Travel: China - Shenzhen, Guangdong

[Linlin]

I came across aunties telling me Shengzhen is very good for shopping. After reading verykiasu posting im shocked about it. Thought this kinda of thing happen in tv show… Guess staying at SG is the best!

[MandyMummy]

Linlin:

I came across aunties telling me Shengzhen is very good for shopping. After reading verykiasu posting im shocked about it. Thought this kinda of thing happen in tv show.. Guess staying at SG is the best!

I guess for adults, shopping is pretty attractive there. Just don't bring young children along.
Also, the sales people at some shopping places are very aggressive to the point that they will follow you around even if you are not interested in buying. There are also some \"black\" shops whereby once you get in there, they will not let you leave without buying anything.
Must be careful. Visit the safer ones and move in groups.

[Linlin]

MandyMummy:

Linlin:

I came across aunties telling me Shengzhen is very good for shopping. After reading verykiasu posting im shocked about it. Thought this kinda of thing happen in tv show.. Guess staying at SG is the best!

I guess for adults, shopping is pretty attractive there. Just don't bring young children along.
Also, the sales people at some shopping places are very aggressive to the point that they will follow you around even if you are not interested in buying. There are also some \"black\" shops whereby once you get in there, they will not let you leave without buying anything.
Must be careful. Visit the safer ones and move in groups.

If travel with agency will it be better?

[MandyMummy]

Linlin:

MandyMummy:

[quote=\"Linlin\"]I came across aunties telling me Shengzhen is very good for shopping. After reading verykiasu posting im shocked about it. Thought this kinda of thing happen in tv show.. Guess staying at SG is the best!

I guess for adults, shopping is pretty attractive there. Just don't bring young children along.
Also, the sales people at some shopping places are very aggressive to the point that they will follow you around even if you are not interested in buying. There are also some \"black\" shops whereby once you get in there, they will not let you leave without buying anything.
Must be careful. Visit the safer ones and move in groups.

If travel with agency will it be better?[/quote]It should be safer, but they will bring you to quite a number of shops to buys things which some people don't like. Also it is very tiring and it eats into sightseeing time.
You need to read the itinerary carefully and ask the travel agents if you suspect a lot of these activities.

[Linlin]

Ok noted. Thanks for the info will search for a good one.

Now traveling must bring at least one child with me if not my mil can't handle all.

[titank]

Guess we would abort going to Shenzhen (Must 100% look after the kids).

How about Macau? Much safer as compare to Shenzhen?

[Fairy]

insider:

I love Guangzhou for its shopping, massage, and food (not a place for kids though). Making glasses there is ultra cheap. Usually I have mine made there at about $25/pair with reasonably good quality (in the 眼镜城).

I anytime will pick Guangzhou over Bangkok for a short getaway for myself...
..

Hi Insider,

So, you seem familiar with Guangzhou. Any idea how's the weather there in Mid Dec? Need to wear any winter clothes? Where do you usually stay at GZ? Where is a good place for shopping? Is the place ok for teens?

I have heard of Singaporeans going to the wholesale places there for electronics goods and fashion accessories and sell them at blogshops here for good margins. Any idea where are these wholesale centres? Do they welcome walk-in customers?

Have you heard of Chimelong Resort? Seems a nice place according to reviews from tripadvisor.

[verykiasu2010]

insider:

Fairy:

Hi Insider,

So, you seem familiar with Guangzhou. Any idea how's the weather there in Mid Dec? Need to wear any winter clothes? Where do you usually stay at GZ? Where is a good place for shopping? Is the place ok for teens?

I have heard of Singaporeans going to the wholesale places there for electronics goods and fashion accessories and sell them at blogshops here for good margins. Any idea where are these wholesale centres? Do they welcome walk-in customers?

Have you heard of Chimelong Resort? Seems a nice place according to reviews from tripadvisor.

Hi Fairy

Apologise reply a bit late coz I just completed my Nanjing planning (whoosh!).

Guangzhou usually I stay in

Guangzhou Bin Guang (http://www.gzhotel.com.cn/Index.aspx)
This hotel has an MRT right at it's door step and so if you intend to move around with MRT, it's easy. It's also within short walking distance to 万菱精品商场，a building of about 7 stories selling accessories, gift items, etc, etc. Can spent a few hours in that building alone (think teenagers will like this place）.

Along the same road as this 万菱精品商场，it's my favourite place known as 一德路, where you can see 玩具城、文具城、海味街、干粮街，etc.

I can spend 3 days walking up and down on 一德路。

There's a massage parlour on the fourth floor of the hotel. If you visit there, you call for man masseur #190 (usually masseur will not give name but identified by number). Recently I had my massage under him and he is simply superb (provided you can take solid massage). His 修脚功夫 also above average.

I used to pay about $80+/night in this hotel.

Now coz I am more familiar with GZ, I stay in this hotel 爱群酒店。It's a very old hotel along the Pearl River. During off peak, I can get a room for $30 and room comes with internet (hahaha...dirt cheap). Recently I paid $80+ coz of the Canto Fair.

Basically if 一德路 is one long road of maybe 2 to 3 km, Guangzhou Bin Guang is at one end and 爱群酒店 is at the other end. I don't mind 爱群酒店 coz it's along the Pearl River. At night when I strolled along the river, I could sometimes catch quite talented street performer singing and it was refreshing and relaxing.

If you want to go for clothes/shoes shopping, then cab to nearby 上下九路 or 北京路 (cab fare about S$2. Nowadays I don't go there anymore coz I find nothing much there (but teenagers will like esp 上下九路 which sells cheaper and trendy stuff. However, in winter, nothing much hor.)

PS:　Depending on your interest, some people like to stay in 天虹or白云area, which seem to be 'upper class' areas (remember those Chanel shops located in those areas. Stayed in 天虹 once.) but to me a bit far from my favourite 一德路 and so I am not keen...

you are really Guangzhou insider

[I_belive]

I went to Shenzhen with 2 kids this June. To me, window of the world is not worth going.Shopping wise I have no idea as I only stayed one day and visited window of the world only.

[Fairy]

insider:

Fairy:

Hi Insider,

So, you seem familiar with Guangzhou. Any idea how's the weather there in Mid Dec? Need to wear any winter clothes? Where do you usually stay at GZ? Where is a good place for shopping? Is the place ok for teens?

I have heard of Singaporeans going to the wholesale places there for electronics goods and fashion accessories and sell them at blogshops here for good margins. Any idea where are these wholesale centres? Do they welcome walk-in customers?

Have you heard of Chimelong Resort? Seems a nice place according to reviews from tripadvisor.

Hi Fairy

Apologise reply a bit late coz I just completed my Nanjing planning (whoosh!).

Guangzhou usually I stay in

Guangzhou Bin Guang (http://www.gzhotel.com.cn/Index.aspx)
This hotel has an MRT right at it's door step and so if you intend to move around with MRT, it's easy. It's also within short walking distance to 万菱精品商场，a building of about 7 stories selling accessories, gift items, etc, etc. Can spent a few hours in that building alone (think teenagers will like this place）.

Along the same road as this 万菱精品商场，it's my favourite place known as 一德路, where you can see 玩具城、文具城、海味街、干粮街，etc.

I can spend 3 days walking up and down on 一德路。

There's a massage parlour on the fourth floor of the hotel. If you visit there, you call for man masseur #190 (usually masseur will not give name but identified by number). Recently I had my massage under him and he is simply superb (provided you can take solid massage). His 修脚功夫 also above average.

I used to pay about $80+/night in this hotel.

Now coz I am more familiar with GZ, I stay in this hotel 爱群酒店。It's a very old hotel along the Pearl River. During off peak, I can get a room for $30 and room comes with internet (hahaha...dirt cheap). Recently I paid $80+ coz of the Canto Fair.

Basically if 一德路 is one long road of maybe 2 to 3 km, Guangzhou Bin Guang is at one end and 爱群酒店 is at the other end. I don't mind 爱群酒店 coz it's along the Pearl River. At night when I strolled along the river, I could sometimes catch quite talented street performer singing and it was refreshing and relaxing.

If you want to go for clothes/shoes shopping, then cab to nearby 上下九路 or 北京路 (cab fare about S$2. Nowadays I don't go there anymore coz I find nothing much there (but teenagers will like esp 上下九路 which sells cheaper and trendy stuff. However, in winter, nothing much hor.)

PS:　Depending on your interest, some people like to stay in 天虹or白云area, which seem to be 'upper class' areas (remember those Chanel shops located in those areas. Stayed in 天虹 once.) but to me a bit far from my favourite 一德路 and so I am not keen...

Wow! Thanks, Insider, for the info.

Do you have to be on high alert all the time when you are shopping there? Any idea if we can get sports stuff like Nike or Robok shoes at good price there? Thanks.