Stefan Wood Posted August 13, 2010 Report Share Posted August 13, 2010 Wanna and I delayed our honeymoon till the fall, which is rapidly approaching. So we're going back to her home country, China! Going to Hong Kong first, then Beijing, Shanghai, and one or tow other cities. It should be a heck of an experience. Of course, in the back of my mind I'm wondering if I can find one place that might sell jazz cds...... heh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnS Posted August 13, 2010 Report Share Posted August 13, 2010 You'll have a fabulous trip Stefan. We did an escorted tour a couple of years ago and had a great time. Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Xian. Took in most of the tourist spots like the Forbidden City, terracotta army, Great Wall etc. I would have liked to have seen a little of some more rural areas but it was so interesting I wouldn't mind going back. I guess our trip was tailored to western tastes but as your wife is Chinese I'm sure you'll be able to get much closer to the real China. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertrand Posted August 13, 2010 Report Share Posted August 13, 2010 You might run across Bill Heid in Shanghai! I can try to find out the name of the hotel where he plays, if you'd like. Bertrand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Son-of-a-Weizen Posted August 13, 2010 Report Share Posted August 13, 2010 You might run across Bill Heid in Shanghai! I can try to find out the name of the hotel where he plays, if you'd like. Bertrand. ....and of course he'll want to visit the famous jazz room at the Peace Hotel in Shanghai (....probably spiffed up a bit from the early 80's, I'd guess) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Bresnahan Posted August 13, 2010 Report Share Posted August 13, 2010 (edited) Back in Jan. of 2006, I spent a weekend in Hong Kong. I found quite a few decent CD shops but only one that had any Jazz. I found a whole bunch of legitimate Japanese-pressed Venus CDs for around $10 each. Unfortunately, I can't remember the name of the place. I actually started a thread on the Steve Hoffman forums asking for advice. A lot of the links are in Chinese but still seem vaild: http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=69106. Kevin PS. I saw a great show at a club called The Fringe when I was there. The band, the Tomio Morota Sextet, was like a Japanese version of the Jazz Messengers. Edited August 13, 2010 by Kevin Bresnahan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GA Russell Posted August 13, 2010 Report Share Posted August 13, 2010 Have a great time! You might find electronics there cheap, such as eBook readers. I didn't object to Nixon going to China. I just objected to him coming back! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tjazz Posted August 14, 2010 Report Share Posted August 14, 2010 (edited) The World Expo is in Shanghai thru October. A youtube example Edited August 14, 2010 by Tjazz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted August 14, 2010 Report Share Posted August 14, 2010 We got back a couple of weeks ago and you should be ok but it was freakin' hot: 98 every day and humid in Shanghai. Beijing was the same but no humidity, still hot though. One thing you may need to get used to is the smoking. People smoke incessantly. When I'd walk into the Hotel lobby, I'd be overpowered. It's pretty bad. However, the Government is prohibiting smoking in doors next year. We'll have to see if that's enforced. If you go down to the Bund in Shanghai, watch out for the pickpockets: they're everywhere. There were long lines at the Expo but in the fall it may be less crowded. Interesting place. If you're going to Beijing, I'd recommend a tour guide for the Forbidden City. Makes things a little easier. I can probably recommend a few restaurants but food was good all over. Subways are great, much better than here. In Beijing they announced the stops in both Mandarin and English, same in Shanghai. Street signs are also in both languages. Have a great time. It's a heck of an experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stefan Wood Posted August 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 14, 2010 Thanks, Brad. That is one concern I have. My nose is sensitive, and I plan on bringing some allergy medicine, anticipating the smoke and pollution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllenLowe Posted August 14, 2010 Report Share Posted August 14, 2010 (edited) don't forget to go for a swim in the Yangtze - ht. Edited August 14, 2010 by AllenLowe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted August 15, 2010 Report Share Posted August 15, 2010 My wife and I went to Beijing in November 2007 as the madness of preparing for the Olympics was in full swing. We had the time of our lives, and the food there was fantastic!!! I came back ten pounds heavier than when I left! Once you start to get homesick for American food, believe it or not, there's a Pizza Hut there that serves the most delicious pizza (i.e. nothing like here in the states): light flaky crust, light (e.g. not heavy) ingredients. I couldn't believe this was a Pizza Hut pizza, and still wonder why they don't serve that recipe here??? Also, make sure you go before the government shuts down the A/C for the season (sometime in October, I think). Those hotels get kinda stuffy without air circulation, and you sure don't wanna open the windows until Thursday at least! Hope you guys have a great time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stefan Wood Posted October 15, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2010 Got back from China after a month of touring and visiting my wife's family in Hong Kong and Guangzhou. It was a fantastic time! To be on the Great Wall, to be in the Forbidden City are moments to be treasured. No music bought; really didn't look. All about food and walking around temples and landmarks. The Shanghai Expo was still a zoo but interesting. Hot and humid in Hong Kong. Nice to be back in DC where it is cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnS Posted October 16, 2010 Report Share Posted October 16, 2010 Welcome back Stefan, glad you had a good time. It's awesome there, the wall, forbidden city, terracotta warriors, the people and culture, all unforgetable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidewinder Posted October 16, 2010 Report Share Posted October 16, 2010 Hot and humid in Hong Kong. That's the nearest I've got to there. A unique experience, for sure. Agree re: the challenge of the humidity. Only be getting the fenicular railway to the peak did it subside. No wonder house prices there go up the higher up the peak you go ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GA Russell Posted October 16, 2010 Report Share Posted October 16, 2010 Stefan, how were the prices in China? Low? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted October 16, 2010 Report Share Posted October 16, 2010 Got back from China after a month of touring and visiting my wife's family in Hong Kong and Guangzhou. It was a fantastic time! To be on the Great Wall, to be in the Forbidden City are moments to be treasured. No music bought; really didn't look. All about food and walking around temples and landmarks. The Shanghai Expo was still a zoo but interesting. Hot and humid in Hong Kong. Nice to be back in DC where it is cool. Hot and humid is no joke. If we ever go again, it's going to be in the fall Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoppy T. Frog Posted October 17, 2010 Report Share Posted October 17, 2010 don't forget to go for a swim in the Yangtze - ht. Man, that is the fakest photo since all those curtains started appearing in front of Stalin's old friends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllenLowe Posted October 17, 2010 Report Share Posted October 17, 2010 well, I took a slow boat there once............... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stefan Wood Posted October 18, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2010 Stefan, how were the prices in China? Low? Dirt cheap. Food is really priced low -- dinners averaged 6-8 bucks, with an occasional steak dinner running $15 tops (got sick and tired of Chinese food a couple of times, even though it was top quality). Housing is cheap in China -- which in terms of Hong Kong, a lot of people have second (or third) homes in Guangzhou. We stayed at my wife's aunt's place -- a 2 bedroom condo on the 29th floor of a brand new tower complex on the Pearl River -- she paid close to $8K for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stefan Wood Posted October 18, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2010 Some pics: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hardbopjazz Posted October 20, 2010 Report Share Posted October 20, 2010 (edited) Try not to run into these fellows. They guard the entrance to the afterlife. I took this photo at a museum. They was an exhibit of Chinese culture. Edited October 20, 2010 by Hardbopjazz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted October 22, 2010 Report Share Posted October 22, 2010 Man, those pictures bring back memories. Thanks for posting those! As for music, you didn't miss anything. The shops I went in had mostly bootleg legit-looking CDRs, although I did buy Sonic Youth's RATHER RIPPED simply because it had a bonus track not on the US CD (which I'd already bought). It's certainly buyer beware, but overall nothing you'd really want to get in the first place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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