 

On 1/31/2025 at 11:12 AM, ChockyTheCat said:

don’t believe what people say about most places won’t take cash

 

Regarding cashless, I have no QR payment system on my phone and I get along fine 99% of the time.  The exceptions are the vending machines that are popping up everywhere (including airports), and a very few restaurants/ coffee shops in Exhibition Centers. (I haven't tried in town Starbucks since they went cashless in Bangkok, but there's always another coffee shop nearby and the Starbucks in the airports generally do take cash).  There's also a few kiosk style convenience stores that have no attendant, but most of them (7/11, Lawsons, etc.) take cash.  A few shops (Decathlon, and Sam's Club pizza shop for instance) have 1 cashier that takes cash and 2 or 3 for QR payments only.  But it's no problem.  QR payments are convenient, but cash still works.

 

Edit:  About the only time I wish I had a QR payment app is for the cute sleeping pods in some airports, for long layovers.  But that's more a matter of curiosity.  I love the concept, but I'm not sure how they work in reality.

 

[Woke to Sounds of Horking]

On 1/30/2025 at 5:06 AM, Bangkok Black said:

Any tips and advice are welcome.

 

Avoid at all costs.

 

The CCP can SUCK it.

 

I love Chinese culture - their inventions, their written language, Chinese tea, Chinese food, etc -  but those have absolutely nothing to do with the toxic, paranoid, control freaking CCP.

 

Cancel your trip.

 

[Drumbuie]

On 1/30/2025 at 8:43 PM, Yellowtail said:

I'm not a big fan of China, but it was okay the times I was there for work.

 

Did not seem very friendly, and the food kind of blows. 

Pretty sure the Chinese could say the same about the UK and/or the USA.....😄

[Woke to Sounds of Horking]

On 1/30/2025 at 5:43 AM, Yellowtail said:

Did not seem very friendly, and the food kind of blows. 

 

Depends.

 

Northern food is the best.

 

Northerners, once you get past the tough outer shell are friendly.

 

Shanghainese like to stare at your wiener in public toilets and are a bit paranoid... consider the recent brickbats from Beijing - the Corvid p(l)andemic and maybe good reason?

 

WeChat can SUCK it. Data mining crapola.

 

Do not trust anyone in gov't there.

 

China's gov't is not the brilliant Chinese culture.

 

Chinese tea cannot be beat.

[Hummin]

20 minutes ago, Woke to Sounds of Horking said:

 

Depends.

 

Northern food is the best.

 

Agree

 

20 minutes ago, Woke to Sounds of Horking said:

 

Northerners, once you get past the tough outer shell are friendly.

 

Spent a few month all together 3 trips, fantastic people. Memories for life

 

20 minutes ago, Woke to Sounds of Horking said:

1

Shanghainese like to stare at your wiener in public toilets and are a bit paranoid... consider the recent brickbats from Beijing - the Corvid p(l)andemic and maybe good reason?

 

😅 True

 

20 minutes ago, Woke to Sounds of Horking said:

 

Chinese tea cannot be beat.

 

Favorite Jasmine tea, and totally worth going to a well established Tea ceremony. 

[Woke to Sounds of Horking]

On 1/30/2025 at 5:13 PM, KhunLA said:

No advice, but seems you'll need to keep G-translate handy.

 

Google is blocked in Communist China. You will need a VPN to access Google, Gmail, FB, WhatsApp, Dropbox, Instagram and anything non Microsoft.

 

A royal pain in the arse.

[KhunLA]

52 minutes ago, Woke to Sounds of Horking said:

 

Google is blocked in Communist China. You will need a VPN to access Google, Gmail, FB, WhatsApp, Dropbox, Instagram and anything non Microsoft.

 

A royal pain in the arse.

Ouch ... hmm, not a fan of VPN, though guess wouldn't hurt for short visit.   Not that I use VPNs or have anything to hide.

 

Suspect most VPNs are run by the govts, and a farce to source your info.   Can't believe people fell for 'Telegram' msg service 

 

"Honey, I think we're out of tin foil"

[jori123]

Had stopover Shanghai years ago,went to heavenly bliss house ,5 not  particularly good looking girls took me in hand ,no cum no pay,I didn't but still had to pay

[RamblingOn]

On 1/30/2025 at 8:54 PM, save the frogs said:

seem to be a lot of china haters on AN.

there's a lot of interesting stuff to see there. and just absorbing the culture is fascinating. 

go for it. but no practical advice from me, sorry. 

 

A lot???

[Dirk Z]

On 1/30/2025 at 8:18 PM, Doctor Tom said:

My advice, cancel the trip and go somewhere else. China is a sxxt hole, peopled by those with no social graces. If you go, good luck. 

I totally disagree.

I have been visiting China since 1998, going there every year as a foreign expert. This ended when Covid came. But we made another visit last year in September because I wanted to see my friends and colleagues and also see what China was like now. Nothing was more simple. We did not need a visa and even though the entry card required the name of the hotel nobody ever asked for it or seemed to care. We just simply walking and could do whatever we liked. This doesn’t mean the government doesn’t have an eye you. Of course there is registration at the hotel but also every train ticket is connected to your passport. So you are watched every second of the day, but it did not bother me, I have nothing to hide. And I realise that WeChat probably also shares every ice cream and cup of coffee you spend with the Party.

We were in Shanghai for a few days and found it a very pleasant, friendly and clean city. When the light turns green at the intersection the hoard of motorbikes takes off without a sound. Most vehicles are electric, nothing like the noisy and smelly tuk-tuks and wannabe racers of Bangkok. Hotels are affordable, as are restaurants.

Travelling is very easy. There are very many train connections, they are reliable, run on time and not really expensive. Obtaining a ticket can be online or at a ticket office, always have your passport present.

For Internet we bought a SIM card at True, in a shop you can find in many of the malls. It worked very well with sufficient data. In most public places there is Wi-Fi. Use of a VPN maybe necessary, depending how you use Internet. I use GooseVPN, a reliable service with an excellent helpdesk.

For payment everybody uses WeChat. You can either have a QR code scanned on your phone or scan a code yourself. Even the bicycle taxi showed me the QR, and although I have brought some cash money I didn’t use a single renminbi. You can connect your Wise card or any other card with WeChat. For me it worked well, my wife’s MasterCard was blocked after returning, for abuse detected by the issuer. So you do need to keep track of your spending carefully and set your limits right.

China has a lot to offer in terms of nature and history. It is an interesting country and under the present circumstances we will certainly go back there.