On the issue of "left behind", China raised over 600 million people out of poverty over the last 60 years, an astonishing feat by any means - especially since most of this occurred more recently AND is recognized by the UN as an astonishing feat. That speaks well of a civilization. As for greed and selfishness - that's more challenging to moderate and eradicate.
Try any of the expat bars - you MIGHT get lucky at the Beichen (Green Lake) O'Reilly's on Beimen Jie (just outside the east gate of Yunda). Ask the staff (or call them first). Their number is listed in the LISTINGS section of gokm.
Instead of getting a double entry - please consider applying for the multiple re-entry (with no apparent limits on re-entries until the expiration of the visa (but you should NOT try to re-enter if the visa will expire within a week or two).
I believe the cost is the same for single or multiple - so travellers opt for the multiple re-entry visa - just in case.
You should probably try to apply for the visa extension at a larger city, as they're more experienced. Smaller offices may occasionally make up rules, simply because they don't know the process, in which case you'll need to POLITELY escalate to the supervisor.
Best wishes and hope you enjoy your experience.
@dj
Don't know about the coconut stuff as they're not prolific and indigenous to Kunming. Most of what I see is the simple fresh coconuts with straws things.
As for fake stuff - herd mentality isn't always reliable - but somewhat safer - if you don't see any local chinese buying product at the wet market (or a restaurant for that matter) - avoidance is usually a good idea.
So be observant and aware of your environment - pay attention.
@dj
All of the appliances you mentioned are available either online (new and or used) or from exiting expats.
ONLINE WEBSITE
taobao.com (china's equivalent of amazon). As the site's in English only - you'll need to use machine translation software to dig around blindly until you figure out the correct Chinese phrase for what you seek. You'll need a Chinese bank account AND it has to be enabled for web access.
You'll also need to signup with alipay.com (chinese version). For the ID card - use your passport, but add LEADING (in front of) zeroes to pad the passport number so it totals the 18 digits common for Chinese ID cards (which you can't get).
And finally - you'll need a local mobile phone - all require your passport for registration. If they people helping you can't seem to get it done - remember the leading zeroes trick...
TRANSLATION SOFTWARE
fanyi.baidu.com
FRESH GOODS
For the foodstuff(s) - any of the major farmer's markets (aka wet markets) around where you live will carry everything you need except the milk. You'll need to go to the milk store for that.
I'm lactose intolerant - but I have NO SERIOUS PROBLEMS with the New Zealand imported and packaged whole cream milk (1 liter per container), which we buy by the case (actually, 2 cases per month) - although there was that botulism scare a few years back...
You can also checkout jd.com and or tmall.com for the more genuine appliances.
We also have a couple of metro wholesale warehouses (german company). As a foreigner, just show your passport and they'll give you a membership card. For the Metro addresses, check the listings page on this website.
If your chinese is pretty good - you can also shop metro online (metro.com.cn?), but their prices actually not so competitive - so metro is best for picking up non-perishables (e.g. cereals, snacks, supplies, etc), frozen goods in bulk (like ice cream!), beverages, and imported goods...until you figure out how to make homemade Lea & Perrins sauce actually taste like Lea & Perrin's Worstershire sauce (as opposed to pipe cleaner and roach poison).
Best wishes with your upcoming visit. Kunming's a fun city and the entire province is a tourist bonanza, not to mention side trips down to the golden triangle (Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia - and you can even jet over to Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, the many new and emerging <insert prefix>-istan middle eastern nations, etc if you're more intrepid). Just make sure you pay attention to and stay current with the US Consulate/Embassy Travel Alerts.
No results found.
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...
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.
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!
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.
DATE
2022.01.17
SUMMARY
Just popped in for the annual to biennial visa health check. Cost was CNY 487 - don't forget to bring at least THREE (3) visa pictures and your mask.
As usual, there are TWO health codes to display - the usual kunming/yunnan green QR code and the green "Arrow" code.
ARRIVAL
I went late in the morning, but still managed to shuttle through all the departments and get out before lunch.
I used didi to get there and the map now correctly shows the rear parking entrance as the destination drop-off point. You can also take the subway to a nearby station, and walk walk walk walk walk - it's actually not too far but it will elevate your blood pressure and pulse (BPP) - so make sure to rest 5-10 minutes to allow your BPP to drop back to resting state.
Upon arrival at the main gate, you'll do the usual check-in procedure - mask, sign-in, green QR code, temperature check.
Once inside - Present your passport, green QR code, and green (hopefully) arrow code. Scan the QR codes on your left as you walk in if you don't have these prepared already. The staff will then pass you an application form. Walk over to the wall of stand-up desks to your right, fill out the forms, then stroll over to the clerks to present the form. They'll print out a sheet of bar coded labels for your tests, take your digital picture, attach everything together with a paper clip, then direct you to the cashier to pay CNY 487 (WeChat, alipay, bank card, etc) Don't know if they still accept cash.
HEALTH CHECKS
Hike up the the 2nd or 3rd floor to start the battery of tests:
3rd floor
Chest X-ray
Physical (height, weight, BMI/body mass index)
2nd floor
ECG
Sonogram
Urine test
Blood Test
Eye test (color blindness and eye chart)
Dental
Heart (pulse, blood pressure)
I may have missed a few like the OB GYN...
It seems they also have a COVID/NAT (nucleic acid test) center in a shipping container lab outside the health center - but I didn't bother jogging over to check if it was still operational. In retrospect, should've checked, as the hospitals are jam packed with Chinese New Year travelers.
RESULTS PICKUP
The test results are ready the afternoon of the second day. The facility seems sparsely busy even though they service both foreigners and nationals. There were rarely lines or noticeable waits beyond a few minutes, with at most 1-2 people ahead of you.
Staff are always nice, polite, professional and tirelessly patient for those of us with limited to no communications abilities.
GoKunming search and you will find
Posted byOh thank g*d. We've been asking for this feature for donkey years...Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you....
Yunnan choreographer Yang Liping gracefully weathers online storm
Posted byWhat an exceedingly and rude insensitive thing to say to someone.
As for Yang Liping and her protege - I've had the good fortune to see both of these artists perform. The entire choreographed show is a memorable feast for the eyes and ears.
Snapshot: Best of Kunming Awards 2019-2020
Posted byThank you as usual for a great article - especially the bit on Smalls Paradise Swing Dance. Definitely drag the wifey there for date nite.
Wagga Wagga controversy: welcome back
Posted byI was surprised to see the attempted severance of ties - truly a slap in the face, so glad to see common sense has returned - although this kind of behavior perhaps is regrettably indicative of a dark undercurrent within Australian society.
Forest fires ignite across Yunnan
Posted byIt's exceedingly rare that burning incense would spark any kind of fire - however the habit of burning paper money aka ghost money (and related accessories for the deceased, ghost clothes, ghost houses, ghost cars, ghost mobile phones etc ad infinitum) - now THAT has an exceedingly high probability of starting fires. And then there's the fireworks...