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Forums > Living in Kunming > pregnancy permit

@haali
Ditto what tiger tiger said. You do NOT need to move your hukou here - but that helps downstream with children's schooling (a LOT), unless you enroll them in school with their foreign passport, so may as well get that done also.

@HF
Thanks for retrieving that ancient thread on moving hukou(s).

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Forums > Living in Kunming > Bilingual swimming lessons?

@scally
You're welcome.

One additional thing you'll need to equip the student(s) with the following minimum equipment:

1. SWIMMING CAP - most pools require swimming caps, ostensibly to cut down on "hair" pollution.
2. SWIM GOGGLES. One never quite knows what's in the water. Beware the "spitters".
3. POOL SLIPPERS OR SIMILAR (like those trendy pool or beach shoes, which you can also wear outside on the street). For generally walking around the pool without slipping.

OPTIONAL THINGS
4. PADDLE BOARD AKA KICK BOARD - usually a triangular or rectangular float, used by beginners to practice forward propulsion using legs only, without sinking in a panic.
5. HAND PADDLES. As the student progresses, hand paddles provide extra propulsion, for those with small or ineffective hands.
6. SWIM FINS. These are arguably absolutely the best for beginners, as they provide massive thrust and propulsion, allowing even beginners to tread water, somewhat easily. I bought my kids the cheap store fins, which decay and crack after a few years (which is still pretty good...for cheap China junk).

NOTE: SCUBA fins and swim fins VERY different. SCUBA fins are relatively gigantic, provide significantly more thrust because of the design and size, are generally more professional, and generally much more expensive...and generally last a lifetime, although you may occasionally need to replace the straps. That said, I'm 20+ years on my SCUBA fins with the original straps. Fins also make one look ridiculous in the pool, since nobody else uses them, if self-esteem is an issue (major issue for kids). But for beginners or fat old people with no endurance, like me - they're wonderful for keeping one afloat so I can actually swim an olympic lap without frequent stops for breathers, especially at this altitude.

I used all this stuff to teach my kids how to swim - so they'd have less fear of the water. Instead of swim goggles, I bought them snorkeling gear (mask and snorkel), although I had to teach them how to use the snorkel separately. That said, one should always have respect for the water...it can kill if one panics.

If the student ingests water into their lungs - you need to watch them carefully for at least 24 hours - that "should" be enough time for the body to flush/absorb any water in the lungs out of the body. Look for signs of distressed breathing (or not breathing at all...worst case scenario).

Good luck and be safe.

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Forums > Living in Kunming > Bilingual swimming lessons?

I've never asked, but maybe the pools at some of the 5 star hotels (but pricey). The concierge MAY be able to find referrals for bilingual instructors - helps if you can define lessons for adults, young adults or small children. If you can get the referral, then you can arrange classes at local pools, although the hotel pools (especially the indoor pools) tend to have lower traffic - but pool maintenance (cleanliness, hygiene) along with RESPONSIBLE lifeguards is critical (they also serve to admonish the "spitters").

If the lessons are for kids - start by practicing holding their breath under water, in the bath tub...without holding their nose (ease into that one). This helps prepare and acclimate kids (and adults) for dunking their head completely in water and how to NOT panic while clearing their face (and nose and mouth) of water, so they can breathe again.

There was a scuba diver commenting a while ago - they MAY have bilingual referrals.

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Forums > Living in Kunming > Another province in China

For seafood, I was thinking Nanning, but I'm not familiar with the city or the people.

If money's no object - Xiamen - good schools, universities, and very international for food, but pricey. Depending on one's perspective - annual typhoon season can be a benefit or a pain.

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China Eastern is a relatively new airline with relatively new staff who may NOT understand the importance of passenger safety - such as buckling in ALWAYS, when seated. Chinese also are relatively new to air travel and tend to skirt the safety rules in favor of comfort, not quite understanding the comfort of a heavier than air vehicle hurtling through the air with no training wheels or emergency lanes to "pull over and stop".

I'm positive China Air will be doing some supplementary training to reinforce air passenger safety, with their flight crews.

As for the culture of deception and avoidance of responsibility - this is the result of immature management who still believe that dishonesty and deception attracts customers - as opposed to damages brand, trust, and loyalty - hopefully, this too shall evolve to somewhat more transparency.

In reality - with all the media - it's moronic stupidity to employ these kinds of poor public relations practices, since the truths, in their various incarnations, are almost immediately posted all over public and social media.

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Fuxian Lake is a major vigorously and rigorously protected potable (drinkable) water source. It's host to a plethora of fresh water food, BBQs and the Hilton Hotel overlooks the lake. Behind the Hilton is a rather large collection of villas (HK style), many with basements, garage (not necessarily connected to your home though), and lap pools, if the lake is too far to walk (it's about 1-2km away).

The lake surroundings are a future development site for Yuxi City, so should be interesting to see how the city develops, while complying with the national protection of water resources.

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Took the family here to stroll around and there's a LOT of walking. Many of the stores appear closed, but the bar street nestled inside seems quite well populated.

We chose the Japanese restaurant near the entrance (there are many entrances). The food and service was quite acceptable - from the fruit salad, tuna salad, curry pork cutlet, and the ubiquitous California Sush Rolls (you can buy the small size or the large size).

It rained a little while we were there, which helped drench the heat and humidity. When the sun came out - it was HOT.

If you're lucky, you'll occasionally see people (usually women) wearing minority clothing being photographed by professional photographers. There's also a small photographer's store where you can rent various ethnic clothing and have professional pictures taken (maybe the two are related...now that I think about it).

There's also the ubiquitous game centers (shooting galleries etc) for the kids and unaccompanied teenagers.

It seems the most popular venues were the prolific food courts - but that's probably related to it being lunchtime when we visited. The place is clean and plenty of antiqued door fronts (the wood panels) for those photo shoots.

Capping off the visit, one must of course take pictures on the bridges crossing the lily ponds and the landmark temple spire. We didn't make it to the surrounding temples. Maybe next time.

Transportation is everywhere - but make sure you have your mobile phone ride share app working, just in case you hit rush hour.

Again - for now - it seems many vendors were closed - but I'm positive that'll change again as the economy begins to rebound.

Excellent way to spend a half day as opposed to the kids faces glued to their mobile devices...fresh air, good food, plenty of people watching, and walking...walking...walking...

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Took the family here a few days ago. Wonderful place to go walking with lots of snack & drink kiosks (along with chairs and tables) to rest frequently. This zoo is similar to most other large open air zoos with reasonably spacious enclosures. This place is HUGE so be prepared for a LOT of walking. Consider wearing sensible hiking or walking shoes. Your feet will be grateful.

Entrance fees when we went still cny100 for adults and kids cny70. Feeding the animals at the managed venues - cny30 per site...per child. Monkeys can be fed by tossing carrots and sliced apples into their enclosure - which is good. Monkeys famous for flash mobbing. Can be terrifying for kids (and adults). Even in the enclosures, you can clearly see they're territorial and aggressive. Bullying is displayed frequently enough for teaching moments for the kids (cuz there are monkeys in all schools everywhere in the world).

MOST people bring their own food and drink, as the kiosks are quite expensive. Example a cny5 drink outside is cny10 in the zoo, so expect most everything to be twice as expensive. I had a bbq chick drumstick (leg?) for cny25...ouch.

Bring carrots. LOTS of carrots. The zoo has several managed (paid) and unmanaged petting areas for most semi-domesticated animals, such as the Alpacas (seriously cute), deer, giraffes (ok...you can feed the giraffes on an elevated platform, but probably difficult to "pat" the animals. It's kind of spectacular to actually see giraffes face to face - these animals are simply vertigo inducing huge and tall.

The seal show was nice - typical of seal shows everywhere. Seals are kind of like the dogs of the sea. Friendly and ravenous appetites so easily trainable.

Lots of cheap touristy souvenirs to buy the for the kiddies (and relatives kids).

HIGHLY recommend taking the bus tour - they basically zoom around picking up and dropping off customers (they check your e-ticket at every pickup site) at entrances and exits to walking enclosures. They'll drop you off at roughly 15 minute walking sites. NO need to rush and you can grab ANY bus upon emerging from the walking enclosure sites.

Of course, the ultimate attraction always the lion and tiger exhibits at the top of the mountain.

Bring a fan. It gets hot. We were fortunate as the sky was mostly overcast so the temperature was generally cool, but heated up almost instantly whenever the sun peeked out of the clouds.

Bring LOTS of water. Most veteran tourists have their own liter bottles of water. Bring your own umbrella. When the sun comes out - it's HOT. Bring a wide brimmed hat if you're into comfort over vanity. SUNTAN LOTION never goes astray.

Aside from that - typical Chinese group site with everyone rushing the buses and ticket counters. Not so much rushing for the food venues, so seems the elevated prices keep that comfortably in check.

All in all - GREAT place to take the kiddies (or a date if you both know you're into each other - cuz you'll be spending an entire day together). The Outdoor Zoo seems exceptionally well designed with plenty of both managed and unmanaged (eg walking deer along the roadside and the stroll through the peacock "garden").

Easy cab or shared ride out and back. Taxis aplenty when you're ready to leave (just walk past the parking lot gate - they'll be waiting for you). You should consider dining out or delivery at the end of the day.

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Took the kiddies here again.

1. It's FREE.
2. NO knives, lighters, sharp objects, etc. There's a place in front to check bags, luggage (if you're traveling), etc - but the exit is in the rear of the monolithic building, so it's a bit of a hike to walk back around to the checked storage area (it's also FREE).

THIRD FLOOR
We went straight to the third floor - History and artifacts of Yunnan (mostly). Rich history - lots of original sculptures etc removed from grottoes and displayed in the museum. Lots of English language titles and occasionally some explanatory text in English.

SECOND FLOOR
This is the evolution floor with lots of petrified artifacts - sea life mostly, lots of recreations of animals and environments from pre-man times.

There are coffee shops and dining areas on the first floor and drink vending machines on the second and third floors. The place is HUGE so a great place to take the kiddies and walk around until they're tired. They'll probably enjoy the dinosaur exhibit on the second floor the most. Wait a few minutes and the dinosaurs will roar and move their heads and maybe pretend to chew (open and close their maws).

PLENTY of parking and unfortunately NOT close to any subway station, so you'll have to grab a cab or rideshare but seems taxis and transportation are aplenty in the city and surrounding environs.

And...it's FREE for now. Museum closes at 5pm so make sure you leave by 430-445 so you can hike back to the storage area if you checked anything in as they also close at 5pm.

Enjoy!

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This is a great place to walk around and generally kill time while shopping for nothing in particular. Nearby is the Paulaner Brewhouse for super fantastic food, coffee and drinks, outdoor patio dining or just hanging and people watching.