Forums > Living in Kunming > Do Kunming Drivers Know they are Inconsiderate and Dangerous Ref PLA vehicles.
I don't think the traffic laws apply to them. I don't think the police have the power to stop them.
The don't hit anybody else is the unwritten law. However, when the traffic cop arrives he will look to see if anyone has crossed a white line illegally, or not given proper right of way. Proving someone busted a red light is harder.
Forums > Living in Kunming > Walmart no more I said "some of the radical vegans".
Not all radical vegans.
Not all vegans.
Jeez! Demonstrate some tolerance.
Forums > Living in Kunming > Natural Gas versus Electric Hot Water Heaters My experience
Electric
The electric water heaters are fine, if ugly. You need to make sure you get one big enough for each bathroom. Get separate tank for kitchen too.
If people are a bit thoughtful about water use there is no problem.I.E. Water on, wet body. Water off, soap body. Water on, rinse body. No luxuriating.
The good ones keep the water hot for several days, and they have a speed heat setting (double heaters).
I can see a problem with a pressure booster before the tank, it creates negative pressure behind it that may cause problems for other residences, and may even cause an airlock. They may not be permitted by the water company. I had the same issue in the UK for mains fed water, not permitted.
Solar,
Good solar heat exchangers can reach temperatures of 120 degrees, before heat is exchanged. You get what you pay for.
We have solar heating and it is crap. The biggest issue is that water feeds down into a hot water tank. The tank has a heating element to boost the temperature. However, the thermal lagging seems to have little effect, possible becuase the water is circulating in poorly insulated pipes. The water can drop from 50* to 20* in less than three hours. To make matters worse, the heater cannot be timed, and so the water is on 24/7. We tried to heat the water before bed, but in the morning the water is down to 20*.
I think to get a high quality complete system is going to cost you bigger money. And you need to ensure than having bought the best pipe, the installer does not swap it out for cheap stuff when you are not looking.
Gas
We had gas installed in Shanghai and it was expensive to run. Part of the problem is that even the factory engineers could not get the thermostat to work on the timer setting. And so the water was on 24/7, and the central heating we switched on on demand.
I have not experience with Kunming gas.
Forums > Living in Kunming > Golf in Kunming We must have been offered half price as a guest rate for the Dianchi Golf Hotel.
Forums > Living in Kunming > Walmart no more I usally do buy from the wet market.
Most of us do need Metro/Wallmart/Carrefour occasionally.
Yes I miss pie and chips too. I get bisto Gravy Granules sent from home as well.
Kunming's metro could cost 300 billion yuan
发布者If they worry about cost, and only provide minimum service until things pay for themselves, then they will always be in a debt cycle. For example, if the service only runs the cheapest (minimal) service from 9-5 people cannot possibly use it for work. They screw themselves.
There is a real need to bite the bullet. Then the best returns can be realised, only if they take the risk and run the service as a viable alternative to driving. Short term loss will be high, but utilisation will follow very quickly.
There is a need to follow the models of service provision in Shanghai and Beijing, but accept that the break even point in Kunming will take longer to realise. However, if you don't, the losses will continue for many years.
Kunming to offer visa-free transit stays
发布者Not sure, but would that be transiting? I think transit ticket is for an onward journey to a third country.
Perhaps you could fly from somewhere, via Kunming, to HK or vice vesa.
Airport temper tantrum lands Yunnan official in prison
发布者That last statement contradicts itself.
Kunming to offer visa-free transit stays
发布者Shanghai and Beijing are also major business hubs and doing a few days extra business, while breaking a long haul trek, makes sense. Also, both cities are tourist centres in themselves.
Kunming is neither. Kunming wants to be a trade centre with ASEAN, but that is not yet happening. Kunming is not really a destination, more of a spring board to Yunnan (which you cannot do in 3 days). All you can really do is play golf, which some people do.
Airport temper tantrum lands Yunnan official in prison
发布者I think the crime was getting caught, and so publically. Getting caught on camera and having it go viral is an embarrassment to gov. This is not good for social order.
There has also been a trend towards more unruly behaviour at airports, some of which have gone viral (like the Shandong woman in Guangzhou airport). This case in Kunming might be an exemplory/detterent sentencing.
Either way, it is a step in the right direction.