 Finding a little shade in a Guangzhou park by Skibbe | Guangzhou travel tips posted by real travelers and Guangzhou locals. Guangzhou Map |
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You might have heard about how extensive fake money is circulating in China. Yes, I must agree to that and that's why I'm writing to remind VT friends to be especially careful when they visit China.
I got my first RMB100 fake note from a taxi driver. He claimed that my RMB$100 note has a torn at one corner of the note and he cannot accept it and asked me for another $100 note. Without giving much thought, I gave him another $100 note while I accepted "back" the torn $100 RMB from him. Later when I try to use the $100 note in the supermarket then I was informed it was a fake note. This is the swopping method often practised by taxi drivers.
My friend got her first $50 RMB from taxi driver using the same swopping method too.
The fake notes circulating in the market now are quite professionally made. They have all the waterink marks, the coase surface at the collarshirt of the picture in the note etc. It's hard to differentiate unless you alreadly know it's a fake and purposely examine the note.
So I would recommend to all VT friends, try to remember the last 4 digits of your notes when you pay the taxi driver the taxi fare. If he claim that your money cannot be accepted, make sure it's really your own money he's talking about. Refuse flatly to give him another note if you sense any thing suspicious, or tell him that's the only note you have etc.
You can make police report if you received fake notes from others but I've spoken to a policeman, small cases( involving only small amount) are difficult to settle/ to crack.
Many banks have posters describing how to differentiate fake money. It's good to learn more but often, it's very difficult to differentiate especially for someone who don't deal with counting money alot or someone who have not seen fake money before.
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Visiting Guangzhou?
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 Rain Water, Guangzhou,
China by joecooper
Even if you have an umbrella or raincoat, you can't walk down the street because it is so heavy. The pavement becomes about 5cm deep in water. Everyone stops what they are doing and heads for shelter until it stops, which usually isn't too long.
To give you an idea of what I'm talking about, have a look at the picture. No, this is not a stream or drainage system, these are the steps to some flats! Leave a Comment
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I've heard about getting fake money from big bank's ATM and didn't believe it until a close friend of mine got his from one of the local bank's ATM. He drew RMB$2000 from a local bank's ATM in Tian He district (actually doesn't matter the location bcos it may happen anywhere) and later found one of the $100 note to be a fake note. Disgust, anger follows but nothing can be helped. Once you leave the ATM, there's no proof of you obtaining the fake note from that bank's ATM and to ask for a "refund" back.
Heard recently that another japanese friend got two $100 fake notes from a ATM machine near Concordia, Tien He district! Sigh....cannot even trust ATM now.....
An uncle, a local cantonese, advised me to use the ATM, that also functions as a cash deposit machine to withdraw money in the future. According to his son, who works in bank, such ATMs double checks the authenticity of the money before issuing out the money, unlike other ATMs that are only for withdrawal. I'm not sure how true this is but I will seek his advice. Better be safe than sorry. Sigh......
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Your best bet of having a hassle free ride in Guangzhou is to choose a yellow cab. I had taken many rides on yellow cabs and did not encounter any unpleasant incidents such as dishonest acts or rude attitude. I believe the reason is that the yellow cab company operator do not take in out-of-state drivers. They must be Guangzhou natives before they can be selected to rent and operate the taxi from the company. Any complaints by customers would be channelled to the company for investigation. It could mean dismissal from driving.
The case of other taxis are quite different. These cabs are usually driven by non-Guangzhou natives who are direct owners of the cabs. Because they have paid a hefty sum for their cabs, they tend to be overly aggressive in fighting for business and sometimes resorting to underhanded tactics to gain more.
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I used the ATM's often because it was safer than carrying around a lot of cash on me but, one day while sitting in Starbucks, across the street was an ATM. I observed people making transactions on these machines and not taking their reciepts, then someone would come along, grab the reciept and put it in their pocket! Just be safe and cover up the keypad when typing in your PIN and always take your reciepts with you. Leave a Comment
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Visiting Guangzhou?
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The most precious commodity is to have a roll of toilet paper with you wherever you travel in China.
It is appalling that in the finer restaurants and yes, even the hospitals, toilet papers are not provided.
Don't get caught in an embarrassing situation inside a bathroom with nothing but stacks of $100 rmb bills to
address the situation, be forewarned!
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If you come to GZ from HK by the express train, which mean you arrive at the east railway station. Make sure you have prepared RMB(mainland local money) befor hand. There is NO foreign exchange counter at the station, NOT like that at the airport.
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Before starting, make sure that he uses the meter. Don't accept if they propose you a price before hand. A taxi trip to Ramada Hotel, for instance has a normal price of 40 RMB. I have been asked by such a driver 150 RMB. Therefore I got off, went 50 meters towards right, and took another cab from the domestic terminal, paying the correct price this time. Leave a Comment
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Make sure you stay with your group, if alone try to hook up with a buddy or make it look like your with another group of people. Thieves are everywhere and blend in with the local people, they know already you are tourist no matter how well you blend in, they can tell from your clothing, posture, speech, and the way you carry yourself, etc.
The pick pocket thieves work in pairs, groups, etc and will try to separate you from your group by cutting in and creating distance between you and your group. They will follow you for a long ways, another clue that they are a thief watching you. They will stop when you stop, but they will be a few stalls away pretending to browse. They will follow you into stores and come up very close pretending they are shopping for the same items as you. This is especially so on those busy market streets.
Others will come up to you and try to whisper in your ear whatever they are selling, maybe even touch you by the arm to pull you the direction they want you to go. I found this a problem in the City of Guangzhou, even though there is lots of public security officers around, but this was not the case local villages. Don't keep your cash all in one spot, carry your backpack in the front if you have to take one, don't bother to count your money from the atm, just stuff it in your pocket quickly and leave immediately.
Use ATM's that have security guards if possible and go when it is daylight. Be extra cautious on those packed buses. Read this website extensively before going over, you will learn lots. I was lucky that in 6 weeks I made it through without a problem, my brother had his backpack open on the crowded shuttlebus at the airport upon arrival. Recommend you put those small combo locks on your back packs and carry it in front. I found plenty of great advise here on this site for everything.
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There is dudes on the Metro and at the metro stations that try and sell you laptops. I have heard of people buying them and the laptop working good, but also i have bought one for fairly cheap and got raped as the laptop was a fake. Many of them are fake so be carefull, but still some are good. Leave a Comment
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