John Galt wrote:Alpha eX wrote:John Galt wrote:I've just applied for a place on a Chinese language/culture course in China this summer, so I too may be going to China. There are about 6 applicants per place though...
I'd still really like to go to China or Japan this summer regardless of being accepted on the course. The only problem is finding someone to go with and the whole cost aspect. I would be able to afford a decent two week holiday in Japan but I want something that's going to last at least four weeks as I have 16 weeks of holiday to fill.
If I do go on the course then I also have to figure out whether I want to do a rushed trip of Japan before (maybe only a week there) or wait for another time. If I don't do Japan then I'll definitely go to Beijing and hopefully Shanghai too.
Are you not planning to see other parts of China, Alpha? I could never go all that way and pass up an opportunity to go to Beijing, even if it is some extra distance.
I'd love to visit other parts of China, do I need a visa or anything? Been wondering about that.
You do need a Visa. They cost £60 and I think virtually anyone can get one. Apparently you can get them whilst in Hong Kong but if you're dead set on going to the mainland you might want to pick one up before you go.
http://wikitravel.org/en/China#Get_in
hey alpha, im glad too hear you want to go to HK. i went there and around china in 2006 and found it amazing, having said that i went with friends (so didnt do the typical touristy stuff) but you will be with a locale (kind of) so you should also have a good time. if you are wondering about anything just ask as i went in and out of HK like 4 times and know all about bits and pieces.
if you have any questions do ask because i went too the very rich and very poor places: (in order of date/arrival)
*Hong kong
*shenzhen (then got stuck on a train for 26 hours due to the worst typhoon in chinafor the last 50 years, we ended up having to go back to shenzhen, from shenzhen)
*chen zhou (small city the Hunan province)
*Guiyang in the hunan province (thers another, bigger guiyang in another province) (i also taught english at a school here, it was great because i became a star in the town since no one there has seen a foreigner before)
*chen zhou
*chang sha (capital of the hunan province
*beijing
*shanghai
*xiamen
*Longyan city (fujian province, same as xiamen)
*dong guan
*guangzhou
*shenzhen
*hong kong
*shenzhen again
*hong kong then home!
so if you have any questions regarding anything in these rural and big citys, do ask.
regarding the Visa, you can go to HK for 6 months without a Visa if you have a british passport (mainland chinese can only go for 10 days!), if you want to go to Shenzhen (i expect you too know where this is) you can go by paying 500 yuan at the border (takes 1.5 hours roughly), this is quite pricey but they jacked the prices up for british visitors as the british do the same to the chinese, i saw the prices for other nationals and it was only something in the region of 150 yuan! this specific visa only allows you too stay in the CENTRE of Shenzhen (they have borders in every city too keep out the poor) although i went through this border when i wasnt ment too and no-one cared. if you want to go to beijing or shanghai you need to get the visitors visa, preferbly in london, you can pay some agents to do this, it will cost about £60-70 for the visa, the agents charge like £20 but save you a gooseberry fool load of time and hassle. i used some agents that are based in Euston. keep in mind, you can go into HK as many times as you want with a british passport but going back into mainland china (not including that mini visa i described earlier) is usually only permitted once, unless your special and you have a multiple visa which i dont know how much they cost. please ask more questions mayne, your reminding me of my good times
also, if you do go to beijing make sure you go see some of the rock/metal bands as beijing is famous for its underground rock scene.
i also forgot too mention that this mini visa permits you too stay in the centre of shenzhen for only 5 days.