User profile: Geogramatt

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Forums > Living in Kunming > Visa-Overstay Amnesty

@duke is me

To answer your question, yes there ARE flights between the US and China right now. But they are limited in number and expensive. China Southern flies between Guangzhou and Los Angeles twice a week. You could get to Guangzhou from Kunming in 8 hours by HSR.

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Forums > Living in Kunming > Visa-Overstay Amnesty

@duke is me

Are there flights to the country that issued your passport?

What happens if there aren't?

Are you supposed to pay for your ticket yourself?

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Great article Colin. How interesting that Dali Bars are being made in Husa!

I spent a night in Husa in 2011 or 2012 on a bike ride and always remembered it as a very special place, a idyllic pastoral valley tucked in the middle of a high mountain range.

I was lucky that the day I cycled into the valley there was an Achang festival taking place. I remember meeting a monk from Burma who came over to bless the opening of the new temple. He said there was lots of movement back and forth across the border.

My only question is about logistics. Husa is pretty far away from everything. Yet you're making Dali Bars all the way out there and then trucking them into Kunming? I guess with the G56 highway now finishes to Ruili it reduces the time somewhat.

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Thanks for the report.

I visited Ruili during my very first trip to China in 2006. I didn't speak any Chinese at the time, and Ruili was the first place on my itinerary where no English was spoke. Even then, the "this place used to be scandalous, not so much anymore" narrative was already in place.

I personally find nearby Mangshi and Yingjiang to both be more pleasant cities, but the Burmese presence is definitely greater in Ruili.

Any word on when that border crossing will be opened up to foreigners (without expensive prepaid tours)?

PS I think a lot of that jade and timber trade can still be considered "illicit"

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I was going to say that Baima and Meili are NOT the same mountain range (the Mekong River divides them), but looks like b galipeau beat me to the punch!

At least one of the three tunnels has been open for a while. I biked through it back in 2013.

Reviews

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This is a really nice new restaurant in Dali. High quality vegetarian and vegan food, varied menu, daily specials. They make their own kombucha, too. The environment is very chill...multiple layers, floor seating, an outdoor courtyard and terrace balcony overlooking the the roofs of the neighbors in old Dali

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Serendipity is an honest-to-gosh American style diner, a concept I don't think I've ever really seen before in China.

They do salads, burgers, and pasta dishes, but the true stars of the menu are the breakfasts, which are served all day.

No measly hostel breakfast sets, these ones come with heaping servings of bacon and eggs and bottomless coffee.

No table seating. Everyone sits around the counter, where you can see what's going on in the kitchen and chat with the friendly staff.

The fresh donuts are the best I've had in China

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The 68 kuai Saturday night all-you-can-eat buffet is a terrific deal.

Steak, pork loin, chicken schnitzel, pizza, two kinds of salad, creme de caramel, cheesecake, and lots of other stuff.

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Recently experienced both very early morning departure and very late night arrival at Changshui. Was worried about making the connection to and from the airport, but both turned out well.

First, the departure. It was 7:30 am. I arranged a taxi to pick me up at 5:00. That he did. Cost: 100 yuan.

The departure was scheduled for 12:30 am, was delayed, and didn't get in until 2:30 am. I was sure I'd have to find a black cab, and wasn't even sure if I would find that. Instead, I was delighted to discover that the Airport Express Bus was still running! For 25 yuan it took me to the train station, where I then caught a cab for the short ride the rest of the way home. I was very impressed by this late night bus. I'd thought the buses only ran till around 11 pm-midnight. I don't know if this is a regular occurrence or not. Maybe, knowing my flight was delayed and there would be hundreds of passengers looking for a ride home, the airport dispatched an extra bus. If so, kudos to whoever was responsible!