I originally had a one-month tourist visa, had to renew it for a month and needed a re-entry since I had to make a business trip to Thailand for a week. I went with a Chinese friend and at the time, I could barely speak any Chinese and he can't speak much English (he is the husband of a good friend of mine, who speaks perfect English, but she was busy on that day) my friend filled out all the forms including the address and that was it.
You just need to write down an address (as per you residence certificate). I don't think anything else is needed apart from your passport of course and the residence certificate from the police station.
Sure...fly in, spend a day or two in Yangon, a strange city with not a single ATM and no new cars on the roads...it feels like you've stepped back in time 30-40 years. The hotels there are cheap and good and you'll even get cable TV, though usually not more than about 3-5 foreign channels, even at the best 4 or 5 star hotels.
Then go to Chaungtha Beach, a SE Asian "beach resort" with almost no western (or other foreign) tourists that are so ubiquitous throughout the rest of SE Asia. Then head to Mandalay for some authentic Burmese cultural experience and/or Bagan, a city with thousands of temples strewn across the plains. Alternatively, spend 2 days and one night climbing up to the Golden Rock.
But beware, traveling in Myanmar (Burma) takes time and patience. Don't plan too much if you've only got a week. Traveling around Myanmar is cheap but slow if you go by bus...maybe take a private car with driver, but it won't be cheap...for example, the 125 mile (200km) one way trip from Yangon to the Golden Rock in a beat up 25 year old car set me back US$120 for 2 days just for the car rental...although the hotel I stayed in provided accommodation for the driver, for free if I remember correctly.
By the way, do you know if it's true that foreigners on residence permits need to re-register with the police station to confirm their accommodation after each re-entry? I received an email from the Australian Consulate-General in Guangzhou that mentioned this, but first of all, this seems very tedious just for a short 4-5 day trip, and secondly, my accommodation will be the same after my return anyway, so what's the point of this?
I just go with the crowd and in a sense, I don't mind all the pushing and shoving and standing in front of someone to catch the taxi they've been waiting for 10 minutes! I mean, if everyone else is doing it, jump on the bandwagon, although i would prefer a greater amount of respect for others; on the other hand, there are so many people here so maybe that's why it's such a free-for-all.
I've also noticed numerous negative attitudes towards Chinese people even from their neighbors. Lao and Thai people in Kunming think the Chinese are loud, get angry easily and are dirty because they don't shower much...
Well even though we've all been told not to get visibly angry in Asia, I think that probably doesn't apply in China because Chinese people get visibly angry all the time when something goes wrong right? Loss of face by getting angry makes a point in SE Asia (you better not do it), but not China I think...if you are really upset you can just show your anger coz this is what Chinese people themselves do...right?
This is quite an urgent post, but I now have a Chinese residence permit issued for one year (it's a study permit, but it could just as well be a business or work visa as they are usually issued for a year at a time I think).
I am planning a quick business trip to Vietnam on Friday. However, I'm not sure whether my residence visa is single or multiple entry as it does not mention anything on my visa. On my previous visas it specifically mentioned the number of entries, but not this one. I know there wouldn't be enough time to get an amendment made if I am leaving so soon, but some sources told me that my visa is indeed multiple entries even if it doesn't specify it, but I want to be sure first. It would be problematic for me if I was refused re-entry early next week given that I have work commitments later next week and I can only take a couple of days off for this trip, not a week in case I needed to get a new visa or something.
So does "internationalism" or "globalism", Alien. It produces the insanity that we have been seeing in many parts of the west, the USA in particular of screaming leftists who have become so insane as to threaten the life of the US president yet strangely haven't been arrested for attempted murder. Even the media takes part, in fact the media is a huge part of the problem and yes, it's completely biased and much of their reporting is fake, distorted inconsistent with the facts or omits the truth.
The Chinese form of nationalism that you are referring to may however also be somewhat exaggerated for effect and yes, ultra-nationalism, as many Chinese practice when there is a stir-up of nationalist sentiment in response to a "threat", particularly from the arch-nemisis nation of Japan or Vietnam, the Philippines etc. can get out of hand and sometimes results in innocent lives being lost when a riot starts, in addition to massive property destruction. The anti-Japanese riots of a few years ago, when Japanese cars, probably made in China and driven by Chinese citizens were destroyed is one example. Similarly, an anti-China protest last year I think in Vietnam resulted in a couple of lives lost and a large amount of property destruction at a Taiwanese owned factory. No mainland Chinese people owned any of the assets that were targeted nor were they amongst the victims of the rioting.
So perhaps the point I'd like to make is the best response is the middle ground.
True, the Chinese do drive relatively slowly and I find it's only in the cities, mainly bigger cities where drivers can be quite aggressive. Out of the highways it's a doodle though, especially compared to Thailand where you generally have higher traffic volumes and drivers who drive at much higher speeds.
@bluppfisk, the only way you can reach Hanoi in like 5 hours from Hekou is if the new expressway is currently finished and a bus service that takes this expressway is already in operation. Alternatively, you could take a private car or taxi, but that might be a little expensive unless you share with other travellers.
Currently the train to Hanoi takes around 8 hours and the road journey by car also took 8 hours on the old road, so probably 9-10 by bus.
As I have not heard anything to suggest that the whole expressway has opened to traffic yet (if it has, please provide a source) and only some sections near Hanoi have opened, my best guess is 6-7 hours using a combination of the old and the new road.
"In the future, the modern railway is expected enhance tourism and commerce in southern Yunnan and one day extend all the way to Hanoi."
umm excuse me there is already a railway from Lao Cai to Hanoi that has been in operation for decades. Please get your facts straight. The only "missing link" per se would be like a 3 km stretch from Hekou to Lao Cai by train, but that's no big deal as you can just walk across the border and then catch a taxi to the Lao Cai train station as is currently the case.
Chinese student apologizes after Maryland graduation speech sparks firestorm
Posted bySo does "internationalism" or "globalism", Alien. It produces the insanity that we have been seeing in many parts of the west, the USA in particular of screaming leftists who have become so insane as to threaten the life of the US president yet strangely haven't been arrested for attempted murder. Even the media takes part, in fact the media is a huge part of the problem and yes, it's completely biased and much of their reporting is fake, distorted inconsistent with the facts or omits the truth.
The Chinese form of nationalism that you are referring to may however also be somewhat exaggerated for effect and yes, ultra-nationalism, as many Chinese practice when there is a stir-up of nationalist sentiment in response to a "threat", particularly from the arch-nemisis nation of Japan or Vietnam, the Philippines etc. can get out of hand and sometimes results in innocent lives being lost when a riot starts, in addition to massive property destruction. The anti-Japanese riots of a few years ago, when Japanese cars, probably made in China and driven by Chinese citizens were destroyed is one example. Similarly, an anti-China protest last year I think in Vietnam resulted in a couple of lives lost and a large amount of property destruction at a Taiwanese owned factory. No mainland Chinese people owned any of the assets that were targeted nor were they amongst the victims of the rioting.
So perhaps the point I'd like to make is the best response is the middle ground.
Zen and the Chinese art of motorcycle driving
Posted by*Out ON the highways
Zen and the Chinese art of motorcycle driving
Posted byTrue, the Chinese do drive relatively slowly and I find it's only in the cities, mainly bigger cities where drivers can be quite aggressive. Out of the highways it's a doodle though, especially compared to Thailand where you generally have higher traffic volumes and drivers who drive at much higher speeds.
Kunming to Vietnam border by rail soon to be reality
Posted by@bluppfisk, the only way you can reach Hanoi in like 5 hours from Hekou is if the new expressway is currently finished and a bus service that takes this expressway is already in operation. Alternatively, you could take a private car or taxi, but that might be a little expensive unless you share with other travellers.
Currently the train to Hanoi takes around 8 hours and the road journey by car also took 8 hours on the old road, so probably 9-10 by bus.
As I have not heard anything to suggest that the whole expressway has opened to traffic yet (if it has, please provide a source) and only some sections near Hanoi have opened, my best guess is 6-7 hours using a combination of the old and the new road.
Kunming to Vietnam border by rail soon to be reality
Posted by"In the future, the modern railway is expected enhance tourism and commerce in southern Yunnan and one day extend all the way to Hanoi."
umm excuse me there is already a railway from Lao Cai to Hanoi that has been in operation for decades. Please get your facts straight. The only "missing link" per se would be like a 3 km stretch from Hekou to Lao Cai by train, but that's no big deal as you can just walk across the border and then catch a taxi to the Lao Cai train station as is currently the case.