I Travelled to China - Ask Me Anything

tryingtohelp on 23/07/2024 - 15:49
Last edited 24/07/2024 - 13:38

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).

Booking site: Trip.com was my way to make any bookings related to hotel/trains etc, unless i found cheaper deals on either website. Thanks to @blue_bug for reminding me

Ask me anything :-)

Travel Asia China

Comments

      • 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
          +4

          Portuguese tarts, binge on them. Amazing

          • BOGOF on 23/07/2024 - 16:35
            +9

            @Pecan: How much for an hour?

          • R4 on 24/07/2024 - 14:32

            @Pecan: Yes, and that pressed, barbecued pork that you can buy on the street.

            • Benicio on 24/07/2024 - 15:53
              +1

              @R4: honey ham! in Singapore too.

        • anana-sukha on 24/07/2024 - 03:30
          +7

          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.

      • donman92 on 24/07/2024 - 10:04

        I went to Macau but only for the day from HK and went there by 4pm so I didn't get to go to the Cotai strip but I was told that the other cobble stone restaurants areas are better and that I didn't miss much.

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

    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
        +23

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

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

          And other things :-)

        • BOGOF on 23/07/2024 - 16:33
          +8

          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.

          • Scrooge McDuck on 25/07/2024 - 02:23
            +1

            @coffeeinmyveins: I used to roll my eyes at immigrants who ate food from their origin country. Never again!

            When I lived in Macau I was massively craving steak and I was overjoyed when my daily buffet served fried fish.

        • masterqur on 23/07/2024 - 17:49
          +5

          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.

          • Poor Ass on 24/07/2024 - 08:28

            @masterqur: there's 2 types of KFC in China… ones the regular one the other is like Chinese food

            I wouldn't say the chicken tastes better because they are all from frozen and not moist and fresh like Aus

        • nostalgiaultra on 25/07/2024 - 09:16

          It'd be worth it just for their Portuguese egg tarts (also available in Vietnam)

        • idonotknowwhy on 25/07/2024 - 11:50

          It's actually worth eating at KFC in China if you get the chance. It's totally different from here. I don't even like KFC normally but in China it tastes amazing.

    • masterqur on 23/07/2024 - 17:44
      +6

      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.

      • AustriaBargain on 25/07/2024 - 11:53
        -1

        Street vendors are very eco conscious, I saw on YouTube that they actually extract cooking oil from the sewer system.

    • Ghost47 on 23/07/2024 - 19:58
      +7

      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
        +4

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

      • zanzir on 23/07/2024 - 23:36
        +6

        just learnt what LBH means, thanks.

      • Jaysful on 24/07/2024 - 09:18
        +8

        I don't think he's that transparent or open about mocking Chinese, but you are correct, his undertone has some serious superiority complex. He boasts about working in the 'medical industry and with doctors' and turns out he teaches them primary-school level English. He insists on wearing the daggiest suit at all times and in public and in summer. So many red flags. He disguises his disdain and mockery of the country by hiding behind his 'adventures' on his bike with his other foreign friend.

        Some sociopathic vibes through his presentation and not trying to be stereotyping (just my personal experience) but I would bet good money that it probably also has something to do with his South African upbringing as well.

        • CalmLemons on 24/07/2024 - 20:43

          ^ worded it way better than me.

  • Tomcruise on 23/07/2024 - 16:26
    -1

    Why

  • MeesusEff on 23/07/2024 - 16:47
    +2

    How were the public toilets?

    • BOGOF on 23/07/2024 - 16:56
      -3

      Monitored by CCP cameras

      • hopper on 24/07/2024 - 10:24

        Camera brand plz

        • BOGOF on 24/07/2024 - 10:42

          Hikvision and Dahua

    • Yummy on 23/07/2024 - 18:25
      +1

      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.

    • 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

      • Poor Ass on 24/07/2024 - 08:30

        lol I saw ones that you scan QR code to issue you TP

    • skillet on 24/07/2024 - 09:53

      Full of 2nd hand smoke. I don't know what they are trying to do, either to cover up the smell or trying to compete in lung competition. They could have smoke outside.

  • Miami Mall Alien on 23/07/2024 - 16:50
    +28

    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
      +3

      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
      +1

      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
        +2

        In his defense that sounds like a lovely time.

        • ThithLord on 24/07/2024 - 13:22

          yeah, really, sign me up

        • Eeples on 31/07/2024 - 12:14

          Yes. I think he was. Mind you I think he would have had a way better time (and looked less out of place) drinking long neck Tiger beer out of ice buckets on Tyrwhitt Road.

  • ihfree on 23/07/2024 - 17:05

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

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

      Bear sized duck any day of the week.

      • Scrooge McDuck on 25/07/2024 - 02:31

        I think I'd be screwed either way.

  • Sweet3st on 23/07/2024 - 17:17
    +5

    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
      +7

      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
        +3

        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.

    • smartazz104 on 24/07/2024 - 13:37
      +2

      What warranties do they offer?

      Same as Aliexpress…

  • foxmulder on 23/07/2024 - 17:36
    +2

    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 :)

    • Miami Mall Alien on 23/07/2024 - 17:38
      +3

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

  • JIMB0 on 23/07/2024 - 18:30
    +2

    Why didn't you visit Taiwan?

    • YRT on 23/07/2024 - 19:43
      +4

      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
      -1

      Taiwan is boring af to be fair

      • CalmLemons on 24/07/2024 - 20:44

        The food is good. Boring yes.

        Chicks hot too. Anyway.

  • scooba on 23/07/2024 - 18:41
    -6

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

    • tryingtohelp on 23/07/2024 - 18:43
      +5

      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
        -8

        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
          +4

          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.

            • tryingtohelp on 23/07/2024 - 19:13
              +1

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

              • scooba on 23/07/2024 - 19:15
                -8

                @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
                    -5

                    @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
              +4

              @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
                -8

                @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
                  +3

                  @scooba: Shieeeet and people call me SlavOz lol!

                  • scooba on 24/07/2024 - 13:00

                    @Ghost47: lol, what does SlavOz have to do with this?

                • altomic on 23/07/2024 - 23:47
                  +6

                  @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….

                  • scooba on 24/07/2024 - 13:08
                    -3

                    @altomic: You're right, it was just a bit o' fun and yes, both countries are politically bankrupt.

                    "It's 25th"
                    I wonder how many low quality gold plated lead bars that ranking cost them?

                    The only people trolling are the one's saying that a communist country is a great place to visit but wouldn't move there, because y'know…, it all depends on your social credit score.

                • crazycalm1991 on 24/07/2024 - 09:13
                  +6

                  @scooba: Lol your series of comments looks like you are really itching to say something about China. Why don't you just say it? Let it out. Hear what others think etc… Then you can process the feelings and thoughts and possibly move on?

                  • scooba on 24/07/2024 - 12:59
                    -2

                    @crazycalm1991: No need to say it as people in this thread have already said it, but you go ahead now and tow the PRC line of "chyna goooood" lol.

                    • smartazz104 on 24/07/2024 - 13:39
                      +5

                      @scooba: Say it coward.

                      • scooba on 24/07/2024 - 14:47

                        @smartazz104: Speak for yourself lol.

                        What am I supposed to say sweetheart?

                    • crazycalm1991 on 24/07/2024 - 14:31
                      +2

                      @scooba: Well partly my point is that a China good vs China bad mentality is too simplistic and potentially offensive, so I definitely do not 'tow' any simplistic line. Do you?

                      However it seems that when someone calls you out on your potentially offensive comments you shrink away and say 'well other people have already said it!', 'only joking!'

                      • scooba on 24/07/2024 - 14:45
                        -1

                        @crazycalm1991: Yes it is offensive to state that a country so emboldened in watching and controlling their citizens every move with the threat of gaol or even worse, death, has the gall to offer free visas when we know what happened on the streets over there in 2019 and let's not forget the big one, Tiananmen Square.

                        Oh sure, it's just jokes and I'm shrinking away from comments lol .Do I really need to repeat others comments to garner more invites from the fifty cent soldiers to prove my or is it your point?

                        • crazycalm1991 on 24/07/2024 - 16:33
                          +1

                          @scooba: The government of China is not the only thing China has to offer. The OP went on a trip there and found a lot to enjoy. China has good and bad like a lot of places, but you really wanted to emphasise the bad. Why?

                          What on earth was your point to spout all the offensive useless comments? You won't say? Maybe because you know it is thoughtless rubbish?

                          When called out on it you are trying to back-peddle and make light of it.

                          • scooba on 24/07/2024 - 20:23

                            @crazycalm1991: A lot to enjoy whilst being monitored every minute you're out and about, how comforting. You don't give someone the right tip and they'll report you, yeah that's the bad that's worth emphasising.

                            The offensive comments are only offensive to people who don't know that chyna is one of the most racist countries out there, see many African Americans there, or what about the uyghurs?

                            Come on man, if you want the social credit points so bad and think it's such a great place why don't you live there full time instead of here?

                            Nice try, but it's not that easy pal.

                            • crazycalm1991 on 24/07/2024 - 20:47

                              @scooba: Lol Nice try? What did I try and fail at?
                              You are just saying gibberish to appear to be enjoying yourself whilst you are clearly in over your head.

                              • scooba on 24/07/2024 - 20:56

                                @crazycalm1991: Gee Captain Obvious I wonder what you failed at lol?

                                Gibberish you say? What I see is you not replying to my points about the uyghurs etc in that wonderful country you're spruiking.

                                Care to try again, by all means do if won't affect your score?

                                • crazycalm1991 on 25/07/2024 - 09:12

                                  @scooba: From the outset you never explained your 'point(s)' despite people asking. So you want me to address the Uyghurs etc? Well I already said China has both good and bad aspects. What more/how do you want your 'points' addressed?

                                  • scooba on 25/07/2024 - 14:18

                                    @crazycalm1991: Ok, what investments do you have in chyna and if a social credit score was implemented in Australia, would you be happy to keep living here or would you leave this very racist country that thousands are flocking to each month?

                                    So the Uyghurs are just "bad aspects'? It's fascinating that you're able to downplay a human rights catastrophe that included chinese soldiers r@ping imprisoned female Uyghurs. I guess Tiananmen Square just a "bad aspect" too?

                                    Is the 50c per post really worth it mate?

                                    • crazycalm1991 on 25/07/2024 - 15:54

                                      @scooba: I'm not downplaying anything. 'Bad aspects' does not denote any qualitative meaning.

                                      Yes bad things are happening in China. But it doesn't mean a mum and pop tourist company in China can't have business with a tourist such as the OP.

                                      You still haven't made any explicit coherent point.

                                      • scooba on 25/07/2024 - 18:45

                                        @crazycalm1991: Nice technicality there, human rights violations = bad aspects…got it👍🏻.

                                        No it does mean that the mum and dad business & tourist need to have a social credit account setup to do business, doesn't it.

                                        I'm starting to wonder if english is your second language if don't think I've made an "explicit coherent point", or are you getting AI to compose your posts?

                                        I'm sure Xinnie is very proud of you sport, you'll have $3 in your bank account before the day's over.

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