Latest Comments

• • March 6, 2012
  • Chengdu double decker: Second layer, BRT to be added to Second Ring Road
    

    Play nice, folks.

• • April 12, 2011
  • "I Stopped Buying Clothes!": If the shoe fits, wear it. But it probably won't.
    

    @noondog (comment moderated): Please refrain from making unnecessarily inflammatory comments, thank you.

• • April 6, 2011
  • "I Stopped Buying Clothes!": If the shoe fits, wear it. But it probably won't.
    

    Well, let's not forget that the article was written in the pre-H&M, C&A, zara, mango, etc. days. Possibly uniqlo as well. I can't remember exactly. Anyway, it's definitely getting easier to get larger sizes than it was before. But are they what you want, the quality you want, and the price you want? Jury's still out on that one. Better to make my own and stock up when I go abroad.

• • December 22, 2010
  • 2010 Readers' Poll: It's Here! Vote and Win!
    

    *snort* haha, amen to that.

• • December 22, 2010
  • Oh My Gaudy: the fashion pope's 10½ sins
    

    @spandolf: daaaamn, you've been taking notes! *respect* to that level of detail.

Latest Forum Posts

• • May 23, 2012
    
  • Forums > Living in Chengdu > China Post
    

    Oh, also, re: the repackaging: Yeah, that also seems standard — however, I always make sure to have lots of padding if it's something fragile-ish, and I make a fuss if the employee repacks it haphazardly. (I've also been warned a few times that the stuff I'm sending "might be rejected by the 'other side'" — the stuff in question being dry snacks, once, and dry cosmetics, once, but they both arrived without a problem.)

• • May 23, 2012
    
  • Forums > Living in Chengdu > China Post
    

    Interestingly, my experiences at China Post haven't been too bad, apart from the first few when I couldn't speak Chinese and went to locations in the boonies to try to mail postcards abroad.

    For shipping packages, I've had only one (out of, I don't know, a dozen or more?) not turn up (and I suspect the receiver might have given me the wrong address on that one).

    So an attempt to answer your questions:

    1) Can you not insure your packages? Pretty sure you can. Or at least put a tracking number on it. Not sure what the fee is as I never do it!
    2) Really? Only airmail? Not true at all — there is surface 水陆路, air 航空, and the in-between, SAL 空运水陆路 (which means it is treated as surface within the countries but air between the countries). I like option 3 for the best price-efficiency ratio.
    3) Can you not use your own box? Is there a fee for using their box? I've never been able to send internationally with my own box — always have to use an official China Post box, and yes, they're expensive. The smallest is 5 yuan, I think. The biggest are probably like 20 or something.

    4) Should I try another China Post next time, or is this customary service? Yeah, try another. I usually go to the one in Yulin and they haven't done me wrong so far. I've also heard the one in Jinjiang Hotel is good as they speak English. I don't recommend the grouchy woman in Zongbei or the big one on Yongfeng (package took ages to arrive).
    5) Can anyone recommend other mailing services that are in the same price range? I don't think you'll find any in the same price range, I'm afraid. Here's a rates finder shipping packages internationally for China Post:
    http://zf.chinapost.com.cn/[...]

    FedEx, DHL, UPS, etc. will all be in the 400 range for 1kg, I think, to give you an idea.

• • April 20, 2012
    
  • Forums > Living in Chengdu > How cold is it in winter?
    

    not cold enough to have real snow, but cold enough that you wish you were elsewhere at least three months every year.

• • April 5, 2012
    
  • Forums > Living in Chengdu > Do you also willfully ignore expats you cross in the street?
    

    MOD ANNOUNCEMENT: Enough insult-slinging. I've deleted the posts from this thread that contained personal attacks, and if the bickering continues I will lock the thread.

• • January 29, 2012
    
  • Forums > Living in Chengdu > Teaching hourly rates.
    

    People, let's play nicely here and stick to the topic at hand. I've deleted every post in this thread that contained personal attacks (which was every post except these two. Also, for your reference, every single one contained errors. Yes, that's plural.)

Latest Reviews

• • jane_v
    March 20, 2010
    
  • Chengdu > Le Sud
    南方法国餐厅

    Nice food, extremely reasonably priced, intimate atmosphere. The only drawback is that the menu is rather limited in its selection; but as it rotates every month or so, it's not too bad. Definitely a go-to place if you're looking for something other than Chinese food.

• • jane_v
    October 8, 2009
    
  • Chengdu > Sichuan Museum
    四川博物院

    This museum is one of the best in Chengdu. Reminiscent of the Shanghai Museum in content and layout, it gives a good overview of the region's history and traditional culture by way of thousands upon thousands of amazingly intact artifacts, some of which are thousands of years old. Upper floors feature artifacts used by some of the province's minority ethnic groups, including Tibetans, Yi, Qiang, and Hui. Well worth a visit whether you live here or are traveling through.

• • jane_v
    October 8, 2009
    
  • Chengdu > Gallery 82
    捌贰艺术空间

    A pretty cool little space, as far as Chengdu's galleries go. The exhibits always feature work I've not seen elsewhere, unlike many of Chengdu's incestuous exhibitions, and usually, the photography on display are solid and revolve around a concrete theme. And it's very cool when they have outdoor exhibits. But it's pretty far out of the way, and viewing will only take a few minutes for most people.

• • jane_v
    October 8, 2009
    
  • Chengdu > Du Fu's Cottage
    杜甫草堂博物馆

    I went to Dufu's when I had first moved to Chengdu. All I have to say is, I'm glad I didn't pay the 60RMB entrance fee! Especially if you have no knowledge of Dufu, classical Chinese literature, etc., you probably won't find much of particular interest here. The grounds are fairly nice but all the structures are obviously new reconstructions, with a handful of manuscripts and other artifacts on display. Finally, Dufu spent only several years of his life in Chengdu so I'm not even sure what the big fuss is about.

• • jane_v
    July 15, 2009
    
  • Chengdu > Lan Town
    蓝堂

    A cozy corner near Sichuan University's east gate serving all sorts of teas as well as a more limited selection of coffee and sweet summertime drinks and snacks. Energetic, friendly owner will make you feel at home and talk to you no matter what language/s you do or don't speak. Clean, bright, and quiet during the daytime makes it an ideal place for 'net surfing or studying. Recently started bar service means it's a calmer nighttime respite from the thumping BABI II complex.

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