On 11/8/05, Doctor Core <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Yet there're many US stores opened in the area too, like Sam's Club. You'd be surprised to see all the western brand in the city. But just turn the corner you're back to the regular Chinese street with 2000 bicycles in 10 square feet.
I went there last year. The market is growing so fast it's easily more populated and busier than anywhere in the US except the top 5 cities' urban area. Be more careful -- if you've heard people talk about being careful while travelling to Italy, it's similar but not as much. Avoid less populated area for safety purpose. If you know someone in GZ, ask them to introduce you to a trustworthy hired-car driver, and ask the driver to show you around.
Even if it's not banned some of them would probalby get you into the some customs trouble. As simple as black mushroom -- like those in Hot & Sour soup -- got me into a questioning over at US-Canada border before. Good drieg black mushroom has some "cracks" on its top that' reveal white "meat", making it look less like black mushroom.
I'd recommend you to eat there but don't bring it back. Maybe I can dig out some pointers tonight on where I went. GZ area has some famous restaurant, and there're area that's known for flat rice noodles (Sa Hoo Fun, for those speaks Cantonese)... I had this platter of 10 different taste of noodles, and 8 of them are really good!
If you dare, try some rare food -- but don't get endangered species or things that you can't tell what it is. SARS came from those rare animal as study believes. Also wipe your hands clean often; avoid people who're coughing -- these are stuff Westerners probably don't get used to, but it's a good habit in sub-tropical area esp. now after SARS and bird flu. Fried silk worm cocoons are nice crunchy snack high in protein :-) , and they have to boil the silk worm cocoon to get the silk anyway. My best street snack in anywhere in China is the lamb kabob that's usually done by the Western China Muslim population who migrated into the city. General advice: always eat boiling food or food that they cook in front of you, avoid cold food. That's universal safety for eating in any sub-tropical/tropical region.
Enjoy their subway system! it wasn't there in '03 IIRC. You don't have to walk that much now!
Surprising no one answered yet...
Jay A. Hricak wrote:
> Hey I am going to be in Guangzhou for a few weeks within the next few
> months...
A few weeks? Make sure you visit some other sites in the province.
GZ is a major city, but not scenic or historic enough to entertain a
foreigner for a few weeks.
> Any cool Gunpla or anime shops or bookstores? I'm betting I'll find some
> fun stuff in some of the MASSIVE department stores they have, but was
We were there briefly in 2003. The way things are whirling in China,
my experience is pretty useless for you. If you have a few weeks, put
on a thick skin and explore.
My only finds in China were a few hobby mooks, essentially
color-photocopy of Hobby Japan mooks. Not very interesting for most
tourists, if you like hobby mooks you probably have all the originals
already, if you don't like them, why waste luggage quota on them?
The big dept stores would probably disappoint Gundam hunters, I found
only a few Wing kits (Bandai and Bendi placed on the same shelf) in a
tiny corner of the large toys dept. Slightly cheaper then US, but
more expensive than HK and Japan.
I won't be surprised if you find the big stores are just poor
imitations of Target and Galleria.
Yet there're many US stores opened in the area too, like Sam's Club. You'd be surprised to see all the western brand in the city. But just turn the corner you're back to the regular Chinese street with 2000 bicycles in 10 square feet.
I went there last year. The market is growing so fast it's easily more populated and busier than anywhere in the US except the top 5 cities' urban area. Be more careful -- if you've heard people talk about being careful while travelling to Italy, it's similar but not as much. Avoid less populated area for safety purpose. If you know someone in GZ, ask them to introduce you to a trustworthy hired-car driver, and ask the driver to show you around.
> wondering if anyone else could recommend where to go? Recommendations for
> restaurants and/or any other entertainment or sights are welcome! I will
> also have to find a Chinese Drug store and Cooking shop, but they should be
> easy enough ;)
If you are haulling stuffs home you are better off with spices (spices
isn't a strong suit for S. China), herbal medicine, fungi and "sea
goods". Shark fins, sea cucumbers and such. But again... the way we
are so globalized already, you have to be pretty resourceful to find
stuffs that you can't find in major US/Canada cities.
Hey didn't we discuss this before? A variety of Chinese food (ham
etc), liquor and medicine are banned in the US and/or Canada. Have
you fill while there. Smuggle them at your own risk (and there are
two kinds of risk, you know right?).
Even if it's not banned some of them would probalby get you into the some customs trouble. As simple as black mushroom -- like those in Hot & Sour soup -- got me into a questioning over at US-Canada border before. Good drieg black mushroom has some "cracks" on its top that' reveal white "meat", making it look less like black mushroom.
I'd recommend you to eat there but don't bring it back. Maybe I can dig out some pointers tonight on where I went. GZ area has some famous restaurant, and there're area that's known for flat rice noodles (Sa Hoo Fun, for those speaks Cantonese)... I had this platter of 10 different taste of noodles, and 8 of them are really good!
If you dare, try some rare food -- but don't get endangered species or things that you can't tell what it is. SARS came from those rare animal as study believes. Also wipe your hands clean often; avoid people who're coughing -- these are stuff Westerners probably don't get used to, but it's a good habit in sub-tropical area esp. now after SARS and bird flu. Fried silk worm cocoons are nice crunchy snack high in protein :-) , and they have to boil the silk worm cocoon to get the silk anyway. My best street snack in anywhere in China is the lamb kabob that's usually done by the Western China Muslim population who migrated into the city. General advice: always eat boiling food or food that they cook in front of you, avoid cold food. That's universal safety for eating in any sub-tropical/tropical region.
> I will be coming home 20 lbs heavier from all the eating of course!
But you should be doing a lot of walking too.
Enjoy their subway system! it wasn't there in '03 IIRC. You don't have to walk that much now!
--
Boaz
http://myturnaspace.blogspot.com
