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My brother is going to China in some days, so it will be great to know about weather, prices there. We are interested especially in some cities Beljing, Hong Kong, Shanghai. Who can help us?
I live in Shanghai. Organic food is next to nothing, restaurants can be expensive, street vendors are very cheap. Shanghai metro is very convenient, it takes 3-7 yuan to go anywhere. Shanghai can be rainy in spring.
Prices for what? Hong Kong is obviously more expensive all around.
Is that really true any more? If so why do some many mainlanders go to Hong Kong for shopping trips?
I think for most consumer goods, especially electronics and high end fashion stuff, Hong Kong is cheaper than any place in China and has more variety and choices. This is mostly due to the lack of VAT (sales tax) or import duties in Hong Kong.
Public Transit is quite cheap in Hong Kong too. Restaurants and Hotels are probably on average a bit more expensive than Beijing, but I am not sure about Shanghai.
If you are living in those cities you might find Beijing or Shanghai to be cheaper than Hong Kong, but as a tourist I am not sure if you will notice a large difference (unless you are shopping a lot, in which case I think HK is the cheapest)
Is that really true any more? If so why do some many mainlanders go to Hong Kong for shopping trips?
Yes, it's true. That's why I said all around. The cheapest possible hotel (hostel) will probably run you around $15 a night in Hong Kong. And you'll be sleeping with others. In Beijing or Shanghai you could easily find a place for a third of that. Yes, consumer goods and high end fashion stuff are probably cheaper in HK, but who goes on vacation to places like this solely to buy electronics and clothes? The cost of attractions, food, and transportation, are all cheaper in BJ and SH.
Shanghai and Beijing can be more expensive than HK in some aspects, but they are definitely cheaper in most.
If you are going with the intent to spend a ton of money it probably won't matter too much. If you're going on a relatively small budget, you'll get more bang for your buck in places like Shanghai or Beijing for sure.
HK is cheaper for consumer electronics, (high-end/name-brand) jewelry, designer goods, etc.
It's as much as 2/3x higher that the mainland for stuff like sodas and bottled water, beer... restaurants and prepared food, as well, can be more in line with Western costs than Chinese costs ($60HKD for a falafel wrap in Kowloon = $7.75USD; a plate of rice and a couple curries to-go at an Indian restaurant runs about $75HKD = $9.60USD; a couple beers and a burger at a bar by the water along Salisbury Rd set me back about $175 or $22.50 USD at happy hour). You can find hotel rooms in or near Chungking Mansions for HKD$200/300/nt for a private room with bathroom but they are still small and spartan and the elevators in CKM are nightmares in peak times, it can take 10+ minutes just to get up to your floor.
Imported beers like Guinness, Corona, etc are about the same on the mainland as in HK; a Guinness Export Stout in GZ costs about 9 yuan a can and it's about 12 HKD across the border. A 500ml bottle of Coke is about 3 yuan here, and about 10 in HK.
Public transit isn't expensive; I was in HK a couple days ago, from Mong Kok in the middle of the city to Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon is $5HKD/trip; from Mong Kok to Central across the water is $12.50 HKD, this works out to about $0.65 and $1.60 USD respectively, and service is reliable and fast. The MK/Central trip takes 9 or 10 minutes.
Overall HK is one of my absolute favorite world cities, fascinating place for sure. Be sure to get out of the Kowloon/Mong Kok/Central loop and explore the Northern Territories, Lantau Island, Sai Kung East Park, etc
Oh and bring an umbrella. This time of year in South China, you can go from clear skies to a torrential downpour unlike anything you've ever seen in literally a matter of minutes.
Predicated on this, I would recommend wearing shoes that you aren't overwhelmingly proud of or attached to. You can pick up some pretty good "fell off the back of a truck" Nikes or New Balances in SH or BJ for less than 100 CNY ($16 USD) outside of the main shopping malls, where prices will be at or near the mainland, so that may be worth doing. The streets can turn into lakes in a flash rain.
The temperature varies hugely; a couple days ago when I went, in both GZ and HK, I was wearing shorts and a polo shirt. Today, I am wearing jeans and a hoodie. It shouldn't get to be too chilly down here, though.
Oh and bring an umbrella. This time of year in South China, you can go from clear skies to a torrential downpour unlike anything you've ever seen in literally a matter of minutes.
Predicated on this, I would recommend wearing shoes that you aren't overwhelmingly proud of or attached to. You can pick up some pretty good "fell off the back of a truck" Nikes or New Balances in SH or BJ for less than 100 CNY ($16 USD) outside of the main shopping malls, where prices will be at or near the mainland, so that may be worth doing. The streets can turn into lakes in a flash rain.
The temperature varies hugely; a couple days ago when I went, in both GZ and HK, I was wearing shorts and a polo shirt. Today, I am wearing jeans and a hoodie. It shouldn't get to be too chilly down here, though.
415_s2k
Thank you very very much. Your answer is really very helpful and informative.
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