Going to Japan and China, what to see?

[theeedude]

Originally posted by: LongCoolMother

Originally posted by: senseamp
PSA: Peking duck is the most overrated thing ever.
I don't see what the big deal with this so called delicacy is, only got it because people were asking me if I had Peking duck.
I recommend skipping it when in Beijing.

:Q I love Peking duck and most of my friends who have tried it do as well. Maybe the one you had wasn't prepared that well? There is an immensely popular place in Berkeley called "Great China" that is famous for its Peking duck. Something like $35 but its an awesome treat

I went to the place across the street from TianAnMen square that lonely traveler book recommended and which is supposed to be the best one. Quanijude or something. It was really fancy. They even covered my jacket, because it wasn't fancy enough for the restaurant
Anyways, I guess maybe it's just not my type of thing. It was around $20, so no biggie. I had to get it out of the way since that's what everyone says, when in Peking try the roast duck.
I did get some cheap food at a hutong this morning that was pretty good and well under a buck. I recommend people stick to the cheaper cuisine here. So far Lonely planet book for Beijing has been hit and miss. It was great for Tokyo.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: LongCoolMother

Originally posted by: senseamp
PSA: Peking duck is the most overrated thing ever.
I don't see what the big deal with this so called delicacy is, only got it because people were asking me if I had Peking duck.
I recommend skipping it when in Beijing.

:Q I love Peking duck and most of my friends who have tried it do as well. Maybe the one you had wasn't prepared that well? There is an immensely popular place in Berkeley called "Great China" that is famous for its Peking duck. Something like $35 but its an awesome treat

OMG. Great China. My favorite restaurant. You don't know how many times I've visited for takeout. I pop rice into my rice cooker and it's the best meal ever with Great China dishes. Now I know it has awesome Peiking Duck but my friends and I have yet to try it. Trust me we will do it before we graduate though.

With that said...

OP: Peking duck is DISGUSTING in China. I've been and they showed it to us and it's nowhere as good as they make it in the US. Even the Peking Duck they make in Hong Kong and Taiwan is a lot different than the ones you get in Beijing. Why? It's just the way Northern cooking sucks. I noticed it when I went through China. As you go south towards Shanghai and HK the food gets better and better. Once you hit HK it's like heaven. EAT EAT EAT. Northern cooking is more rough and it's generally not that good. It's more about floured goods like noodles and such. As you go south you get more rice based products. You know the steamed dumplings (xiao long bao) that people talk about? Sometimes you find the thick skinned ones, and those are more northern, whereas you find more of the thin skinned ones if you go to Taiwan and eat @ Ding Tai Fung or even at any dim sum place in HK. Southern cooking in general is more about delicacies, so expect better food.

 

[theeedude]

Yeah, Chinese food up here hasn't been very impressive. I've been eating more McD and KFC than Chinese food because it's not very appealing. I did go to a Russian restaurant that was pretty good. I am going to Shanghai tomorrow. I hope that is better. I honestly like Americanized Chinese food a lot more than what I had here.

 

[z0mb13]

Originally posted by: LongCoolMother

Originally posted by: senseamp
Does anyone know if there is any risk bringing fake watches into the US aside from forfeiting them. I bought a couple for friends as novelty items. They are like $10 here for nice automatic mechanical watch.

I'm not too sure about watches, but bootleg DVDs and software is a definite no-no. Customs in the US picks out people randomly and searches their bags. If you have some bootlegs on you, you're in for a nasty fine.

Not sure about watches, though. I don't imagine it to be a problem since there is no way they can tell whether the watches are fake or not.

You are way over exaggerating.. He will be fine.

If he does bring over some bootleg DVDs and got caught, he can always say oops I didnt know that its fake..

 

[z0mb13]

Originally posted by: DLeRium

Originally posted by: LongCoolMother

Originally posted by: senseamp
PSA: Peking duck is the most overrated thing ever.
I don't see what the big deal with this so called delicacy is, only got it because people were asking me if I had Peking duck.
I recommend skipping it when in Beijing.

:Q I love Peking duck and most of my friends who have tried it do as well. Maybe the one you had wasn't prepared that well? There is an immensely popular place in Berkeley called "Great China" that is famous for its Peking duck. Something like $35 but its an awesome treat

OMG. Great China. My favorite restaurant. You don't know how many times I've visited for takeout. I pop rice into my rice cooker and it's the best meal ever with Great China dishes. Now I know it has awesome Peiking Duck but my friends and I have yet to try it. Trust me we will do it before we graduate though.

With that said...

OP: Peking duck is DISGUSTING in China. I've been and they showed it to us and it's nowhere as good as they make it in the US. Even the Peking Duck they make in Hong Kong and Taiwan is a lot different than the ones you get in Beijing. Why? It's just the way Northern cooking sucks. I noticed it when I went through China. As you go south towards Shanghai and HK the food gets better and better. Once you hit HK it's like heaven. EAT EAT EAT. Northern cooking is more rough and it's generally not that good. It's more about floured goods like noodles and such. As you go south you get more rice based products. You know the steamed dumplings (xiao long bao) that people talk about? Sometimes you find the thick skinned ones, and those are more northern, whereas you find more of the thin skinned ones if you go to Taiwan and eat @ Ding Tai Fung or even at any dim sum place in HK. Southern cooking in general is more about delicacies, so expect better food.

Thats right peking duck is actually not very good in China.. u need to go to Taiwan and HK for the best peking duck

Ding Tai Fung has a branch in SH if u want to check it out.. it is in xintiandi

 

[theeedude]

Originally posted by: z0mb13

Originally posted by: LongCoolMother

Originally posted by: senseamp
Does anyone know if there is any risk bringing fake watches into the US aside from forfeiting them. I bought a couple for friends as novelty items. They are like $10 here for nice automatic mechanical watch.

I'm not too sure about watches, but bootleg DVDs and software is a definite no-no. Customs in the US picks out people randomly and searches their bags. If you have some bootlegs on you, you're in for a nasty fine.

Not sure about watches, though. I don't imagine it to be a problem since there is no way they can tell whether the watches are fake or not.

You are way over exaggerating.. He will be fine.

If he does bring over some bootleg DVDs and got caught, he can always say oops I didnt know that its fake..

I don't really plan on bringing any media or software, since that's what BT is for
Plus I use open office and gimp and don't really play games that much.
Just knockoff watches as novelty souvenirs for friends. I bought a "Polo" shirt, and don't really like the fit all that much. Their "large" is somewhere below our "medium." I guess for the 4 bucks (25rmb) I paid for it it's pretty good as a muscle shirt I also read on the customs website that you can bring one fake of every type of item for personal use. So maybe a fake watch and a fake wallet is OK, but two fake watches, they may take one. Like a Sophie's choice type of situation.
Anyone know how much I should pay for a silk bed sheet set? It's 2 pillow cases, a sheet, and a duvet cover. It's more than 100rmb, I tried. I bought 2 silk pillow covers for 25rmb, so I figured 100 would be a good price, but I guess there is a lot more silk in sheets and duvet covers.

 

[dethman]

so how did the trip end up? i'll be going to beijing, shanghai, tokyo, hangzhou, and hopefully HK for about a month. would appreciate tips about where to go and travel advice...