I'm leaving for China on 11/1. I will be on a tour for a week (Beijing, Xian & Shanghai), then flying on our own from Shanghai to Hong Kong for 3 days, then home. Have a few questions:
1. Looks like the weather will be mild in Beijing, warmer in Xian & Shanghai & then quite warm in Hong Kong (86 degrees yesterday). I'm from Las Vegas and used to dry heat. Are these places humid? Are these typical temperatures for this time of year there? I don't want to drag a heavy coat/clothes if I don't need them.
2. I'm staying at the YMCA in Kowloon in Hong Kong. What's the best way to get there from the airport to the hotel? Would like to not spend alot on transportation.
3. Going to Shenzhen shopping. Where do I get the train from the hotel to there?
4. When I've gone to Europe, I've used ATM's for money. Is this a good idea in China/Hong Kong?
5. I've read where you can use Hong Kong $$$ in Shenzhen at the mall - is this true?
6. I want to get pearls and jade for souvenirs. Is it better to buy them at the Pearl Market in Beijing or wait till Shenzhen? Would like the name/location of good places in Shenzhen mall for jewelry.
Thanks for all your help.

1. This time of the year should be fairly dry. Not humid in any of the places you're going. But don't assume it'll still be 86 degrees in HK. It can be 65-75 instead.

2. Are you staying at the YMCA Salisbury or YMCA International House?

The following advice is for the Salisbury. If it's not then ignore and ask again.

HKG to hotel:

Fast way - Airport Express train to Kowloon (HK$90), then free shuttle bus to Peninsula which is next door to the YMCA Salisbury.

Cheap way - A21 bus (HK$33) to just before the Sheraton, which is across Nathan Road from the Peninsula.

3. You take the KCR-East Rail from the TST-East station, which has an entrance near the Sheraton. That station is also connected to the MTR Tsimshatsui station. Ride it all the way to "Lo Wul". Don't get on the one going to "Lok Ma Chau", a new crossing not close to shopping.

4. Yes, ATM.

5. In general, yes, but with HK$ now lower than RMB, they probably will charge you a small surcharge. But of course, you can always bargin.

6. I have no info.

Thanks! I am staying at the YMCA Salisbury.

I typed an extra letter in my original post. The train to take to Shenzhen will have "Lo Wu" as its destination.

Also, just to remind you that going back from Hong Kong to Shenzhen requires taking your passport with another valid Chinese visa. If you have a dual- or multiple-entry ones, then it's not a problem.

I got a double entry visa to China because I knew I wanted to go to Shenzhen. Do you need any special type of visa to go to Macau? I probably won't go because we don't have alot of time, and since I live in Vegas, going to casinos aren't a big deal.

No, you don't need a visa for Hong Kong or Macau.

I'm actually a big fan of Macau. You don't have to visit any of the casinos to enjoy the historic center of Macau, with heavy Portugese influence - forts, churches, peeble stone streets, etc. Plus some interesting temples and gardens.

Having said that, with just 3 days in Hong Kong, you won't have time especially if you're going to Shenzhen for shopping.

1. Temps -- and more importantly humidity -- are falling and will be falling further here in Hong Kong over the next few weeks. By Nov 1 the humidity will be less than 55-60% in most parts which will be a very nice change (in summer months its over 80%), it has already dropped by about 10% in the last month which is quite noticeable. Temps will be about 10-15 degrees F lower as well. An extremely good time of year to be hear, air pollution not withstanding. For Beijing, Xian and Shanghai, it will be cool to even cold depending on your luck; while you may prefer to have a coat, but if you have several layers that may work fine. I don't know what your tolerance is for cold. Take a look at weatherbase.com for historical temps to get an idea of what you can expect. I would bring gloves and a hat as they don't take up much room but can make a big difference in keeping warm. Socks as well.

2. I think you have been given directions above for the YMCAs.

3.. I assume you have a multiple-entry visa for the PRC which will allow you to go into Shenzhen on your on and then enter again when you go in with the tour later on to Beijing. You should check your visa; I believe most visas issued these days are multiple entry.

4. Agree on ATMs. Don't use traveler's checks. Many places will take credit cards, you should use these where possible as well, as exchange rates used by the credit card companies are generally good. Most shops prefer Visa or MasterCard over Amex as the fee they get charged is lower.

5. I cannot stress enough how careful you have to be when buying jewelry in the PRC. I would simply say that you can assume everything is a fake, so you should pay accordingly and not believe a word you are told. Virtually everything sold in the Beijing Pearl Market is fake; it is perfectly nice costume jewelry at good prices, but fake. I live in Hong Kong and would never in a million years buy pearls in Shenzhen if I wanted real pearls. I would buy them in Hong Kong. Cultured pearls are incredibly inexpensive these days, some shops to try are below. You can buy a REAL cultured pearl necklace for about US$90 (12" length), so there is no reason to pay anything close to half that for fakes, or for something a Shenzhen shopkeeper will swear is real but is actually fake. If you want to buy even cheaper costume jewelry, then by all means go to either Shenzhen or the Pearl Market in Beijing, but do not believe it when they tell you they are real, and do not pay a lot for the stuff.

Jade is even more problematic. It is even more valued in China than most other types of jewelry, so again assume what you are buying in most street stalls or in a place like Shenzhen is not real. I would never buy jade from any place other than a very reputable jewelry shop in Hong Kong or Singapore or possibly Bangkok. You can try the shops I have listed below, another good source are the jewelry shops in the Mandarin hotel in Hong Kong which have some really really lovely jade, some very expensive and some more reasonably priced. That being said, you can buy a lot of inexpensive jadeite, which is not real jade but is still pretty, and you can buy fake jade stuff which is still perfectly nice and quite pretty, all of which can be found at the Jade Market in Hong Kong on the Kowloon side. You can also find lots of "jade" stuff in various street markets in the PRC, including in Shenzhen, which make nice gifts and souvenirs. But unless you know real jade from fake, you will most likely be buying fake. Caveat emptor is the rule in the PRC.

Jewelery shops in Hong Kong:

The shops below are not fixed price (except perhaps Tayma) and will bargain to an extent, not huge discounts, but you may get 3-5% or maybe a bit more. (Gaily Jewellery has huge "disounts" off its marked price, but it's really more a case that their marked prices are to be ignored.) If you can pay cash, you may get a slightly better price (another 1-2%); so when bargaining, mention that as a tool for the price. If you are paying by credit card, don't mention it until the end, unless they do ("is that a cash price?" they may ask). Visa or MasterCard will get you a slightly better price than Amex as they have to pay more to Amex. There are ATMs all over town to get cash.

Golden Mile Jewelry
Shop114A 1st Floor
Hutchison House
10 Harcourt Road
Central
Tel: 852-2525-6760

This is a shop I have used for many years and have no trouble recommending them. The shop is not upscale in any way, but they have a nice selection and do good custom work. I think they are a good choice for pearls and for gifts. I have dealt for a long time with a woman named Candy, but her brother Anthony is also helpful as well. The shop is located on upstairs in a building not too far from the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Central. Closed on Sundays.

Lane Joaillier
106 Prince's Building
10 Charter Road, Central
Tel:.852 2869 8819

I have purchased a few things here over the years. This is a much more upscale shop in a quite expensive shopping centre in Central. They have a good selection as well. I believe they are open every day. This building is located across the street from the Mandarin hotel and not far from the Star Ferry pier.

Tayma Fine Jewellery
Shop 252
2nd Floor Prince's Building,
10 Chater Road, Central,
Hong Kong
Telephone: 2525 5280
http://www.taymajewellery.com/

This is a well-known expat jewelry designer who has a lot of very modern jewelry, I don't know what your taste is so I have included it in case you want something in a very modern setting. You can see some examples on her website. She is in the same building as Lane Joaillier so you could see both easily.

Gaily Jewellery co Ltd
54 A Queen's Road
Central
tel: 2526-0202

One of the Chinese lawyers in my office uses this jeweler and has brought visitors to the office there, I have gone with but have never bought anything. They have some very pretty designs and good prices. This would be a good place to look for pearls for yourself and for gifts as well. This is quite near to the start of the pedestrian escalator in Central. Open every day. Ignore the marked prices, you should get things for about 40-50% below the marked price.

I would avoid jewelry shops in the Nathan Road area on the Kowloon side as they are aimed at tourists. There are many jewelry shops along Hennessy Road in Causeway Bay on Hong Kong Island, these cater primarily to locals, and you may find a lot of 18 and 24 carat gold jewelry which many Caucasians find too yellow for their skin tone.

Hi,

Where did you stay in Xian? Did you use a guide? Any special to recommend?

I will add one more thing: I was in NYC last weekend and was shopping on Canal Street, and the overwhelming number of fake handbags on sale was the same -- and really IMO more -- than you will see in Shenzhen; so if you are going to Shenzhen for fake bags, save yourself the time, money, effort and US customs hassles and just wait until your next trip to NYC. It was truly mind-boggling, and went from W Broadway all along Canal and up through Soho. I don't buy them, and don't encourage the practice (I told my nieces I would buy them the real version of any bag they wanted...) but you really could not avoid them and the touts pushing them. I am sure other cities closer to you have their own (albeit smaller) versions of Canal Street.

I also went to Pearl River, which had a tremendous selection of Chinese stuff at rock bottom prices. It was like being back in Hong Kong. Take a look at http://www.pearlriver.com/v2/index.html. You really could not do any better buying most of this stuff on your own in the PRC. Again, easier to bring back home within the US than lugging it from Shenzhen or anywhere else in Asia. They even ship.

I am not a big fan of Shenzhen in any event, and there is so much to do and see in Hong Kong, especially in the glorious November weather. I would not waste a day there. Get out onto some of the great walking trails, take a ferry trip, have a meal at one of the hundreds of great restaurants, including an outdoor meal at one of the dozens of outdoor restaurants here, or even just shop here if you really must shop. I have posted shopping guides before, you can search or I can re-post, let me know what you are looking for other than pearls. I have also posted on fun stuff to do in Hong Kong, you might search for that post.

Your advice is great! I don't want the fake pearls - I'd rather get costume jewlery in the US. I personally don't want anything with a fake logo on it - I'd rather buy a quality less known brand but that's just personal preference. My hairdresser is dying for me to bring her back a fake Rolex. I don't know anything about jade so I wouldn't know the real thing from a fake but I think jade is expensive, right? Can I trust the jewelry stores that you gave me names of to sell me the real think if that's what I ask for?

Yes, I believe all the jewelers I have listed above are reputable.