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My experience is that both Ctrip and elong take international cards.
Regarding Chinese New Year in Chengdu, in past years;
Over the period JinLi is ‘expanded’ to include the grounds of Wuhou with a lantern display, more snacks food vendors and the like – with a 20RMB entry.
On Midnight of actual New Year, many people go to Wenshuyuan and the surrounding sites/temples.
I Too would be very interested to hear the details of the bus/stop wifi service.
Also the functionality this would provide
There are lot more deals on http://www.tuan800.com or sina.com.
Thanks
Quote:I can get you coupons on line for a 2 days hot sprign trip to Emei MoutainCould you post a link to that coupon?
this is the card I was passed today from the agency. I guess you’ll get a better response from the qq mail address.
Hello AKK.
I’m not sure of your familiarity with China/Chengdu. I believe it’s quite difficult to even arrange an appointment to few a property by email.
Let alone go further.
Over the phone/qq I suspect is the most remote option you could consider, with face to face visiting of the agency almost always a necessity. I’ve seen other people post to the same effect.
I’ve never heard of anyone managing to arrange an apartment for arrival other than those who had it done for them by their Company/School.
That’s just my opinion I don’t want to be discouraging.
From what I understand of your situation I’ll try to make some suggestions.
You might have to stay at a hostel when you arrive then spend your first few days looking.
Enlist the assistance of the company you’ll work for? Can they get someone to do some house hunting on you behalf before you arrive?
Can they provide someone to assist/accompany you after after you arrive?
Once you find a place and have the money you can often move in immediately.
I think I’ve seen on another thread you might stay for 6 months, I’ve found all contracts to be 12months min. you might have to try to negotiate this.
An agency fee might be 1 months rent. Again you can try to negotiate this, I know some that have paid 2 weeks.
You might well be expected to pay 3 months rent in advance.
Also try to negotiate a lower price, everyone will expect it.
You could try http://fang.taobao.com/chengdu I’ve used it in the past to get an idea of the rental market in different areas. Though again you always have to follow up by phone/qq ~~ generally people will use qq or phone, I think email doesn’t really get you very far in my experience, maybe the east of china is different/better. Face-to-face, cash in hand is king.
Apologies if some/all of this is obvious
To answer your questions.
Yes, you should be able to get a fairly decent place for 1500-2000, though I expect it to be nearer to 2000. depending on what you regard as decent. Its VERY easy to see places listed for 2500.
I can try to get you a contact details of an agency in the area.
Regards
A friend of mine rented a tidy fully furnished ~60 sq meter one bed at the restaurant square for 1500/month. that was a year or so ago.
There are an number of agencies in the the area, none that I’m aware have English speaking staff.
Hello HugAPanda. I don’t know if you still want information.
Chenghua is towards the north east of the city. This area like many has been redeveloped allot in the last couple of years, including the new music/culture area. There are also a number of large university campuses. It does stretch from downtown to past the second ring road, so that depends on your exact address. Most areas Chengdu districts are as clean as each other, what variations there are, are between neighbourhoods and apartment complexes. I’m fairly sure no parts of Chengdu are dangerous. And there are super markets and open/wet markets most everywhere.
Something you might consider is the most (not all) of the established expat/foreigner activity is focused around the South of Chengdu. Which could easily be 30-60 mins travel from Chenghua, depending on traffic, if that will be important to you
Regards
Hello AKK
It seems Daqiang West Street (大墙西街?) is just to the north of down-town.
What kind of accommodation are you looking for?
Try this map: http://j.map.baidu.com/Lf4ac
I’ve marked a couple of nearby hostels, a holiday inn, and a Chinese brand hotel. I’ve also marked a complex of newer style apartments around a restaurant square which might be suitable. Most of the apartments nearer are older style, I don’t know much about them.
Let me know if you want other information.
Regards
In a new environment the cause could be almost anything, or any combination. Of course go seek professional advise.
In the UK I was prescribed a very strong (and very expensive) steroid cream, after much effort (allot of which actually aggravated it) to determine I had some kind of contact dermatitis.
The doc here gave me a combination of; light steroid, antihistamine, vit c pills, and am antibacterial wash. It cost 10% of the UK solution and clears it better in half the time. After one consultation
Even without insurance , the consult and the drugs were around then than 50 RMB. Don’t hesitate
Unicom’s Prices:
http://3g.10010.com/3gindex/3gfee/A_plan.html
Google does a pretty heroic job of translating.
Quote:Wait a minute, if you have GSM (and not CDMA) you can get 3G mobile internet at China Mobile? Because I’m 100% sure I have a Belgian iPhone 4 GSM version.I think where and how ‘GSM’ might be used by different people might be a little different.
Rest Assured. if you have a “Belgian iPhone 4 GSM version” you will not get 3G data speeds from China Mobile. You will need to use China Unicom.
I recently got a SIM only Pre Pay Deal (Monthly) on China Unicom:
Around 60 RMB
50 Mins Talk time (any network china wide)
240 SMS (any network china wide)
and 300 MB 3G Data (china wide)
+ other things like some video calls and MMS
If you go into a China Unicom store (the Orange ones) they usually have a sales card describing the different monthly package in incremental cost. It’s pretty easy to get even if you don’t understand chinese.
I think it’s 30 RMB initial cost for the SIM Card.
And of course you need Photo ID
XBL. I’ve PM’d you to give you a referral. I can put you in contact with a good private tutor
I’d suggest to you or anyone, try to arrange to meet as many potential teachers a you can when you arrive.
I don’t think most people plan too far in advance, so meeting then starting immediately I’m sure won’t be a problem, even for the hours you’re considering.
Thx for the extra info. I can confirm last night the restaurants were open and busy at 8.30.
There were none of the street carts though, I don’t know if that’s because I was too early, or because they’ve been chased off.
hey ChrisZhimo. I too looked forward to Dim Sum when I came to china. You must already know though that the big thing in chengdu is hotpot. Dim Sum is Cantonese.
Finding, or even asking for Dim Sum, can be fun. try for yourself. Look on Wiki to see what it’s called.
Having said that, there are 2 places. I’ve put them on a map here: http://tinyurl.com/43ev7mz
Gingko, has that written on the restaurant. It’s quite high class, and within walking distance of Jinli (also marked).
The other one, I don’t know the name, is on kehua road near (to the south of) the 1st ring road. On the west side of the road and decorated with fake trees and bamboo inside. That place is a little more casual, and you’re bound to be in or around this area sometime in your first couple or weeks in Chengdu.
Does anyone know others?
hey XBL. I used Chinese Corner when I arrived in Chengdu.
-Don’t get into paying deposits before you arrive. There’s allot of people here and other places available to teach you, and from the hours you’re considering I guess they will be pretty flexible about giving you what you want.
– My experience is that teacher supply at Chinese Corner is somewhat more fluid than maybe you’re expecting. In 3 months I had 3 different teachers provided to me, I also wanted one to one sessions. All three of my teachers were in fact part time, and post grad (in Chinese) students at the local universities.
-In respect of your comments about local speed and dialogues, I guess you know the difference between putonghua and sichuanhua? I find it quite difficult getting far with my, admittedly basic, putonghua.
-Your hours don’t sound like too much, some people study ‘full time’ at the universities.
