How you go about house hunting in China depends on how you're going to pay. If you're an expat and your company is paying then it may be easier. If your looking for a place yourself there are still lots of options... depending on how much your willing to shell out. Continue

Shopping is a lot of fun in China as everything is a negotiation. If you’re no good at this, practice before you come!

China is a buyer beware shopping experience. Most stores have a no refund policy regardless of weather it is faulty or not. Once you have paid…

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This, more than anything else I can tell you, is the most important advice To Surviving China. If it is your first time in an Asian country or your first time in China then the sheer number of people will likely be overwhelming.



These big cities in China, especially Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou are what I can best described as a heaving life form with a life all its own. You can literally see and feel these cities breathing through the ebb and flow of its… Continue

If you have spent any time in China you will know all about the "Great Fire-Wall" of China as it is fondly known.



This has been 'erected' to essentially protect and prohibit those people in China from viewing subversive, lude or offensive materials - as defined by the State. Im not going to get into the politics of freedom of speech or using new media for propaganda in this blog.



One unfortunate side effect of this is of course the inability for us foreigners who like to… Continue

We traveled by train from Suzhou to Hangzhou, a journey that takes about 2-1/2 hours.



This D (fast) train (200km/h) travels from Suzhou to Shanghai, then Shanghai to Hangzhou. There is no direct line via a fast train. As always simple, clean and fast. (89RMB each)



Arriving in Hangzhou is pretty chaotic.



There are no taxis around, the taxis you can hail down don't want to use their meters and the 'private taxis', unlicensed, unmonitored, un-regulated drivers… Continue

We traveled from Shanghai to Suzhou by the D fast train (200km/h) - 29 minutes and we were in Suzhou.



Other than the typical panicked, squashed rush to get on (Yes your seats are allocated so does not matter how much you rush...although you can buy standing only tickets which are cheaper), this could not have been easier.



Be Aware: People will sit in your seats until you tell them that you have a ticket. They will happily move but they are… Continue

This year we have decided to stay in China over the Christmas period.



Normally we head back to our sunny home and enjoy the beaches and Summer...but this year we are going to explore some parts of China we have not been to as a family.



We will be traveling primarily around Shanghai and hence it is cold unlike the Southern Parts of China where you may have some milder days.



I will be logging our travels on a daily basis and hoping to provide hints and tips for… Continue

Hi

I'm traveling to Hong Kong next year for the first time since it was handed back by the British. I was wondering has it changed much because when I was there twenty five years ago the shopping was amazing. It really was a fantastic adventure.

P.S. Keep telling us all your tips they make fascinating reading.