I Travelled to China - Ask Me Anything

tryingtohelp on 23/07/2024 - 15:49

I travelled from Melbourne to Hong Kong for a layover, then spent a few days in Macau. From Macau, I went to Zhuhai and then to Guangzhou. From Guangzhou, I went to Shenzhen and then back to Melbourne.

Here is a list of items I purchased:

Apple Watch bands
Copy of AirPods Pro
Copy of AirPods Pro Max
iPhone cases
Leather bags: backpack, travel bag, laptop briefcase
Suitcase (which turned out to be a bad decision)
Electric screwdriver
Toys for kids
Apple CarPlay for our old car
Dash cam
Action camera
Charging cables (for some reason, my iphone 15 pro max doesn't charge with either of the cable, noticed this even with the cables that cabbies had in their taxis)
Ethernet accessories
Soldering tools and accessories
LED drivers to support long LED lights
HDMI cables (4K 1m for 5RMB each)
I compared prices with AliExpress before purchasing and found that the items were 30-40% cheaper in retail stores.

I made connections with retailers and wholesalers through WeChat.

Here are some tips:

Mobile/Hotel Internet: The hotels I stayed at did not have reliable internet service, so it's best not to depend on them. I recommend getting a good amount of data depending on your length of stay (assume 1.5GB/day). For iPhone users, turn off the photos to save mobile data.

VPN: WhatsApp, Google, and Gmail will only work on your roaming data provider. I had issues connecting to VPN through hotel wifi. I found that Eskimo Mobile and Travelkon worked well with these apps.

Luggage: I was advised to buy luggage in China, so I only travelled with my cabin baggage. If you plan to buy electronics or clothing, be aware that you may experience a lack of luggage allowance. I ended up purchasing a suitcase, but it was heavy, so I recommend bringing a luggage scale. If you need boxes, you can ask the hotel staff to organize carton boxes for you. I also used the Taobao app to order items with 24-48 hour delivery.

Payments: I primarily used WeChat and Alipay for payments. WeChat started to cause problems due to security issues, so I recommend using Alipay. I linked my Australian credit card to both apps without any problems. It's also a good idea to have some RMB on hand.

Hotels: Out of the 5 hotels I stayed at, only one was cheap. The staff at all the hotels were friendly, but the internet was unreliable. If you're a non-smoker, make sure to request a non-smoking room.

Macau Hotel Booking: The prices for the hotel varied depending on the time of booking. We ended up cancelling and rebooking multiple times to get a lower price.

Travel: I used DIDI for local travel, but note that the DIDI app only works through WeChat or Alipay. For long-distance travel, I used the subway (metro trains) and found it easy to navigate once I learned how to use the app.

Interstate: I travelled between Guangzhou and Shenzhen three times. If you're traveling solo, it's cheaper to use trains, but if you're traveling with three or more people, taking a taxi is a viable option.

HK Airport to Macau: If you arrive before 8:30 PM, you can go to the bus terminal counter before immigration and they will organize your checked-in luggage to the bus terminal. If you arrive late, you can take a bus from the HK Airport to another bus terminal. From there, you can travel to either Zhuhai or Macau. In Macau, there are free bus services to major hotels.

On foot: Be cautious when walking as you'll share the pedestrian strip with electric scooters. Pedestrians are given priority, but still be careful.

Language: Language can be a problem, but you can use the Apple Translate app or Google Translate (requires roaming internet).

Ask me anything :-)

Travel Asia China

Comments

  • El cheepo on 23/07/2024 - 15:53
    +11

    Is Hong Kong part of China?

    Edit: come on OP, play the game 😉

    • BOGOF on 23/07/2024 - 17:02
      +4

      I'll give you an upvote, but only to counteract the CCP bots.

      • El cheepo on 23/07/2024 - 18:18
        +1

        I feel bad taking the negs away from JV tbh.

    • dogboy on 23/07/2024 - 21:12
      +3

      No. If you have a single entry Visa to China and want to visit Hong Kong, you can't get back into China.

  • rompastompa on 23/07/2024 - 15:57
    +2

    Did you go with the intent to buy cheap electronics/cables over there, and sell here? If so, with airfares, purchasing luggage & hotels, do you expect to still make a profit or does it cover the adventure?

    • tryingtohelp on 23/07/2024 - 16:00

      Travelling to China was on my bucket list, and i went their with the soul purpose of exploring. It's a great adventure, and the more i know the places around them, the more i want to go there. It was truly a great adventure.

      • bmxr on 23/07/2024 - 21:16
        +10

        You visited exactly three fifths of (profanity) (e.g. none) all of this amazing and diverse country. Your review is 99% focussed on purchasing random small consumable goods while you were there (fair enough this is OzB) and going to a casino (I have also stayed at The Venetian in Macau).

        But to offer up an AMA on "I Travelled to China" is a bit misleading.

        Perhaps "I Travelled to Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta and Bought a Range of Cheap Consumables AMA" would be a more appropriate title.

  • star-ggg on 23/07/2024 - 15:57
    +28

    Why did you buy so much junk?

    • Muzeeb on 23/07/2024 - 16:09
      +10

      Especially stuff you can buy on AliExpress and have delivered in 10 days time.

      • El cheepo on 23/07/2024 - 16:13
        +5

        I don’t think anyone thats running a AMA about a country they visited for a week has the foresight for that.

        • 87percent on 23/07/2024 - 18:29
          +5

          Yeah, why does op think a holiday to china warrants an ama??

          • El cheepo on 23/07/2024 - 19:04
            +2

            @87percent: Exactly. And then ignore all the questions they don’t like 😂

  • netbies on 23/07/2024 - 15:59

    What identity document did you use for travel between Macau and Zhuhai? OZ passport or China entry permit? Do they have a separate counter to handle foreign passport at Gongbei port?

    • tryingtohelp on 23/07/2024 - 16:03
      +2

      To clarify, you will go through immigration in Macau first and then walk to Zhuhai's immigration to enter mainland China. The Macau immigration will issue you a paper slip, which is an important document that you must keep until you leave Macau. This slip is also required when checking in at hotels in Macau. In addition to the immigration slip, you will only need your AU passport.

      • netbies on 24/07/2024 - 06:30

        A visa? Do you get the slip when you travel from Hong Kong to Macau? Or, only get the slip when exiting Macau and going to Zhuhai?

  • jv on 23/07/2024 - 16:01
    +6

    I Travelled to China - Ask Me Anything

    Did you catch up with Dan?

    • ThithLord on 23/07/2024 - 16:08
      +7

      Unlikely, he's probably keeping a low profile after initiating the CrowdStrike fiasco

    • Stuj on 23/07/2024 - 18:13

      ROFL, oh how original

  • skid on 23/07/2024 - 16:02

    Did you buy most of the in Shenzhen? Where abouts in Shenzhen? Is there a market?

    • tryingtohelp on 23/07/2024 - 16:09
      +5

      Shenzhen is a great destination for electronics enthusiasts. It is recommended to allocate enough time to explore the numerous multi-storey buildings that specialize in different types of electronics. During our visit, we stayed at Huaqiang Plaza Hotel, which is conveniently located in the heart of the Shenzhen Electronics market. This location also offers easy access to the city's Metro Stations, which are referred to as subways.

      • rumblytangara on 23/07/2024 - 20:06
        +1

        It's called SEG Plaza/Market.

      • daft009 on 23/07/2024 - 21:17
        +1

        I've stayed at the same hotel back in 2018.
        Great hotel.

        Easy access to electronic markets.
        I didn't buy much consumer tech.
        Tools, industrial stuff etc
        Buy a few bags full then walk back to hotel to leave in your room and rinse repeat.

        Great trip

  • OMGJL on 23/07/2024 - 16:03
    +2

    I was born in China, spend my childhood and half teenage days in China. Now I am close to my 30s and have lived in Australia about as long as I lived in China.

    I think you get around things quite well in this trip.

  • skid on 23/07/2024 - 16:04

    Are you an Australian Citizen? What are the chances of being taken?

    • tryingtohelp on 23/07/2024 - 16:06
      +1

      Yes to AU citizen, didn't quite understand your question?

      • coffeeinmyveins on 23/07/2024 - 16:08
        +7

        They mean abducted by the CCP and used for organ harvesting

        • tryingtohelp on 23/07/2024 - 16:16
          +4

          Throughout my entire trip, I felt completely safe. I even walked around the quiet streets in search of convenience stores like 7/11 to buy some snacks, without any concerns. However, it's always better to prioritize safety rather than regretting it later.

    • Exprise on 23/07/2024 - 17:55
      -1

      25%

    • belongsinforums on 23/07/2024 - 20:56
      +2

      They use American spelling. I'm not so convinced

  • ThithLord on 23/07/2024 - 16:05
    +17

    Ask Me Anything

    If cereal is typically consumed at the start of our day, could it be said that the type of cereal we choose reflects our outlook on life? Just as we select a cereal that appeals to our taste buds and nutritional needs, perhaps it also mirrors our aspirations and the energy we wish to carry through our day. Does the simplicity of a classic cornflake speak to a desire for a straightforward day, while a bowl filled with colourful, sugary shapes suggests a day of seeking adventure and excitement? In essence, could our choice in cereal be a subconscious selection of the day's narrative we wish to unfold?

    • spackbace on 23/07/2024 - 16:08
      +11

      ^is a cereal offender

      • ThithLord on 23/07/2024 - 16:16
        +2

        Cerealesly funny joke, mate

    • Austin 316 on 23/07/2024 - 16:12

      Don't buy Chinese cereal… if that is what you were asking :P

  • Muzeeb on 23/07/2024 - 16:11
    +1

    Which airline did you use to fly to Honkers?

    • tryingtohelp on 23/07/2024 - 16:14

      The cheapest that was available on my dates was Philippines Airline. the others were costing almost 70% more than this option.

      • altomic on 23/07/2024 - 20:31

        last week my daughter took a Philippines Airlines flight from Abu Dhabi to Manila. she said it was the oldest and dirtiest plane she's ever flown on - she's done ~40 international flights, and also flown jetstar domestically

  • BOGOF on 23/07/2024 - 16:16

    Did you do or see anything interesting or memorable? if so can you share?
    If not, was your trip just to buy 'tat'?

    • tryingtohelp on 23/07/2024 - 16:19
      +2

      We visited Macau, which was a great destination for both families and friends. We stayed at the Venetian, a hotel that is connected to other hotels. Each hotel is themed after different cities like Venice, London, and Paris. After our time in Macau, I spent a lot of time exploring the Shenzhen market.

      • BOGOF on 23/07/2024 - 16:21

        Why is Macau a great destination? Is there anything interesting or memorable to share?
        Whilst exploring Shenzen market did you see or do anything interesting or memorable?

        • Pecan on 23/07/2024 - 16:34
          +2

          Portuguese tarts, binge on them. Amazing

        • anana-sukha on 24/07/2024 - 03:30

          Macau has a very interesting history, having been colonised by the Portuguese, so you can expect a very different vibe to the place compared to Hong Kong. I love the cobblestoned streets and European influenced housing, and that the signs are in Chinese/Portuguese. Really cool. The food there is also unique and a great fusion, most famous being their porkchop buns (which i remember having to line up for when my parents took me here as a kid in the 90s), Portuguese egg tarts, baked rice, and almond cookies. There is a famous street that leads up to the ruins of St Pauls Cathedral that's lined with bakeries and street food which is very cool. Casinos don't appeal to me but there's a lot of history and culture to go for, at least for a couple of days. Fave memory? Going to Hac Sa Beach (Black Sand Beach) and entering what appeared to be a small, modest Portueguese restaurant but on going to the back, there's this awesome garden and dining hall and it's lively and very cosmopolitan. Had an amazing flame grilled chicken there and the best tomato salad, super bock beer and delightfully trashy sangria made from cheap red and fanta. Least fave experience there? Inconsiderate mainland tourists treating the place like a theme park - was in a church that had clear signs not to take photos as it's a place of worship but that didn't stop them. I'm not religious but that's just plain rude.

  • coffeeinmyveins on 23/07/2024 - 16:23
    +1

    How was the food?

    I can't bring myself to even think about going to China after watching serpentza's youtube videos about gutter oil and other things.

    • tryingtohelp on 23/07/2024 - 16:24

      I personally didn't have any issues with the food. I depended on some local restaurants, KFC etc

      • BOGOF on 23/07/2024 - 16:26
        +1

        Did you have any interesting or memorable meals? Anything you would like to share?

      • AustriaBargain on 23/07/2024 - 16:27
        +9

        You flew across the world to the exotic land of China and ate at KFC?

        • tryingtohelp on 23/07/2024 - 16:28
          +1

          And other things :-)

        • BOGOF on 23/07/2024 - 16:33
          +4

          And bought junk you can get from Ali/eBay etc. and stopped in hotels and got taxis and trains and stuff and then went home.

        • coffeeinmyveins on 23/07/2024 - 16:50
          +4

          just because you go overseas it doesn't mean you have to eat only the cuisine of that country.

          we went to south korea recently and honestly, you get over it after two weeks and you just crave something from home like fast food or a pizza.

        • masterqur on 23/07/2024 - 17:49

          KFC in China is actually different. I think they taste better, and aside from burger and fried chicken they also provide some Chinese food in KFC.

    • masterqur on 23/07/2024 - 17:44
      +3

      Food in China is wonderful, in my opinion. It is just as good as, or even better than, Chinese restaurants here, and there is a greater variety of food. Most importantly, meal prices are much more reasonable than at Chinese restaurants here.

      Just avoid those very cheap street food options that don't look legitimate and clean. Any proper restaurant should be fine.

    • Ghost47 on 23/07/2024 - 19:58
      +2

      Serpentza is an LBH that went to China to find a woman. No one should be watching his videos except for other LBHs (and even then they shouldn't be watching his videos). His wife is Chinese yet he loves to bash and attack China, that kind of thing is just weird. But his wife probably also loves to bash China probably because she's been brainwashed by him. Definitely a normal relationship. No whiff of white supremacism at all there. Pretty sure he's either directly called Chinese people monkeys or implied they are subhuman in his videos. Definitely a very nice guy, not toxic at all. Very nice.

      • JoBevo on 23/07/2024 - 23:34
        +2

        The dude was digging up graves in Taiwan while laughing about it. The wife was there crying and asking him to leave.

        • Ghost47 on 23/07/2024 - 23:35

          Was that him or his mate Laowhy86? I thought it was Laowhy86 but yes, they're both disgusting human beings.

        • t_c on 24/07/2024 - 00:31

          Do you have a link to this?

      • zanzir on 23/07/2024 - 23:36
        +2

        just learnt what LBH means, thanks.

  • Tomcruise on 23/07/2024 - 16:26

    Why

  • MeesusEff on 23/07/2024 - 16:47

    How were the public toilets?

    • BOGOF on 23/07/2024 - 16:56

      Monitored by CCP cameras

    • Yummy on 23/07/2024 - 18:25

      Crouching Tiger, Open Dragon

    • belongsinforums on 23/07/2024 - 20:58

      Haha you reminded me of the roadside toilet blocks that are roman style if you know what I mean

      • MeesusEff on 23/07/2024 - 21:40

        My dad told me one public toilet had no cubicle walls, everyone does their business in a hole or something then it all flows past them along a drain.

        • belongsinforums on 23/07/2024 - 21:59

          Yep. There are walls though they are very low

    • Kanosha on 23/07/2024 - 21:14

      A toilet at a restaurant I went to required you to scan your face before it would issue you any toilet paper

  • Gnostikos on 23/07/2024 - 16:50
    +13

    In today's instalment of OzBlog: a man travels overseas to do some incredibly boring shopping, gives generic travel advice that anyone who's been overseas more than once will be familiar with and thinks he went on an expedition to Mars and back.

    I'm reminded of Jeremy Clarkson's old Top Gear intros.

    • Ryanek on 23/07/2024 - 18:07
      +1

      This is such a mean-spirited comment. I don't understand people like you.

    • rumblytangara on 23/07/2024 - 21:20
      +1

      To be fair, while there was hardly anything deeply relevatory in the post, it was well intentioned and some effort had gone into the writing.

      Definitely not AMA material though.

    • Eeples on 23/07/2024 - 22:55

      I was in Singapore’s Chinatown last week and there was a western young man dressed as a pirate wearing pantaloons drinking a tiger beer in a nice restaurant. I wondered if he thought he was having an adventure.

      • Turffe on 24/07/2024 - 00:36

        In his defense that sounds like a lovely time.

  • ihfree on 23/07/2024 - 17:05
    +1

    Would you rather fight a bear sized duck or 100 duck sized bears?

    • El cheepo on 23/07/2024 - 19:00
      +1

      Bear sized duck any day of the week.

  • Sweet3st on 23/07/2024 - 17:17
    +3

    I traveled to China in the early 80s. The things I remember most were that they refused to serve you vegetables in restaurants if you were western, just meat :( (think vegetables were seen as too poor); the huge spittoons everywhere and everyone hawking into them all the time. Travel on coal fired trains (sooty), a local flight in an ex military craft. People still wearing Mao suits.

    • rompastompa on 23/07/2024 - 17:30
      +4

      You should do an AMA!

    • masterqur on 23/07/2024 - 18:01
      +1

      There's no chance to fly an ex military aircraft anymore there. All Boeing and Airbus, and trains are mostly high speed bullet trains.

  • ihbh on 23/07/2024 - 17:32

    I compared prices with AliExpress before purchasing and found that the items were 30-40% cheaper in retail stores.

    What warranties do they offer?

    • tryingtohelp on 23/07/2024 - 17:38
      +3

      The warranties are offered by the sellers, of course you need to find a way to ship back to them. Therefore, it is advised to get their contact details like WeChat, just in case if you come across claiming the replacement.

      • ihbh on 23/07/2024 - 17:39

        So are you prepared to ship it back or forgo warranties, in which case, you should factor it into the price, else it's false economy.

  • foxmulder on 23/07/2024 - 17:36
    +1

    There was no hot water in the kitchen tap for a year and today I just change the adapter to the main pipe and I get hot water. I feel stupid for not doing it much sooner. Ask me anything :)

    • Gnostikos on 23/07/2024 - 17:38
      +1

      Took a huge dump. I think my life flashed before my eyes and I saw God. AMA.

  • JIMB0 on 23/07/2024 - 18:30

    Why didn't you visit Taiwan?

    • YRT on 23/07/2024 - 19:43
      +1

      We went from Taipei to Xiamen early this year. Taipei looked underdeveloped, where as Xiamen a developed city with clean streets, nice pedestrian pathways etc. Also to mention the food in Xiamen was noticeably better than Taipei.

      The toilets in Xiamen were gross however - think wet toilets in Muslim countries.

    • belongsinforums on 23/07/2024 - 20:59

      Taiwan is boring af to be fair

  • scooba on 23/07/2024 - 18:41
    -7

    Was it nice visiting one of the world's most polluted countries?

    • tryingtohelp on 23/07/2024 - 18:43
      +2

      It was amazing, I loved Shenzen.
      You’ll see how busy, yet efficient public transport system they have!!.

      • scooba on 23/07/2024 - 18:49
        -4

        Did you wear a mask when you were outside in the heavily polluted areas?

        Also, what was your social credit score by the time you left?

        • tryingtohelp on 23/07/2024 - 19:00
          +2

          I didn’t wear the mask, I have seasonal asthma, however, I didn’t come across any issues.

          I played nice everywhere :), and paid 3% on every transaction to WeChat or Alipay, based on that, I can assume my social credit score stands good.

          • scooba on 23/07/2024 - 19:12
            -5

            @tryingtohelp: For a country that's politically bankrupt it sounds like you're very familiar, did you visit family?

            • tryingtohelp on 23/07/2024 - 19:13

              @scooba: Nope, went with cousins joining me from India :)

              • scooba on 23/07/2024 - 19:15
                -5

                @tryingtohelp: Thinking of relocating or was it nice to be "home"?

                • tryingtohelp on 23/07/2024 - 19:47

                  @scooba: No such plans :)

                  • scooba on 23/07/2024 - 20:50
                    -3

                    @tryingtohelp: I thought as much. I couldn't ever think of abandoning my own country because it's so polluted and corrupt that I have to be the goodest boy everywhere I go, alas someone will put me in if I don't tip right.

            • altomic on 23/07/2024 - 20:34
              +2

              @scooba:

              For a country that's politically bankrupt it sounds like you're very familiar, did you visit family?

              well, OP is an Australian citizen.

              • scooba on 23/07/2024 - 21:03
                -3

                @altomic: So he should've visited India?

                It is winter here at the moment and a lot of "Australian citizens" are living like kings in India right now. Reminds me of August 2021 when Covid broke out & they were all stuck there demanding the Australian government bring them home because they were "Australian citizens" and people here were saying "they put themselves there, so they have to stay because the borders were closed".

                What kind of shame does a "citizen" have to murder to demand their so called home government bring them home, when they're already at "home"?

                • Ghost47 on 23/07/2024 - 21:56
                  +1

                  @scooba: Shieeeet and people call me SlavOz lol!

                • altomic on 23/07/2024 - 23:47
                  +1

                  @scooba: your comments appear very "anti-china".

                  I was poking fun at your comments.

                  especially your suggestion that China is "politically bankrupt", by my suggestion that Australia could be considered "politically bankrupt".

                  but also your assertion that China is one of the world's most polluted countries - it's 25th .

                  or maybe you're trolling.

                  but your avatar is Mark Read, so….

    • YRT on 23/07/2024 - 19:50
      +4

      Your prejudice is unwarranted, sorry to call this out. China is nowhere near the most polluted country.

      Try West Asian countries for that award - their substandard fuel and exhaust fumes were so heavy, it feels like you were chained to exhaust pipes 24/7

      Recommend you travel more.

      • Ghost47 on 23/07/2024 - 20:02
        +1

        China is quite polluted.. because the West sent all their manufacturing to them. We wouldn't have what we have now and people wouldn't be paying cheap prices for goods if it wasn't for China. We'd be paying picks up random object on desk $40 for a pack of 10 AA batteries.

        But, ChYnA BaD!!1!11!!! YeLlOw PeRiL!!1!11111!! ReEeEeeEEEEEEE!1!!!111!!!!!

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