6.1.16

Strolling around Yiwu and Haining ...

Besides following the tour, we do have our freedom to roam around especially for a few on your own evenings. This is especially so when our hotels are located near or at the shopping areas. I find it this was one of the pleasant moments of the trip as we can go around on our own without the restriction of time and enjoyed seeing new things around. Of course, we gotta be careful with our wallets, our bags and walk in groups, as advised by the tour guide. Anyway, I felt very safe there as the folks were a friendly lot where most of them seems to be working professionals judging from the way they dressed and I am surprise there are police everywhere. 

I also tried to take pictures around during the day in the coach but the moving vehicle add more to my frustrations of taking good pics and I ended up sight-seeing instead.


Here's one of the pic I took of Hangzhou, if I didn't remember the place wrongly.

A night market at Yiwu. It was long and crowded and mostly sold winter wear, veggies, mobile phones and lots of street food.

Another glance at the 'pasar malam'... there's a lot of bargaining going on as we bought our winter clothes

It was also located to rows of shops nearby where we can go in to the shops for more shopping. 

Below and above, the hotels we stayed in Yiwu.

My kid busy checking out the wifi connection ... 

This is Yiwu's International Trade City, mostly selling stuffs in bulks like bags, socks, shoes, clothes and etc.

Another view of Yiwu , capture near the International Trade City. It was cold outside!! Brrr... can't even see the sun!

Then, when we were at Haining, we were  lucky to stay at Haining International Holiday Hotel, which is at Gongren Road, and there lies a shopping belt. Thus, after leaving our stuffs at the hotel, we went out to walk around. It's a street filled with departmental stores and lots of shops, mostly selling winter clothes, shoes, mobile phones and street food, but what surprises me was I can't find any restaurants or cafe for a snack. :( However, we spent a lot of time over here for shopping.

Stepping out from the hotel and checking out the gorgeous ladies ... :P

The place turning vibrant as dark falls , at 6pm.

Another view of the street, it was around 5pm+ then.

My kid checking out the shops

More shops opposite as it became night at 6pm...
We got ourselves mainly winter wear like sweater, cap, ear warmers and winter shoes for the remaining of the trip since it's cheaper there. We also got some local cookies and tidbits, as well as trying some street food like sausages and 'kebab'. Too bad, I didn't capture the food pixs on these two nights but more to come. :)

25 comments:

  1. The shops look interesting, sure can get something nice

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    1. Mostly clothes , shoes and mobile phone accessories. There are some department stores too which we enjoyed a lot !

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  2. Winter, pictures look gloomy. No shots of food?

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  3. yes the best time given by your tour guide would be "free and easy on your own" time when you join a packaged tour.. the worse abs most frustrating ones would be the forever sit-in-the-coach city sightseeing tour, haha!!!

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    1. Yes, those were one of the best times. At least we can have some breather and can stroll around in a relaxing manner. Hahah.. Yes, there were few cases where some local tour guides got pissed off.

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  4. good that you were given free time to go shopping at your own leisure.. I've heard of many guided trips to China where the tourists are brought to outlets in remote areas to shop as part of the itineraries.. worse still, some tour guides got angry if his or her group did not purchase up to a certain amount, hahaha!!!

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    1. Yes , some local tour guides of that city who came in for a day, got pissed off. Most of us didn't buy much in those shopping areas.

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    2. Oh well, we have to respect the tour guides as it is the government's policy to insist that tourists must support and learn about their native products blah blah blah. Otherwise their tour guide license would be revoked as they have to show proof of chops at the outlets that they have brought tourists to the minimum number of places set by each government. This is applicable to China, Korea, Thailand, Bali, Siem Reap and where else I am not sure. Even when I hired private and individual tour guides who only drive me & wife are subject to the rules. They would apologise to me and beg me to just go down to walk 5 minutes so that they can obtain the 'chop' acknowledgement from the touristy places for submission to their tourism government who controls them all. Those private tour guides have earned plenty happily by just being our daily guides but rules are rules. Just my 2 cents

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    3. So it's true that the tour guides have an obligation to bring us to these places . Some folks thought they are bluffing us. Anyway, we can always chose not to buy.

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  5. so you have been checkin out at "gorgeous ladies" all the time while walking side by side with your wife?? hehehe.. share photos of gorgeous ladies with us lah wooi~~ xD

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    1. Hahhaha... Cannot too obvious taking their pics!

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    2. Keep your eyes at your kids. Better be good boy as you will loose all your hair soon! My friends' wives yanked all their hairs off. Muahahahaha

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    3. Hahaha... I got my two sister in laws with me to babysit them ... Me clever hor ?

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  6. What i dislike most during guided tour is like what SK mention, they bring you to those shops, and pressed you to buy this, this, this...

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    1. Ya lor but then the tour guide said most of the China tours are partially subsidize by the govt. Thus, it's a must to go to these places to 'understand' their local produces like pearls , jades , silks and etc.

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  7. Replies
    1. Will post more and hope you guys won't be bored of it ! Lol

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    2. If you post more kawai gals and not aunties, we will not be bored. Wakakaka

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    3. They are kawaii gala but cannot take front shot la .. Hahahah

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  8. I enjoy reading your China posts as you know I often visit China since 2002 till recently. It is too huge to cover all places, so this Yiwu and Hanning are new to me. Many places in China have similar hotel decors, buildings and night markets. The difference would only be found in the historical places, ancient tombs, mountains and food category besides their local dialects. I may be a banana with strong Thai blood but I feel more like a Chinese man and I always feel proud to see the modern progress of China today. My siblings have more Thai and Western ideas and lifestyle.

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  9. You guys were so clever to buy the winter wears from China as they the best export qualities in the world at the lowest prices. Many brands like UniQlo and top American, European, Taiwan & HKG brands get their supplies from the reputable wholesalers in Guangzhou and just stitch their labels on them. Once you are familiar, you will know where to sought for the cheap winter wears in most cities. I got mostly from Shanghai itself for less than RM50 for a trendy winter jacket. I have so many now and gave away to the Syrian refugees recently so that I could buy new ones.

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  10. Got a bit like HK, whole street selling almost same thing, even not the same thing, it sells everything but not restaurant >.<

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  11. Must be syiok shopping ya? :)

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  12. This part must be very syiok for those who love shopping :D

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