Guangzhou Or Shenzhen For Shopping?

[Pianote]

Can anyone tell me about the shopping in Guangzhou or Shenzhen?  Are the clothes made for American body types? I ask because where I am now, i am unable to find clothes made for my body type. 

Also, how is the public transportation in these cities? 

[889]

If you're looking for American-styled clothes for American body-types, you'll be lucky finding anything anywhere in China, including Shenzhen or Guangzhou, even Hong Kong. Winter coats tend to fit OK, but shirts, pants and shoes don't.

 

If you really need stuff, look at Amazon instead. You can have packages trans-shipped to HK at reasonable cost using third-party trans-shippers and pick them up there. No need to worry about customs duty and such.

 

Yes, much of the clothing you find in the U.S. is actually made in China, but it's made under contract and shipped direct to the U.S., not made for sale in China.

 

(But there is good public transport in both Shenzhen and Guangzhou, Shenzhen in particular.)

 

 

[Pianote]

Do you think it would be wise to go to Guangzhou during the week of February 12-19th? It's the New year.

[889]

As mentioned in another post, right before CNY shopping districts in Chinese cities are lively -- in Guangzhou look around Beijing Road and Shangxiajiu in particular -- but as soon as CNY hits it's dead.

[Pianote]

How long is the city dead? Just for the day?

 

all the restaurants are closed?

[889]

The worst is day one; day two and three are still pretty quiet. After a week it'll be back to normal.

 

Note that Shenzhen and the other PRD towns are much much quieter, since so many workers there return to their home towns. Very difficult to find a place to eat in Shenzhen even a day or two before CNY. Guangzhou shouldn't be quite as bad.

[Pianote]

Day one meaning February 12th?  I keep asking because I am new to china and have never paid Chinese New Year any attention.

 

 When would be the best time for me to go to Guangzhou?

[889]

No, day one is February 16.  In Chinese, it's 初一, and the next two days are 初二  and 初三, respectively. New Year's Eve, February 15, is 除夕.

 

I think the 12th and 13th and 14th should be lively with shoppers out preparing for the holiday in Guangzhou, but as I said, dead or dying in Shenzhen and other places with lots of immigrants.

[Pianote]

Will the trains still run on February 16th?

[889]

Transport runs as usual over the holiday period. But train tickets should be bought in advance, at least for travel before 初一.

[somethingfunny]

Also, I believe those tickets will be on sale already, so if you are planning on travelling, you should book ASAP.

 

http://www.12306.cn

[Pianote]

That website is in Chinese.  Should i use this site?  :

 

https://www.chinahighlights.com/china-trains/app/#/search-result

[889]

You're in China, so you can buy tickets either at a train station ticket office or at one of the small stand-alone ticket offices dotted all over. If you can't handle the Chinese yourself, ask a friend to write out your request in Chinese. Be sure to take your passport!

 

Alternatively, a friend can buy for you on 12306.

 

(There are English alternatives, like China Highlights and ctrip, but they charge commissions.)

 

 

[imron]

On 2018年1月23日 at 1:37 AM, Pianote said:

Are the clothes made for American body types?

Your best bet in China is to find a tailor. They'll be cheap and can make clothes that fit perfectly - and are more than capable of copying any style of clothing that you like. 

 

I had a friend who had a similar problem finding clothes that fit and then she discovered the local tailor and ended up getting clothes tailor made for the rest of her time in China (several months).