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in the article you can see a couple of old style apartment buildings in the background…and yes they haven’t dug up Tianfu square in years.
but this ‘near’ comment is interesting. Maybe it’s one of the 2 construction sites next to TFS, a museum and library? I think the background buildings match pretty well the corner ‘library’ site.
I think I’ll take a look.
@Elizabeth The Underground http://www.undergroundchengdu.com/
is doing Christmas Dinner on Christmas Day, with Turkey. and ‘the trimmings’
188 RMB including some drinks.
Lazybones Hostel is by there:
Quote:I guess you weren’t aware that iOS Maps are better than Google Maps in China?I’m sure everyone on this forum is startled you hold that opinion! 🙂
oh my:
Quote:Here’s the address: 成都万象城, 成都市成华区双庆路 8 号万象城. I think it’s near or within the Chunxi Lu area.Quote:It’s not near Chunxi Lu… It’s in the East of Chengdu, on the 2nd Ring Road. At the large shopping mall that opened there earlier this year. Just search Google for the 万年场 junction.I feel obligated to point out that’s probably not a human error, but iOS Maps again?
As it’s the season of good will, maybe those with iPhones can post addresses they want to find here, Android owners can look them up on their behalf? 🙂
Or maybe, Charlie, you might consider the upgrade to an Android device yourself? :/
I don’t think there is a UK embassy or consulate in Chengdu.
Quote:can’t believe how freezing I am all the time, and I come from Scotland!Most of the Swed’s and Finn’s I know that come here in winter swear it’s colder here. It’s clearly not.
I know many people say it’s the moisture. I believe it’s the insulation here. In other cold places you only ever transfer outside between very well insulated and warm places. Here because the insulation seems not up to much, or simply the restaurant door is open or wall missing you can easily transfer from the start of October to the end of May without been in the truly warm environment
We put a ‘Y’ pipe on our gas feed, and have a tube running from the kitchen to a portable cooking ring in the living room.
Of course you’ve got to be careful, but touch wood we’ve not had a problem but a dropped and singed glove in years.
the last time I looked at the math the heating is 10s RMB/month instead of 100s with the AC. We have a small place and heat it most evenings and many weekdays.
Cooking at home works well too.
Quote:can’t believe how freezing I am all the time, and I come from Scotland!Most of the Swed’s and Finn’s I know that come here in winter swear it’s colder here. It’s clearly not.
I know many people say it’s the moisture. I believe it’s the insulation here. In other cold places you only ever transfer outside between very well insulated and warm places. Here because the insulation seems not up to much, or simply the restaurant door is open or wall missing you can easily transfer from the start of October to the end of May without been in the truly warm environment
We put a ‘Y’ pipe on our gas feed, and have a tube running from the kitchen to a portable cooking ring in the living room.
Of course you’ve got to be careful, but touch wood we’ve not had a problem but a dropped and singed glove in years.
the last time I looked at the math the heating is 10s RMB/month instead of 100s with the AC. We have a small place and heat it most evenings and many weekdays.
Cooking at home works well too.
Don’t be put off (as I am) when locals don’t understand. There’s a whole list of reasons for that happening and your bad Chinese is only one small one. Of course some locals might unfortunately tell you its the only one.
It’s hard to find friends with the patience to practice with.
Try with people you see frequently, of course a local shopkeeper with charisma is perfect. They might see the point/fun in trying. It maybe helps if they don’t have lots of foreign customers
Using local terms and language is more important here than in the west I think.
Be happy if most of your conversations are pointless banter, it’s the same for everyone.
Don’t be put off (as I am) when locals don’t understand. There’s a whole list of reasons for that happening and your bad Chinese is only one small one. Of course some locals might unfortunately tell you its the only one.
It’s hard to find friends with the patience to practice with.
Try with people you see frequently, of course a local shopkeeper with charisma is perfect. They might see the point/fun in trying. It maybe helps if they don’t have lots of foreign customers
Using local terms and language is more important here than in the west I think.
Be happy if most of your conversations are pointless banter, it’s the same for everyone.
@Vincent I visted this area a couple of years ago in winter.
in JiuZhaiguo I’m pretty sure I stayed in this hostel:
http://www.yhachina.com/ls.php?id=193%5B/url%5D
it was basic, but clean, 30RMB for a private room per night.
Other hotels I looked at were also basic, not clean and 80 RMB.
I’m sure the four seasons is very nice, but I’m also sure it’s more than 20USD
of course the guys meeting people at the bus to take them to hotels is a huge con, I’m sure at this time of year you have plenty of course.
I understand you can stay in the Tibet style villages in the park. But as it’s not strictly allowed you have to be low-key. A simple sleeping gesture will do the trick I think most houses offer it, 80RMb for room and breakfast.
I know there was (in the past) a Tibetan family offering some kind of home stay outside the park. PM me if you’re interested in that.
In Songpan the hotels across from the bus station are basic but OK, I paid 30RMB. I only stayed Songpan over night, looked like a fairly typical dusty small town. I understand the beauty spots around there and considered to be ‘at Songpan’ are infact half a day or more travel away by car. I’d be interested to hear what you find?
Of course you really must remember to take your passport with you around this area.
@Vincent I visted this area a couple of years ago in winter.
in JiuZhaiguo I’m pretty sure I stayed in this hostel:
http://www.yhachina.com/ls.php?id=193%5B/url%5D
it was basic, but clean, 30RMB for a private room per night.
Other hotels I looked at were also basic, not clean and 80 RMB.
I’m sure the four seasons is very nice, but I’m also sure it’s more than 20USD
of course the guys meeting people at the bus to take them to hotels is a huge con, I’m sure at this time of year you have plenty of course.
I understand you can stay in the Tibet style villages in the park. But as it’s not strictly allowed you have to be low-key. A simple sleeping gesture will do the trick I think most houses offer it, 80RMb for room and breakfast.
I know there was (in the past) a Tibetan family offering some kind of home stay outside the park. PM me if you’re interested in that.
In Songpan the hotels across from the bus station are basic but OK, I paid 30RMB. I only stayed Songpan over night, looked like a fairly typical dusty small town. I understand the beauty spots around there and considered to be ‘at Songpan’ are infact half a day or more travel away by car. I’d be interested to hear what you find?
Of course you really must remember to take your passport with you around this area.
Quote:It seemed a real authentic village, all wooden houses/ huts, children in dirty cloths, almost no electricity and cooking on a fire. I spend one night and for dinner they killed a pig and cooked it over the fire.Thanks for the tip, we took a walk to the village (I think in that area) but didn’t stay overnight.
Quote:You’ll probably want to take the train to Xichang first which is about 10-12 hours I think (could be wrong). Then another 6 hours on the bus to Lugu Lake.We got back now, that’s pretty right, though there is some construction on the road so it’s 7-8 hours on the bus at the moment.
It’s worth noting that you can take overnight sleepers to/from xichang. So that takes a big bite out of the journey. the bus trip isn’t a breeze though. it twists allot even by local standards, except for a break crossing a small plateau at yanyuan. On the bus there half the passengers were throwing up, which was also ‘interesting’
Hello Kale, thanks. that’s interesting you’re from there.
It’s shame I didn’t ask earlier maybe we could have met.
I’m interested, what is the ticket for? to enter the villages? or something else.
Also, I think now not many real minority people live near the lake. Most is artificial for tourists. Do you know the name of any villages nearby that have real minority lifestyle?
Quote:well i was thinking of taking the train on Thursday night arriving on Friday and then flying back on Tuesday.Jenise, I don’t know what your yunnan plan is, and I don’t want to be down on it but some trains are very slow.
trains to Kunming are 20 hours, Dali is a further 7 and Lijiang 4 past that.
Personally Lijiang is crazy overrated and little more than a giant Jinli Street.
Depends what you’re looking for, but with 4 days you can do some pretty interesting stuff a little nearer.
I have other plans this weekend.
Maybe explore around wenchuan, there are hills there but I don’t know what the hiking is like. I’ve had half an idea to go for a while.
Quote:I haven’t been there before but I just looked it up and it seems you’re right. It’ll take 4+ hours to get there which makes it unsuitable for a weekend trip. I’m open to something else.Siguniang Shan is good, but somewhat far for a weekend, and the wolong road is an absolute shocker considering how close to Chengdu it is, but it’s possible. I’ve got some more information is anyone’s interested.
I understand the lowest of the four girls is ‘hike-able’ in two days. Which I’d love to do sometime. I’m not sure if it’s too late in the year now though.
