For the EMS - you usually go across the street to the crowded EMS agent's office - pay for the envelope and get the receipt - then take it to the consular cashier's window (I think) and they'll toss the EMS envelope and address label into your application folder.
Usually you can pay a penalty or additional fee (even at the Kunming exit/entry office) to avoid the "leave the country and re-enter) thing, but you have to ask the visa officer for this option, if they ask you to exit/enter. It's a legitimate fee as you have to pay at the cashier.
I can't remember, but usually for "special services" you have to write a letter of justification - such as financial duress. If you're required to write a letter - the supervisor or the staff will tell you what to write.
To make things difficult for you - they may occasionally ask you to do it in Chinese - so, bring a friend just in case...
I've done this a few times over the years - as in the case when they told me my newborn baby had to leave the country and re-enter...
Front desk staff usually spout the canned response, so you have to ask and they have to ask their supervisor.
I can connect to it - although my connection to gokm is spotty...DNS issues again.
Roman
Depending on country - there are usually visa agents (usually chinese owned and operated) who specialize in these services and they're NOT inexpensive - but definitely cheaper than round trip air tickets, transportation and the infinitely many trips you'll make to the embassy or consulate because your paperwork isn't perfect.
You'll have to do a web search, so good luck finding these places - and beware the fake sites...usually if you ask 3-4 questions of increasing depth and complexity - you can weed out the fake guys from the genuinely legitimate players.
You may still be required to do an entry exit - but get your paperwork done beforehand so the entry/exit is merely a formality.
@miealex
DO IT YOURSELF (DYI)
If you have the wrenches, open open the hot water hoses for the poor water pressure faucets - you MIGHT be able to flush out the crud that's causing the drop in pressure AND you can verify if each respective hose is actually generating water pressure. Our kitchen faucet is right next to the solar water outlet and gets the absolutely worst water pressure - because it got crud in it from one of the occasional water main upgrades. Just make sure you have the usually white colored teflon plumber's tape to re-wrap the threaded joints, to help reduce leakage. Also - crappy chinese plumbing supplies from mom n pop stores - the tape helps cover up the crappy threading, which causes the slow dripping leaks.
HIRING A PSEUDO-PLUMBER
Cruise around your neighborhood and look at the various mom n pop stores that specialize in selling plumbing supplies and equipment - they MIGHT be able to refer a guy or do it themselves but it's hit and miss.
You can also ask your neighbors or the facility maintenance company for referrals (wuyi?) - but finding a "professional is really hit and miss - even with referrals - that's just personal experience. Your mileage may vary (YMMV).
No results found.
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.
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.
Announcing the new website Destination Lijiang
Posted byNice - just popped over to the site - and also logged in with my gokm userid - so that was nice (not having to re-register).
The summary of scenic sites in gallery format is a nice touch. Vivid.
And the Do's and Don'ts section was nice to read as a reminder, but I expected more information on how to be a desirable tourist from the local perspective (aside from buying lots of souvenirs and pictures etc).
Snapshot: Yunnan's annual flower expo wraps up in Kunming
Posted byDoing some research on rural projects and came across this ancient article on the yunnan flower industry - thought I'd bounce it. Good article.
Face masks finagled in Dali: officials punished
Posted byWell...yunnan was one of the frontier provinces where errant criminals were banished...the Australia of China...
Video and interview - the Kunming Free Trade Zone
Posted byThe FTZ video was interesting, but most important is the new website - investinyunnan.com - as all of the economic development zones in yunnan are in chinese language only.
So let's see how well the investinyunnan.com site and the new emerging process for bringing in foreign direct investment, matching partners, government support etc works..
I'm sure there's be hiccups - but as long as everyone's committed to the success process - things should work out.
Video and interview - the Kunming Free Trade Zone
Posted bySuper timely and useful article. Thank you.