Only cards with the UnionPay logo are accepted. When I tested, only debit card could be used for mobile phone repayment, but UnionPay credit card was accepted for mobile top-up and TaoBao payments. What’s more, non-Mainland issued UnionPay cards (in my case, from Hong Kong) do work – whereas they aren’t accepted by most online platforms. So far so good.

Taobao Payment
Taobao payments are easy. At the payment method selection screen, choose the Lakala logo under the ‘cash or swipe’ tab (现金或刷卡). If you do not see this option, check that you are logged into Alipay first.

(The Taobao/Alipay plugin does work, but sometimes doesn’t load properly in certain login scenarios. If you have problems, open a new window to alipay.com and login separately. Your cookie should carry over to the original window).

On the next page the transaction ID will be clearly displayed along with a confirmation of amount. You will need to enter these numbers into the card swipe machine. If you don’t have a pen handy you may request this be sent to your phone via SMS by clicking 点此发送至手机.

Now, on the swipe machine, navigate to: “3. 淘宝支付宝充值付款” then “1. 为支付宝交易号付款”. Some Chinese proficiency is recommended. At the following screen (“输入支付宝交易号即可刷卡付款”) – just press the 确认 key to continue.

You will now need to enter the transaction ID, followed by price, and finally your mobile number. (The Lakala machine uses your mobile number as a user identifier).

A few more screens later, you will be asked to swipe your UnionPay card, followed by a PIN prompt. Finally, you are given the transaction response: if you see this, your payment has been accepted. Back at your browser, it is not necessary to take any action as the payment result would have gone through automatically. Easy.

Note: Lakala takes 1% of your transaction price for Taobao purchases, with a ¥2 minimum and a ¥50 maximum.

The Lakala machine can be purchased for ¥399 direct from Lakala. After activation and first use, you must register the device using the form and envelope provided; a photo copy of your ID / passport will be required.

Let’s start with this map. Never mind that nobody looks at it – but if you do, your eyes will be drawn to the red path that leads you up a staircase. That’s right: it never occurred to officials that passengers traveling to/from an airport would have bags with them; how dare they travel will luggage. To be fair the map does label the elevator, but I must say I only just noticed this myself – not when in the station. Ones eyes are still drawn to the red lines.

The bottom line is, passengers are not led to nor encouraged to use the elevator. They make no effort to advertise it as a convenience tool for those with luggage. The station is like this: get out the train (B4 level) and head for the escalator. You would not likely see the lift at the very end of the platform. Now at B2 level (B3 is closed access), you must exit the ticket barriers and enter the station concourse. Or so you think: I have stood time and time again watching; every time all passengers would do the 180° turn and head straight for the barriers. And of course once a few people do it, everyone else will follow. Those with heavy suitcases will at that point realise they are screwed, since only a single staircase is now available to B1 level. Even if they spot the elevator at this point, it would mean another ¥25RMB to enter the ticket barriers again.

The point where I stand watching all this – by the elevator. You see, if you look at that map, coming up from the platform, the lift is right in front of you. The problem is it’s before the ticket barrier. At that point people’s instincts are merely to get out of the paid area – it’s afterwards that we relax, look at maps, plot our next moves etc. For those who bother to look at the elevator however (I counted none), there is further confusion.

Consider this label stuck beside the lifts: it shows you on B2, and the platform on B4. Where is B1? Indeed, if you went from this, you would think it doesn’t go any higher. But it does.

Fact is, you must take this lift to B1, then exit the ticket barrier. A final escalator leg is still necessary at that point, but at least you’ve avoided the stairs.

Why is it so difficult to understand that passengers arriving from China’s busiest airport will likely have luggage, and that it is not acceptable to channel everyone through a staircase? Why has nobody noticed the elevator goes unused whilst people struggle to haul their 20kg bags against gravity? Public health campaign perhaps? I think not. Why indeed… but this is just one in a million examples of how people don’t think, don’t speak up, and the resulting lack of attention to detail that riddles so many things in this country: however nice they may look from the outside.

This experience (left) serves another example. I search for “Queen’s Road Central”, but am returned result for “Queen’s Road East”. Below that: Did you mean “Queen’s Road Central”?. Argh!! That’s what I bloody typed in the first place.

Ever dialed the wrong number because some shop or restaurant listed is total and utter crap? Those poor guys at home who keep getting phone calls from strangers wanting to book a table.

Surely, one of the most powerful web companies in the world can do better?

– Beijing Wangfujing Xin Dong’An (北京王府井步行街)
– Beijing Chaoyang Joy City (北京朝阳大悦城)
– Shanghai Nanjing West Rd (上海南京西路中创大厦)
– Shanghai’s Hong Kong Plaza (上海淮海中路香港广场).

Despite the lower price tag, i’ve heard of several people complaining about its quality here. GAP quality was never anything to write home about, but compared with those sold abroad, apparel sold in China is reportedly worse (note: some of it is not made locally) . That said, it’s still proving highly popular with the locals.

In other matters, Mövenpick have now launched in Beijing with a store in Chaoyang Joy City (朝阳大悦城). Priced similar to Häagen-Dazs® (well established in China already), though with a more limited offering, this signifies an expansion beyond Mövenpick cartons already available in many hotels and specialist shops.

It’s now also my new ice-cream hangout of choice.

Me:
  “I don’t need this service, thank you”.
Telemarketer in a clingy (嗲) voice:
  “I understand, but I just need to meet my quota, only a tiny bit away.”
Me:
  “Perhaps, but i’m not going to buy something I don’t want just to meet your quota. I have to WANT the thing.”
By this point extremely annoying telemarketer:
  “I understand, but perhaps you can help me? Just buy it anyways.”
Me:
  “If you understand then why are you asking me to buy? I told you I don’t need it.”
Excruciatingly annoying telemarketer:
  “We can be friends. Here’s my number [#], all you need is just pay $xx…”

- I tried to be nice; at that point I hung up. This lady was trying to sell me prepaid IDD calling card services. I told her I have cheaper suppliers, and I don’t like prepaid. She tried to pull a clingy girlie voice on me, assuming guys would fall for that. Even though I don’t need what she’s selling.

Is this how people sell in Hong Kong now? More disturbingly, is this how companies are training their salespeople?

Since late 2007 the unsolicited electronic messages ordinance (CAP 593) came into effect. Unfortunately this OFTA ordinance governs electronic communication only – that being SMS, fax, or recorded voice messages. It does not prevent telemarketers from cold-calling. What’s more one has to opt-in to the Do-not-call register by calling 1835000 from that number.

It’s a starter, but much more needs to be done. I don’t agree with then director-general Marion Lai Chan Chi-kuen who suggested that barring personal interactive calling “could hurt small and medium-sized businesses“. How about hurting privacy, adding to illegitimate phone charges (overseas roaming – I won’t even go there), and wasting people’s time? Welcome to Hong Kong: where the pro-business government cares little about individuals.

There has been little debate since. The government run Anti Spam Website gives advice on cutting down unsolicited contact, whilst a voluntary code of practice has been put into place by many institutions, including the HKDMA (Hong Kong Direct Marketing Association). But voluntary self-regulation is not enough – and surely i’m not the only one fed up of sales calls by now.

When will this practice finally be banned? Or, at the very least, extend the DNC register to cover personal marketing calls too. It’s about time.

Far from putting a blanket over the incident the peace prize has only just become more controversial, more publicised. Never mind that Liu wasn’t present: the symbolism of an empty chair is now virally spreading around China, arguably more powerful than his attendance would have been. An incident they could have spun in their favour has simply backfired. After all these years, the government have learned little; PR skills seemingly having gone nowhere.

Spokesman Jiang Yu was recently quoted to say (I paraphrase from Chinese): “the actions in Norway do not change the fact that of whether Liu has committed a crime”.

Indeed. As I previously commented – nobody ever claimed that obtaining a prize changes the fact of whether a crime is committed. The question is: did Liu really commit a crime or are his charges politically motivated?

Regardless… it’s about time the politburo hired a good PR firm.

Calling the Chinese hotline numbers (10086 and 10010 for China Mobile and China Unicom respectively) may not work through IDD. Local access numbers will be sent to you by SMS upon arrival, which do work. If you forget to make a note of these, there’s a final option.

- China Mobile: +86 13800100186
- China Unicom: +86 18618610010

These will work through Skype / IDD.

Best of course, don’t lose your phone.

Taxi aside, there are alternatives for those with time, wishing to save money, or simply with nothing better to do. It’s a nice way to see the surrounding area and quieter side of the airport. Note these options require connections for the final kilometer to/from the airport.

Terminal One
Aside from the Airport Shuttle (which originates at T2), you should take the walkway to terminal two for Airport Express or alternative bus options below.

Terminal Two
Route 359, which goes between Dongzhimen (东直门) terminus (outdoors, north of the indoor bus station) and the old Air China headquarters just south of T2 is the only ‘regular bus’ service destined for the airport. Taken mostly by airport-related staff, journey time is approx. 50mins and costs only 2RMB (or 0.40 using transport card).

You must walk 100m down this quiet pipe-lined road to connect bus stops

If coming from the airport, get off at the second stop (白云山站) then walk straight 100m turning left at crossroads to walk a further 100m. Don’t expect many shops or restaurants here. At the airport, thekōnggǎng yīlù (空港1路) stop is on arrivals level – at south end of the bus platform.

The second option is the 915 to/from Dongzhimen. From Terminal 2 you will need to take the kōnggǎng yīlù (空港1路) to guó tài shāng chǎng (国泰商场). Refer to T3 instructions below.

Terminal Three
There is no convenient way to connect 359 (above) with Terminal 3.

To T3 the easiest connection is the 915路支2 from Dongzhimen (东直门) terminus. Note there are variations of 915 – the 915路 itself does not stop near the airport. You will need to take the 915路支2 or 915路支2快 (express) and get off at pǔ mǎ chāoshì (普玛超市). Fare 5RMB cash or 2RMB using transport card – remember to swipe when getting off also. There is a shopping center here, as well as food market and plenty of eateries for a cheap meal. It’s quite a lively area.

The kōnggǎng yīlù (空港1路) to T3 is just down the road, near the shopping center. Make sure you check that it’s the T3 shuttle – a separate shuttle route one bus travels to T2.

In addition to the Clio Coddles on Shanghai’s prestigious Nanjing Road (南京路), I came across HengHee (pictured) – two in fact, one not far from the famed Peace Hotel. In this small area, nearby is NuoManDiEYu and just opposite that: the real deal LaCoste.

Although HengHee is not an entire rip off, the attempt to re-use the crocodile is obvious considering the number of other reptile choices. What impresses me is they all clearly do well enough to afford the Nanjing Road rental costs. What I wonder is, how many people buying are actually from Shanghai vs. unsuspecting tourists from outside provinces.

If country bumpkins are cash cows, I feel like i’m missing out here!

Anyone want to invest in a Collo Collo? I’ll use an upside down crocodile as my logo.

I stumbled across this by chance, but it got me thinking: i’ve long been curious if any government schools in Hong Kong allow girl students to wear trousers. I certainly haven’t seen any out and about. I’ve also wondered whether any girls have complained or sued on grounds of sexual discrimination. I was surprised not to find anything online.

If I were a girl i’d fight for that right to wear trousers. Or maybe, if I were one, i’d genuinely enjoy the skirts…