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Travel: China - Nanjing

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 4:23 pm
by autumnbronze
Hi there,

May be accompanying DH to Nanjing in end Nov. Thinking of bringing my 4 year old DS. As the weather will be cold and this is the first time he is experiencing such weather, I'd like some advice on what kind of winter attire to purchase for him.

Any other tips/suggestions like sight seeing etc... would also be appreciated.

MTIA :smile:

Re: Travel: China - Nanjing

Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 12:23 am
by verykiasu2010
places to visit : presidential palace, the astronomy observatory, sun yat sun tomb, the yangtze bridge, and of course the museum on rape of nanjing 南京大屠杀

Re: Travel: China - Nanjing

Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 12:35 pm
by MMM
We did a 2 days 1 night in Nanjing in November 2 years ago. Around mid Nov.

We were based in Shanghai as I had a meeting and we took a local tour to suzhou followed by Nanjing. It was rather wet (raining) and cold..... In fact, it was so much colder than Shanghai due to the rain. Do check the weather forecast and ensure you 4 yr old is well equipped.

For flights.... don't think SQ flies to Nanjing directly anymore? My P4 went for a nanjing immersion with the school in June this year. I recalled she had to take CX to HK and then dragon air to Nanjing. I recalled asking why don't they take the direct flight.

Re: Travel: China - Nanjing

Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 12:50 pm
by verykiasu2010
yup, SQ does not fly Nanjing anymore. If don't mind the direct non-stop now is run by China Eastern

taxi in nanjing is safe, green colour is the theme, go by meter, cheaper flag down rate than BJ or SH

Last time I too went from SH, took the train, very comfortable ride, on the way also visited Wuxi lake district, bought purple sandstone teapot

Re: Travel: China - Nanjing

Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 2:17 pm
by MMM
verykiasu2010 wrote:Last time I too went from SH, took the train, very comfortable ride, on the way also visited Wuxi lake district, bought purple sandstone teapot
I can't say the same for our experience. The ride from Suzhou to Nanjing was horrible.... It stopped at many stops along the way. Just reminded me of a crowded bus with people standing right beside you with all their barang.... People spitting.... and for hours. My hubby cannot imagine the journey back... It came to a point we don't mind paying a premium so that we can have a comfortable journey back to Shanghai.

Fortunately they use "dong" che on the way back. That was comfortable.

We didn't have a good impression of Nanjing. The tour guide and bus driver was rather rude and loud... Different from those from SH or SZ. The bus stalled and all the men (including my hubby) in the bus had to go down to help push the car. It was drizzling. The last stop was zhong san lin... That was the worst.... drizzling, turns dark and our last stop. Endured all the way up there to see a empty coffin (sorry huh I really dunno how to appreciate). Never mind.... the bus broke down again :yikes: and this time it just refused to move. The tour guide had to put us into mini bus? (that can take up to 5). Everyone was rushing to be in the bus (just imagine they were shoving here and there) so no choice, not a time to be courteous otherwise we will be left there. So dear bus driver took us to somewhere near the train station and said that the guide hasn't pay him :yikes: It was really bad experience overall. Fortunately we were with some local mainland chinese who argued with him. Don't think I will go back to Nanjing.

Re: Travel: China - Nanjing

Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 2:55 pm
by autumnbronze
:thankyou: insider, vk2010 and MMM. Appreciate your input.


Insider - yes, no direct flight. But since DH flying by SQ due to work purpose, we will fly in the same flight. Then take a train from SH. The problem now is that the rates are high for departure and arrival back. About 3k for both me and DS. So now I am in two minds, although DH says it's ok.

MMM - any advice how ensure DS is adequately dressed?? This is the first time he is being 'exposed' to winter.

Re: Travel: China - Nanjing

Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 3:05 pm
by autumnbronze
insider wrote:
MMM wrote:[It was really bad experience overall. Fortunately we were with some local mainland chinese who argued with him. Don't think I will go back to Nanjing.

hahaha...that bad ah...

If I survive there, I will shoot pix to share with all.

I think I will have most of my fun around 夫子庙。

autumnbronze,

dec may snow and so prepare accordingly...
Hi insider,

We are leaving end nov. Just checked with DH. The flight rate quoted to him for me was $1500 over :yikes: in contrast, I paid $500 plus for my flight to BJ and SH some time back ..... haiz, peak period :sad:

Re: Travel: China - Nanjing

Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 3:13 pm
by MMM
autumnbronze wrote::thankyou: insider, vk2010 and MMM. Appreciate your input.


Insider - yes, no direct flight. But since DH flying by SQ due to work purpose, we will fly in the same flight. Then take a train from SH. The problem now is that the rates are high for departure and arrival back. About 3k for both me and DS. So now I am in two minds, although DH says it's ok.

MMM - any advice how ensure DS is adequately dressed?? This is the first time he is being 'exposed' to winter.
For train ride, make sure you go for "dong" che. It's fast, comfortable and clean. Allocated seats and fairly new.

For winter, suggest you get advice from those shops selling winter clothing. I have not brought the kids to such cold places yet. At most is 10 degree only. Unlike adults, it's important for kids to keep warm so they don't fall sick.

Personally, I did US with snow storm so fairly cold. I am not a long john person. It's good outdoor but I hate it when indoor and there are heater. So I prefer to layer up. I also bought some of those thermal pants from OG. The inside of the pants is very comfortable on the skin like cotton. I survived with that when outdoors as well. I also feel hat and a good pair of winter socks is very important in winter to keep ourselves warm. Maybe you can prepare some heat packs (they sell those at Daiso).

Re: Travel: China - Nanjing

Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 4:09 pm
by verykiasu2010
insider wrote:
MMM wrote:
For train ride, make sure you go for "dong" che. It's fast, comfortable and clean. Allocated seats and fairly new.
Oh....I figured out the 'dong che' is 动车, which is similar to MRT (but faster). The one recently crashed in Wenzhou is "dong che"?

That is definitely comfortable and fast!
for trains, note the train numbers as follows :-

G = gao tie, super fast; like the one crashed in wenzhou

D = dong che, very very fast, and new, NOT like the one crashed in wenzhou, but unlikely to crash again because the wenzhou type is the latest supposed to be similar to japan's bullet train up to 300km/hr, while the NJ-SH trains are the earlier version of 'dong che', about 200+km/hr only. there is only one stop between NJ and wuxi, and wuxi to shanghai non-stop, or one-stop in SZ

T = te kuai, quite fast, about 150+km/hr or something like that

the one with many stops and standing pax are the K or Z series

check the time table and train number when buying train tickets....most hotels in china can help you get the tickets without handling fees, and these days ctrip.com also sell train tickets

train schedule info in china : http://www.shike.org.cn

Re: Travel: China - Nanjing

Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 4:22 pm
by verykiasu2010
insider wrote:
autumnbronze wrote:
Hi insider,

We are leaving end nov. Just checked with DH. The flight rate quoted to him for me was $1500 over :yikes: in contrast, I paid $500 plus for my flight to BJ and SH some time back ..... haiz, peak period :sad:
how come so ex?

I just checked it's $700+ for airlines under China umbrella but I dread the transit time of total 11 to 18 hours. (go check under zuji.com.sg).

I am planning to transit in HK or Guangzhou, stopping over there for two nights then fly from there again so all in all ticket will be around $800.
just checked SQ website, depending on travel dates, it could be $956 per pax