therock Supersonic August 5 Share August 5 (edited) So I'm a big movie buff, and visiting places where movies I watched were filmed is a big deal.. So when a work opportunity came to visit Lanzou in Gansu Province came, a little light bulb lit up and I thought, New Dragon Gate Inn! One of my favorite shows from the 90s was filmed in Dun Huang and I can work something in to visit it! This was one of the first HK movies to be filmed in China and what a location! Plus, I get to overload on Lanzhou La Mian (兰州拉面), another one of my favorite stuff. And the further I research, the more interesting the sites over there. Now getting over to Lanzhou is no mean feat, requiring two flights last over 10 hours with stops in between and more driving and flying to reach the remote sites. There will also be extreme heat, dry searing conditions especially I have to go during the height of summer for the work part. If you think the two week spell of rainless conditions is hot, try 40c heat standing in the desert barefoot.... So begins my journey.. Edited August 5 by therock ↡ Advertisement 20 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
therock Supersonic August 5 Author Share August 5 Our first stop after the long two legged flight was Lanzhou, for my research, teaching and practical sessions, so we had time to explore the city and take in the sights .What was most interesting was the proliferation of Electric Vehicles (EVs) with many models and brands that we will never see locally. People were friendly but traffic was chaotic and these EVs could accelerate at breakneck speeds. We took China Eastern on the outgoing flight, and some stewardess was fixing a leak in the ceiling, which was not very inspiring.. but at least the meal on board was not bad. There was no check in booths yet, so it had to be manual, resulting in long queues. 8 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
therock Supersonic August 5 Author Share August 5 (edited) By the way, if you intend to use local wifi, there are a lot of restrictions, so be prepared to use data or a VPN to 翻墙。。 We got a good rate for the Crown Plaza, which is a very very nice hotel indeed.. the breakfast spread is really nice Edited August 5 by therock 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lala81 Hypersonic August 5 Share August 5 Don't like the movie. But the place looks cool. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
therock Supersonic August 5 Author Share August 5 Moving around was easy with their version of Grab... luckily I had an assistant who was from China, so she had wechat, wepay and all the needed apps. I prefer to avoid downloading these, call me paranoid, but ... Cash can still be used in the bigger stores, hotels and malls, but not in taxis or street stalls. It's about 5.5 RMB to the S$ now... 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
therock Supersonic August 5 Author Share August 5 (edited) BTW, if you get a good pHD student, who shows initiative, please help her with a good write up.. (help her get a good job) Hotel bookings, meeting timings, even searching for local food and also because I suck at hot food, making sure there's something for me to eat is so important... and she makes a good 挡箭牌 or shield from all the drinks.. At 63%, the Mao Tai here can be used to clean wounds, haha Edited August 5 by therock 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
inlinesix Hypersonic August 5 Share August 5 "BTW, if you get a good pHD student, who shows initiative, please help her with a new write up.." This reminds me of 白晓荷 in 玫瑰的故事 🤭 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Volvobrick Supersonic August 5 Share August 5 (edited) Haven't been there several years. There is a very interesting (new built) buddish temple that is shaped like a Roman palace. I think it is called 金山寺. Plus the stretch of mud wall which is the eastern end of the Great Wall. You going to be north to jiayuguan? Edited August 5 by Volvobrick 4 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
therock Supersonic August 5 Author Share August 5 The dinner to welcome us is very sumptous.... 8 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
therock Supersonic August 5 Author Share August 5 @Volvobrick Oh yes... I have to go around Gansu a bit, and will definitely visit that place.. One of the highlights for me... Days here are long... it gets dark at 9pm or so the further north you go... 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
therock Supersonic August 5 Author Share August 5 Headed there soon... it's a 1 hour flight from LZ, then a 4 hour drive from Dun Huang 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ct3833 Supersonic August 6 Share August 6 Bro, the makan alone is worth the trip, do share your itinerary when you are back. It has been a while after our last MU.😅 Meantime, enjoy and stay safe. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tohto Hypersonic August 6 Share August 6 (edited) On 8/5/2024 at 8:08 PM, therock said: The dinner to welcome us is very sumptous.... Typical China type of dinner served for guests.. Look delicious and yummy. I love traveling to China for the makan 😁 Edited August 6 by Tohto 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tohto Hypersonic August 6 Share August 6 (edited) On 8/6/2024 at 9:17 AM, Ct3833 said: Bro, the makan alone is worth the trip, do share your itinerary when you are back. It has been a while after our last MU.😅 Meantime, enjoy and stay safe. Agreed 😁😂 Post more food photo and scenery photo. Edited August 6 by Tohto 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spidey10 Supercharged August 6 Share August 6 (edited) I dunno about the food now but the last time i was in Beijing (2008) for a Company trip....totally didn't like it, looks good in presentation but when i put in the mouth, somehow the taste is not to my liking....same with wifey as well.. The only highlight of the trip was we were able to climb the Great wall...very cold and windy... Since then, my wife and I shun China....didn't had a good impression of the food and the pple and surrounding (especially the toilet..u know the usual in 2008) My 2nd trip was to Shanghai in 2016, again Business trip....but wifey didn't tag along, gave up.....and my my, surprised they have changed so much...Shanghai, the Bund... was mobbed...literally mobbed on the streets...evening walking back to the hotel...the girls are so outspoken...and if i was 30 yrs younger and single, sure die standing!! So didn't spend a lot of travel in China.....maybe i should change my prespective soon and pay them a visit....but my mandarin is for market mandarin, sure laugh die them... Edited August 6 by Spidey10 1 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
inlinesix Hypersonic August 6 Share August 6 On 8/6/2024 at 5:47 PM, Spidey10 said: I dunno about the food now but the last time i was in Beijing (2008) for a Company trip....totally didn't like it, looks good in presentation but when i put in the mouth, somehow the taste is not to my liking....same with wifey as well.. The only highlight of the trip was we were able to climb the Great wall...very cold and windy... Since then, my wife and I shun China....didn't had a good impression of the food and the pple and surrounding (especially the toilet..u know the usual in 2008) My 2nd trip was to Shanghai in 2016, again Business trip....but wifey didn't tag along, gave up.....and my my, surprised they have changed so much...Shanghai, the Bund... was mobbed...literally mobbed on the streets...evening walking back to the hotel...the girls are so outspoken...and if i was 30 yrs younger and single, sure die standing!! So didn't spend a lot of travel in China.....maybe i should change my prespective soon and pay them a visit....but my mandarin is for market mandarin, sure laugh die them... Food in northern China is different from the south. It is more oily and salty. It is hard to get used to it. When my wife visited me in 2017, she can't stand it. Toilet in the city should be much better than 2008. Outside the city, should be same old same old. SH is an international cosmopolitan. Girl definitely more outspoken. If you go Xintiandi, you might bump into mamasan especially when you go alone. 1 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spidey10 Supercharged August 6 Share August 6 On 8/6/2024 at 5:56 PM, inlinesix said: Food in northern China is different from the south. It is more oily and salty. It is hard to get used to it. When my wife visited me in 2017, she can't stand it. Toilet in the city should be much better than 2008. Outside the city, should be same old same old. SH is an international cosmopolitan. Girl definitely more outspoken. If you go Xintiandi, you might bump into mamasan especially when you go alone. so not only me ahh which can take thier food.... i always thot i was the odd one out...they rest seems to like the food there... 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
inlinesix Hypersonic August 6 Share August 6 On 8/6/2024 at 6:05 PM, Spidey10 said: so not only me ahh which can take thier food.... i always thot i was the odd one out...they rest seems to like the food there... In PEK, I usually eat Canto cuisine. Less fresh ingredients cannot be masked ↡ Advertisement 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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