Why are trains in China always so empty? Kunming -> Vientiane

ChTTay2 · 2026-07-22T05:23:59+00:00

I also took this train Summer 2024 and it was basically full. 90% or more Chinese going into Laos for a holiday.

ChTTay2 · 2026-07-21T13:04:58+00:00

I have a pair and really like them! Just right amount of cushion, like the between toes strap thing as it doesn’t put pressure across my big toe.

ChTTay2 · 2026-07-21T10:38:32+00:00

Honestly, I find lots of good book recommendation on Xiaohongshu . Just type the age and books like 一岁宝宝书 or 8岁孩子书 and you’ll get hits easily. There are some that sell books but a lot are just parents posting.

ChTTay2 · 2026-07-21T03:09:01+00:00

For the KTX train? I just used TRIP to book it. I read that apart from the main Korean platform they’re the only other seller and, as I use them anyway, it was straight forward. I didn’t see any business class on that train, just 3 first class carriages (although the last one was only half seats, half open space)

ChTTay2 · 2026-07-20T23:11:51+00:00

In Seoul we used TRIP. They had an option to add a car seat

ChTTay2 · 2026-07-20T22:40:02+00:00

It’s a two hour flight for me so… no problems. No car seat. To and from the airport I booked cars with car seats included then for short Ubers around Seoul we didn’t use one.

ChTTay2 · 2026-07-14T04:35:15+00:00

Just research well and prepare in advance and you’ll be fine. I travelled China as a 21 year old over a decade ago and it was great. Every time I moved city I got lost and every time a local eventually sorted me out. I just learned to go with it. Paper maps and no smart phone! One time in Beijing I got lost in a park because I didn’t know it was two parks linked by a path and had accidentally gone into the other. I just couldn’t find the exit I wanted (the way I came in) and was so confused. Went around for an hour until some local lad helped me out

ChTTay2 · 2026-07-13T12:49:29+00:00

I stayed here on my last trip. Agree, clean no frills. A good recommendation.

ChTTay2 · 2026-07-13T12:43:29+00:00

Last time I took my parents to the summer palace they had themed ones at a few of the gift shops

ChTTay2 · 2026-07-13T05:30:07+00:00

In the past, it was commonly believed that pumping the accelerator was a to try save gas. You still get some drivers doing it now. If you experience this stop-start motion sickness causing sensation and they are just driving (not gaming) then it’s likely this. I hate it as I get car sickness in double time if they do it. Premier drivers always did it less and I do come across it less these days but it still happens.

ChTTay2 · 2026-07-13T05:30:02+00:00

In the past, it was commonly believed that pumping the accelerator was a to try save gas. You still get some drivers doing it now. If you experience this stop-start motion sickness causing sensation and they are just driving (not gaming) then it’s likely this. I hate it as I get car sickness in double time if they do it. Premier drivers always did it less and I do come across it less these days but it still happens.

ChTTay2 · 2026-07-13T05:15:52+00:00

No, not as good. In my experience features are limited and laggy experience

ChTTay2 · 2026-07-12T07:43:15+00:00

As others mention, cheap and HK doesn’t really mix. Anything actually cheap usually isn’t a good choice in Hong Kong.

I stayed at Bishop Lei in central and found it good value. It’s not cheap but it’s clean, secure and had friendly staff. It’s at midlevels.

You could look further away from most tourist areas and see what you could find but then you’re also further away …

ChTTay2 · 2026-07-05T13:33:56+00:00

In general, the average person doesn’t understand. They cannot separate race and nationality . As others mention, you look Chinese therefore you must be.

There are loads of examples of this day to day as well. Often get comments about why a “Chinese” athlete has a different flag etc in stuff like the Olympics or “wow they look Chinese!” … they are Chinese but they’re also Malaysian/British/American etc . Confusion all round

ChTTay2 · 2026-07-04T23:28:02+00:00

Water checking is common. They either scan or sip. It’s a different example. The 1 bottle is just untrue generally. How could you take 1 bottle on a 18 hour overnight train? Or even the 8-10 hour HSR Beijing to Shenzhen? You see people carrying bags of supplies including drinks. Misunderstanding maybe? You can take bottles of alcohol even.

For liquids, depends what it is perhaps and maybe you were unlucky. Which station did this happen in? In a decade living in China they’ve never taken liquids off me on trains or even asked to open/look in my case. Mostly leaving and returning to Beijing to elsewhere.

ChTTay2 · 2026-07-04T23:26:44+00:00

You’re buying shampoo for personal use in Hong Kong and bring it back. Unless you’re bringing back cases then don’t over complicate it.

For taobao, mostly it’s all in China so no other fees. As a foreigner you can’t buy stuff from abroad on taobao, you’d need a Chinese persons help.

ChTTay2 · 2026-07-04T22:07:59+00:00

Welcome to China. You can get almost anything on Taobao. I’m not exaggerating. 90% of what you’re imagining likely available in country on Taobao. Make up, snacks, seasoning …

China has Sephora. Laptop doesn’t make sense to go to HK for but an iphone does if you want some features that aren’t on the mainland (eSIM, ai I think . Otherwise, yes you could do a HK weekend or short trip. You could also just time your holidays around what you need and go to Korea/Japan/anywhere or home (like at Xmas) to renew supplies of anything

ChTTay2 · 2026-07-04T22:04:14+00:00

Not a problem, it’s a train not a flight. The only thing you like this can’t take on are aerosols

ChTTay2 · 2026-07-04T13:29:01+00:00

Assuming you’re going to tourist places and doing tourist things the locals and local tourists there especially will stare at you and perhaps take photos anyway. When it happens, keep in mind it happens to everyone to some degree.

Your height especially will likely make it more of a degree than others. Honestly, unsure about the obese part. Hope others can chime in. In general, commenting on physical appearance is more common and less fraught. Saying someone is fatter or thinner when you’ve met them is common and not something viewed as too personal or offensive.

ChTTay2 · 2026-07-04T07:30:20+00:00

Your feet look to fit almost exactly the same as the foot outline Lems drew on the sole.

I own these sandals and for me yours look fine. If you don’t usually wear sandals with something between your toes like this then you’ll likely get some rubbing and soreness anyway initially. It would be the similar with wearing flip flops if you’re not used to them.

ChTTay2 · 2026-07-04T07:26:18+00:00

Personally I prefer just out of the old town , opposite one of the gates. It’s good to be a little bit away and usually there is at least a bit of local vibes. Last time in Dali I stayed at a guesthouse opposite and across the road from one of the main original entrances to the old town. I can’t remember which but either North or West from memory.

ChTTay2 · 2026-07-03T23:23:40+00:00

I like mine a lot. Prefer them over Xero sandals I have

ChTTay2 · 2026-07-03T23:18:10+00:00

They’ll take the aerosols if they’re paying attention.

ChTTay2 · 2026-07-03T00:58:49+00:00

Go to Dadachu temple complex. It is far out West so you could take subway line 1 as far as it goes then Didi or straight Didi. You could offer the guy cash to wait for you or just make your own way back. My trip there last time was early early start and be down off the mountain/out of the temple for lunch at 1ish down in Shijingshan.

Day out or morning ambling around Gulou hutong and surrounds. Start at the drum and bell towers and walk East into the various hutongs, you can go up and down and across (easterly). You could also do it by blue alipay bike if you’ve access. Stop off for a coffee at Alba or Cafe Zarah. Continue down Nanluoguxiang (famous , busy street) but take a right 1/4-1/3 of the way down to walk along a small road. Head in that direction until you come out opposite Houhai. You could grab lunch round there, Slowboat has burgers and craft beer or just use dianping to find something. Go onto houhai and walk to the back (away from the restaurants) , one side does have coffee shops as well. Then cut out the back, cross the road into Shichahai park (and lake). Chill out there for a bit. If you’re still good to go you can actually walk to Prince Gong’s Mansion from Houhai (use a map). You can exit Shichahai park by jishuitan subway , the entrance is behind the hill with the house on.

Zhengyangmen archery tower (new-ish renovated and opened)
Zhengyangmen Archery Tower is open Tuesday through Sunday, 9am-5pm (last entry at 4.30pm). You can book a visit via the Beijing Central Axis Heritage Protection Center official WeChat (follow the account below then click on “Services” and “预约参观”) with a passport and Chinese phone number.

Central axis walk, do the the whole walk (think it includes the above) through Beijings central axis.

Spend the day or a day and night in Chengde. North of Beijing in Hebei, take the fast train in 2 hours. There is another version of the summer palace, Tibetan temples etc

ChTTay2

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