Sunday, December 23, 2012

Guangzhou Day 3

On day 3, after having breakfast at a Hong Kong restaurant near Home Inn Lou Hu, we take the long distance train back to Guangzhou. Arriving at Guangzhou East Railway station, we then take MRT (Line 1, RMB4) to Changshou Lu to check in to Home Inn Shangxiajiu 2.
[HomeInn Shangxiajiu 2 branch 如家上下九二店 322Changshou East Rd GuangZhou 中国广东省广州市荔湾区长寿东路322Tel: 020-28350288 ]
From Changshou Lu MRT station, it is about 20 minute walk to the Inn. Disaster! Imagine dragging our luggage at the small walkside with so many people around. @@
After done with check in and drop our luggage into the room, we took our lunch at the noodle shop [JianJi Noodle Shop(坚记面记] right opposite our inn. The bf like it so much that we went again the next day, while for me, it is just so-so and quite plain. If you notice, I did not post much about foods, because here photographs of the foods is not allowed by the restaurant. =.=lll
After recharge, we start our shopping at Shang Xia Jiu Lu. *jaw drop* .. the streets looks like it won't end. And we walk until our legs feel numb.



At 7pm, we walk to Xi Di wharf to catch the night cruise. We ask around for the directions to the wharf, and we walked about 30 minutes to reach. I really think I'd walk the one month distance in 1 day on that day. The night cruise cost RMB48/ pax and lasted for 1.5 hour.






Nothing special but worth to try :)

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Shenzhen Day 2: Bo Yuen Dim Sum

Second day of the trip. We woke up early to have dim sum. It's about 10 minute walk from our inn. Too bad, the dim sum only start at 10am. However, they allowed us to have a seat and a pot of tea while waiting for the kitchen to prepare.
Bo Yuen Dim Sum is located inside Yuan Bo Yuan Hotel at 5th floor.


We only manage to take this much picture before a waiter come over and stop us, telling us photography is not allowed. =.=lll This breakfast cost us RMB79, which for me, it's a bit expensive. We can get more than this with RM40 in KL.
After finishing our breakfast, we checked out from Zhu Zhi Lin home inn and check into Luo Hu Home Inn (RMB189) which is a wrong choice. I planned it this way because I thought it would be more convenient to go back to our hotel if we shop until late night. But, it's a mistake because the location of this hotel from the Luo Hu Station/ Shopping mall is about 25-30 minute walk, which is not easy with so many luggage and tiring leg after shopping. And with this 25 minute distance, it's more comfortable to spend it in the MTR back to Zhu Zi Lin Home Inn, which is only 5 minute walk from the station.
This is the external of Luo Hu. MTR station is located below and this is the shopping mall. We only spend around 1 hour walking around inside the mall. For me, there is nothing much to be buy here. The people are so scary (once you asked and not buying, be prepared to be pestered). We then take MTR to Lao Jie, which is more comfortable for shopping, as the price is put up and no necessary to bargain.
And there goes our second day, fully shopping. At night, we took taxi back to our Inn from Luo Hu station, which the taxi driver laugh at us, telling us that we can actually walk back from station. We knew it's walking distance (25 minute is not walking distance for me if there is transport), but we have no energy to walk anymore, thus paying RMB18 for the taxi ride =)

Shenzhen Day 1: Mu Wu BBQ

After the night performance at WOTW end, it was about 9pm and we head back to Zhu Zi Lin. We walked for about 15 minutes to Mu Wu BBQ restaurant.(From ZhuZiLin MTR station, direction facing ZhuZiLin Home Inn, turn left and walk until you reach China Ever-Bright Bank Building, then turn right and walk towards the end at Dong Yuen Bo. Address: 29-30, Yuan Bo Yuan, ZhuZiLin Si Road)





BBQ Chives. Yelks.
BBQ chicken. I like it for it is not fat and oily.
Fried meehon. Yum.
BBQ Oyster! Super yum! And fresh and cheap.
BBQ Buns. Yelks.
BBQ brinjals. I don't usually eat brinjal but this is good.
Total cost of this dinner is RMB78.

Shenzhen Day 1: Window of the World

After a quick KFC lunch, we took the MTR from Zhu Zi Lin station to Window of the World which is 2 station away (travelling time in MTR is 2 minute, cost RMB2).
We came off the MTR to a pyramid, in front of the entrance of WOTW. It's very convenient.

Entrance ticket cost RMB160/ pax, include the live night performance.

We opt to start the tour by monorail which cost RMB20/ pax/ round. 

The rest of the tour speaks by the pictures.







The live performance is superb and worth to watch. It starts at 730pm daily.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Shenzhen Day 1

Another self plan trip. The actual itinerary was different from the planned itinerary, as I did not expect that I need to walk that much, thus overestimated the time. I skipped a lot all of the historical places, and being me, I end up spending all the time doing shopping. Hehe..

Our flight depart at 5.35am. It's really torturing that I wondered why did I book a flight that flies on such an odd time. Departing at 5.35am, we'd been in the airport since 3am and I hardly get enough sleep.
We were woken at 7am for our breakfast in flight. And arriving at Baiyun airport at around 9.35am.
Baiyun airport is very large, at least the largest airport that I'd been to. Before the trip, colleagues already advised that the airport was too big that I might waste a lot of time looking for places. Luckily a week before our trip, the bf was there for business trip, thus I made him familiarize the airport before our trip. Anyway, signage was quite clear in the airport. After collected our luggage and done with clearance, we made our way to Metro station; which is inside the airport too. Just follow the signboard. It's quite a long route, don't worry, just follow the signage, you are not lost (just to assure, because I keep wondering where am I, as I felt we walk so much but did not seen the metro station). We will be taking Metro to Guangzhou East Railway Station, to take the long distance train to Shenzhen.
[In the airport, take GZ subway line 3 RMB12 to go to GZ East Railway Station] 
[Line 3 = orange color. Train interval 5 minute.  35-50 minute distance]

Arriving at Guangzhou East Railway Station, we then proceed to look for the long distance train. We were lost, and ask for route from the officer there. We were then been told that there is no train to Shenzhen from Guangzhou East Railway Station. Luckily I did my homework, I opt to ignore him. We walk out from the Metro station. Looking around for signage, we saw the board written 'Shenzhen/ Hong Kong'. We follow the signboard and found the long distance train ticket center. To buy the ticket, there is auto-machine ticketing and also counter-ticketing. The auto-machine are for locals, and they will need to slot in their identification card. We used the counter-ticketing and were needed to show our passport for identification.
Train ticket from Guangzhou to Shenzhen cost us RMB80 each. Traveling time is 1hour and 19 minutes.
This is how the long distance train looks like.
Bye Guangzhou.
Arriving at Shenzhen, we then walk to Shenzhen Metro (inside and within the same building.. take the escalator to the underground and you will find the Metro. And that is why, be prepare to walk). We take Metro Line 1 from Luo Hu station heading to Zhu Zi Lin station. RMB4. 11 stations. 23 minutes 6 seconds.
We stayed at Home Inn Zhu Zi Lin on our first day which cost RMB227. I booked through China Depot Travel. Payment is only made during check out, but they will request for deposits during check in. I opt for this Inn for our first day because it is only 2 stations away to Window of the World. Expecting that we will spend our time until late night at Window of the World and to have our supper at Mu Wu BBQ nearby this Inn is also the reason. It's walking distance from Zhu Zi Lin Metro Station. It's located inside a building. Please ensure you get out from the correct exit.
We had a quick lunch at KFC beside our Inn. We had a regular burger, italian meatball rice and hot soya at KFC. This cost us RMB32. Time was already 3pm. Head is spinning out of tired but we need to proceed to Window of the World, else our time will not be enough to use.