Official China Thread (Macau, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, etc) - Page 7

shinigami · 03-30-2008, 03:52 PM

Holdem China video:
http://www.vimeo.com/828785/

thehabit 420 · 03-30-2008, 10:58 PM

Awesome that were gettin some reports about poker in Macau. Mixed messages here though, so it seems even at the Lisboa, the games aren't running frequently with a somewhat wide variety of blinds? correct?

Ive been wanting to make a trip these past few weeks, but havent been able too. I prob will within the next two weeks.

For anyone there now, you should see if you can get a fixed rate for this coming weekend since you most likely have your hotel rates increased this coming weekend, since it is a Chinese holiday...Tomb Sweeping Day.

Hiphopopotamus · 03-31-2008, 01:01 PM

I'm headed to Hong Kong and Macao as the first leg of my 3.5 month SE Asia trip.

1) I know nothing about Hong Kong. Any places I should check out/shopping I should do?
2) In Macao, are there any poker room hotel rates? I emailed a few casinos and I had difficulty getting past the language barrier.

Iwind · 04-01-2008, 06:04 AM

I just arrived in Macau now, didn't book an hotel ahead so I just took one from one of those travel agencies at the airport, I'm paying like $650 HKD for it, which is like $85 according to google. It's pretty decent and in the middle of the city just beside Sands and MGM. I'm gonna look around tomorrow though, and check out the area mentioned. One thing that's important for me is good internet connection though, which this hotel seems to have, so I can probably not go for the cheapest hotels here and also get that.

I'll ask when I go to Lisbo tonight or tomorrow night about the poker players rate, if there is one, kinda doubt it as poker is so new here.

Iwind · 04-05-2008, 03:50 PM

I'm honestly a little disappointed by Macau, well the games at Lisboa are supersoft for sure, but they are very slow as most of the dealers seem fairly new to poker and deal slow. Also the nightlife scene here doesn't seem very good at all, the few bars and clubs I've been to are just full of working girls, no clubs where like the tourists hang out at and like a real nightlife scene as in Vegas. I've been told that when the Chinese gamblers come here, they only want to gamble all the time and never set their foot outside the casino, so I guess that's why.

Sounded Simple · 04-07-2008, 11:51 AM

Hi All,

Just found some unexpected free time this weekend so I'm making a last minute arrangement to go to an Electronics Trade Fair in Hong Kong (for business).
Flights are being arranged at the minute and it looks like I will be there from 12th - 15th.

I know nothing about Hong Kong and although the bulk of the trip will be spent telling lies to potential suppliers about my import turnover Id like any info or tips anyone has.

- What sort of city is it? Would I be safe enough taking a tour myself?
- Any casinos with poker action? Is it worthwhile?
- Hotels/places/restaraunts to try/avoid
- Customs to be aware of?
- Cost of living? Should I be planning on doing a little shopping or is it expensive?
- Hows the food?
- Is there anything I else I should know?

Thanks in advance.

Hiphopopotamus · 04-07-2008, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iwind

I just arrived in Macau now, didn't book an hotel ahead so I just took one from one of those travel agencies at the airport, I'm paying like $650 HKD for it, which is like $85 according to google. It's pretty decent and in the middle of the city just beside Sands and MGM. I'm gonna look around tomorrow though, and check out the area mentioned. One thing that's important for me is good internet connection though, which this hotel seems to have, so I can probably not go for the cheapest hotels here and also get that.

I'll ask when I go to Lisbo tonight or tomorrow night about the poker players rate, if there is one, kinda doubt it as poker is so new here.

Did you get to ask about the poker rates? Also what's the name of the place you stayed at and would you recommend it?

I'm just reading about Macau right now and seems like there's a lot more to do than just gamble. I'm going with a few people that aren't gamblers/poker players at all so would it be smarter to get a place away from the casino strip and just cab it down one night? If so, what would be a good area to use as a central hub?

garcia1000 · 04-07-2008, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sounded Simple

Hi All,

Just found some unexpected free time this weekend so I'm making a last minute arrangement to go to an Electronics Trade Fair in Hong Kong (for business).
Flights are being arranged at the minute and it looks like I will be there from 12th - 15th.

I know nothing about Hong Kong and although the bulk of the trip will be spent telling lies to potential suppliers about my import turnover Id like any info or tips anyone has.

- What sort of city is it? Would I be safe enough taking a tour myself?
- Any casinos with poker action? Is it worthwhile?
- Hotels/places/restaraunts to try/avoid
- Customs to be aware of?
- Cost of living? Should I be planning on doing a little shopping or is it expensive?
- Hows the food?
- Is there anything I else I should know?

Thanks in advance.

Hey guys,

Hong Kong is very safe. It's okay for an unaccompanied female to be out alone at night

No casinos in Hong Kong. You can take a ferry to Macau for poker action, or you could play in the local club-style poker games

Cost of living is very cheap if you are going from the Euro zone. It is okay if you are coming from the US. You can buy some bespoke suits I guess

Food is great, best thing about Hong Kong

jackdaniels · 04-09-2008, 12:47 PM

My wife and I are planning a China trip around May 20th for a couple of weeks. Our primary interests include seeing some of the sites (Great Wall etc..), eating the awesome food and lots of shopping (clothing and such primarily). We were thinking of flying in to Beijing, spending a few days there and then taking the Z train to Shanghai (see this for an excellent review: http://home.wangjianshuo.com/archive...o_shanghai.htm) and spending the rest of our time there.

Since neither of us speaks any Mandarin (aside from like 3-4 basic sentences max), we were considering going on a tour (though we NEVER do that anywhere, we're worried the language barrier may be too great). Any suggestions on good tour companies? Alternatively, can we simply hire a local to take us around for a couple of days? Maybe a University student who wants to earn a few extra bucks? What do you guys think?

Also - considering our interests, do you think Beijing and Shanghai are the right places to go? Any suggestions on better places to spend our time?

Any other piece of advice would be greatly appreciated (like best restaurants, good outdoor shopping markets if available, best areas of town/hotels to stay at etc...)

We aren't on a student budget, but we aren't looking to leave our savings behind either. Think dinners at max $50 USD/person, hotels around $100 USD/night etc..

Thanks in advance for any tips!

thehabit 420 · 04-12-2008, 02:33 PM

$50 a person per meal! imo, the local, small, cheap, type joints have the best food through China.

Curious to see how Beijing is before the Olympics. They put in over 40 billion in the city in preparation for it.

thehabit 420 · 04-12-2008, 02:36 PM

Also, Ive never been on a tour type thing, since Id usually be with people I know from the areas Ive been.

There is some site called couchsurfer.com, Id suggest checking it out. People who seem down to earth and **** and would enjoy showing you around.

Ive lived over in China for about a year now, and have been to many places but still not Beijing, so I dont really have any other info about it.

xxThe_Lebowskixx · 04-13-2008, 03:32 PM

is it crazy i am pretty sure i will buy a condo in macau sometime this year after only a 4 day trip? jsut scheduled a trip for next month to look around more. the best thing about hk and macau is the are tied to the usd! no 35% loss yet!

thehabit 420 · 04-14-2008, 12:37 AM

Hey man,

As far as buyin a condo there, I'd recommend it. Granted, the nightlife is NOTHING like Vegas, but you can still have a blast in those shady, half inside, half outside type bars outside the casino area.

I recommend it because I think you should look at it as an investment. My Dad bought his home outside Guangzhou, about 5 years ago, and if he sold it today, he'd get back much more then double of what he paid for it.

Yes, China will prob have some type of housing down crash like the US did, but I dont think it will be nearly as bad. Also Macau, even though it is part of China, it isn't, if you know what I mean. I feel Macau's real estate will continue to go up like Vegas did be4 the crash.

You prob already know, but Macau makes more $ then Vegas now.

If your income is poker, it would also be a great place since most of the people think they know hold em, but they really dont, so I think there is alot of money to be made, once things get rollin better with the dealers and such.

*Also on the mainland if you sell your home before you have lived there for 5 years, you will be taxed pretty heavily. Prob not the same in Macau, but you should look into that.

And yes, I agree, Chinese girls are great

garcia1000 · 04-14-2008, 01:42 AM

btw
You might want to compare Macau with Atlantic City. I think that is more comparable.

shinigami · 04-17-2008, 09:36 AM

http://shanghaiist.com/2008/04/17/no...-visa-runs.php
that's a pretty F*ing big issue...
I guess I won't go back to China before at least october....

Basically you can only get 1 month tourist visa right now?!? That *may* (at the discretion of the PSB) be extended twice 1 month.....Oh, and you might have to go back to your home coutry to apply for it?!?

Aren't there, like, A LOT of ppl who are on F Visa in China who are going to be really really screwed?

also, is it true that you can't access Pokerstars in China anymore? (blocked China-side, not PS fault)