On a recent trip through Yuxi, Honghe, Puer and Xishuangbanna, I noticed there are sometimes big discrepancies between Google Maps, Baidu Maps and Tencent Maps in terms of the accuracy of locations, navigation routes and new roads. They all seemed to have their strengths in different places...although I'm not using Google services much these days: maps app is too slow through VPN and no longer supports offline maps in China. And the web app has been stripped of many of its useful features like elevation profiles. Google earth resolution is often not high enough to be useful in rural areas (can't find small roads on the satellite imagery because it's too blurry), and also suffers from slow connection problem.
So has anybody studied this in a more systematic way? What's the best mapping application to use in Yunnan? Or do you have recommendations about where and for to what ends to use different products?
Hi all, does anybody know if this info about getting from Jinghong to the Laos border is still accurate? Are there any later buses or congregating points for mianbaoche? I would preferably like to depart in the early afternoon. Oh, and any updated hours for the border crossing?
Hi all, has anyone needed to get a criminal history check from Shanghai because you're applying for a work permit in Kunming and have a previous residence permit from Shanghai in your passport?
Any details about this process would be much appreciated. I'm having trouble figuring out how to get it done at all, much less remotely from Kunming without having to visit in person.
Cantina is always a safe bet for top-notch food and great service. I think it has actually gotten better and better over the years, which is often not the case with restaurants. Most people who live in Kunming know Cantina. Perhaps not as many know how involved the owners, Libby and Diego, are in various social welfare and community service efforts. Highly recommended both for visitors and long-term residents!
I went there twice for group boxing classes. I left the third time when I was attempting to book into a grappling class. This was part of an attempted process on my part to try the different classes offered there and see if I wanted to purchase one of their various membership cards.
The boxing classes were fun, a great workout, and the coaches and fellow students were all nice. A good atmosphere. Certainly room for improvement, especially in terms of explaining the class structure and fundamental concepts of the sports to beginners...but overall good.
However, on front desk staff member erased the positive aspects of the gym through his unprofessional and rude conduct. I was treated like some sort of con-man for wanting to try out the different classes offered before committing to multi-thousand RMB membership card, despite my willingness to pay per class to try them out. I wasted my time riding over to the gym on a very cold day on my scooter and then being refused service unless I committed on the spot to buying a membership card in direct contradiction to the gym's own policies and written price table. Also wasted was my friend's time and money, as she was in a cab on the way over to the gym in order to join me for the group class at the time I was refused service. My exchange with the staff (in which I was not terribly satisfied, but remained calm and reasonable throughout) was topped off with a remark from the one particular staff member with xenophobic undertones.
As one may see from my other reviews on this site, I typically try not to say anything unless I have something nice to say. In this case, I feel I must make an exception: I don't think it's a business that deserves your effort or money.
American fugitive and environmental activist sentenced to prison in Dali
Posted by^What's the statute of limitation for bar owners?
Kunming taxis reinstate one yuan fuel surcharge
Posted byOil prices bottomed out around the end of last year/beginning of this year and have been on an upward trend ever since.
Also, gasoline and diesel prices in China are set by the central government, which raised gasoline prices by 7% on 2 June.
Photo contest to promote conservation in Yunnan
Posted byNot sure...there's a list of rules on the website, perhaps you could ask a favor of a chinese friend and have him look through them for you.
Kunming to host 2009 China Open minigolf tournament
Posted byAre contestants required to achieve a minimum blood alcohol percentage before they tee off?
GoKunming Weekend Preview
Posted byIs that a bowl full of candy and cigarettes in the photo? That's like what my parents used to offer trick-or-treaters.