Quote:
Originally Posted by The Gaijin
Hey Guys. In Japan now with a little more time and money on my hands..
I would love to see China and have been reading Rick`s travel posts.
Any advise about traveling on the cheap to maybe Shangahi, Bejing, Xi`an and the south?? I have friends in Hong Kong and would like to end up there..
Using local guides soulds like a good idea, how is train travel? Otherwise, I cannot speak a word, but read many of the characters and can usually make my way around a menu or write out directions in Chinese.
Thanks.
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I did this when the first few years when they open up to westerners. I ask them to write the destination on a piece of paper at the Hotel. Usually there is one guy that speak English. hand it to the person at the ticket booth and he will sell you the right ticket for the right train. I did half of eastern China like that. Of course, I was dumb and young back then. Most wealthy will travel by plane. If by train, they will travel first class. They call it soft seat. Hard seat is for the poor. I fine hard seat to be fine and fun. I really enjoy their 5 star hotels. most were foreign own back then, and cheap. I am not sure about now. They can set you up with a guide. If you can make your way to the city of Canton, take the train South to the border city (forget what its call)walk across the border and board the train on to Hong Kong instead of the non stop train. The train ride is under an hour. I did that because I wanted to see the red solder with their AK47s standing on one side of the bridge and the British on the other when I get across back to the free world. Some tell me all of that its still there but without the British solder.
How can you read many characters and not speak it? Is that why they call you Gaijin?