I recently went to China for a business cum leisure trip. The Top 20 First impression of China on my maiden trip to Guangzhou. Tried out their taxi and metro but have not tried out their bus. 1. The airport is modern with a very nice ambiance and friendly receptionist at the information counter. and the receptionists at the airport do speak English, thank god. I wouldnt know where to start otherwise. 2. Getting a local simcard is so easy. I got it at the airport. There was Tourism Office at every corner that sells local simcard for only RMB 80. Get a local simcard - dont waste money on roaming. 3. The walk from the arrival hall to the Metro (or similar to our KLIA2 arrival hall to KLIA Express) is further than our KLIA Express. Its a long beautiful walk. 4. Buying a ticket at our KLIA Express Kiosks is far easier than buying ticket at their Metro Kiosk. 5. My first morning whenever I travel is always spent discovering the town on foot walking jogging or running. China was too cold for a run so I went for a walk instead. I didnt see other chinese running, jogging or exercising on the streets of china (probably its too cold for them too). 6. The town is very clean!! Even at the smallest back lane, without a single drop of rubbish. Even their wet market is clean. 7. Everyone from a few years old children to older the oldest, walks! They walk a lot. The town planning is build to walk. there are trees at every streets and the scenery at every street is so conducive to walk. 8. The streets are filled with great grandfather trees. I called it great grandfather trees because they are so old. The trees must be thousands of years old. 9. The Chinese people was so kind. I took the metro to my hotel from the airport. Metro cost only 3 yen. On my arrival at the hotel venue, i walked out of the Metro and could not find the hotel. I asked around and there were no chinese that understood english until one young lady who could not speak english but understood what I was saying and tried to give me direction in chinese. But I could not understand. so she walk me to the hotel around 1.4 km to help me out. That was so kind and thoughtful. 10. The hotel was on free wifi but my VPN - Tunnel Bear couldn’t work! so my computer was useless for doing work online. 11. Before my departure, I googled the best VPN and subscribed to Tunnel Bear but it didnt work in China. 12. There is Halal Restaurant everywhere. Eating Halal is not a problem in China. 13. There are so many mosque in China. This mosque that I dropby at random was so beautiful and so well preserved and maintained. I think its easily hundreds of years old. 14. The prayer time in Guangzhou-Muslim Pro App (an Application by JAKIM Malaysia) is not the same as the prayer time there. 15. Food portion for 1 person is huge. So dont over order when you eat. Its like 4x the size of a menu for 1 person. 16. Motor taxi was more convenient but they charged as much as the metered taxi. So best to check the price before you jump on it. 17. Metered taxi can conned you, so if you are taking the metered taxi, its best to also Wazed/Googled your way back and tell the driver where to turn so he doesnt take you the longer route. 18. The Chinese lady are very polite and soft spoken but the men are very loud and rude by our standard. but its actually its their character. so dont get offended 19. No foreign worker working there 20. Beautiful. mesmerizing and breathtaking sunset. TIPS 1. The Metro Kiosks accepts WeChat pay or Ali Pay or cash. But please prepare alot of 5 & 10 RMB notes if you plan to travel by Metro. Some kiosks doesnt accept 1RMB notes. Taking the metro is easy, you can download the Metro line map in English at HERE. 2. GET A VPN that works in China. The VPN that i recommend is free. but remember, if you use VPN, you can access most of our commonly used apps such as Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp, Youtube etc. but you wont be able to use any chinese apps such as Wechat etc. so you will need to switch on and off between VPN and chinese apps. 3. Go there with an open mind. dont bring your culture and way of life to china but try to adapt to the chinese way.
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