Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ChrisHannah]

Hello,

I'm thinking of visiting Hong Kong. I'll be traveling from Beijing and plan to fly into Guangzhou at 3:15pm on Dec 29 because the airfare from China Southern is $400 less than all the other airlines. My full itinerary is Seoul-Beijing-Guangzhou-Seoul.

Have any of you guys out there tried this? I know it's a pain to have to make the trip into Hong Kong and then back through customs to fly out, but it's just so much cheaper. I feel like 3:15 is early enough for us to arrive and catch a train over, except that I noticed a couple of sites say that the train tickets must be bought SIX hours in advance?!? Yikes.

Is it worth it/possible? If anybody has any hints or clues as to what to do with this, let me know.

[ttompatz]

[ChrisHannah]

Don't have the visa yet, because I haven't bought the plane tickets. When I get the China visa, it will be multiple entry.

[tzechuk]

[ramen209]

We are doing this over the xmas holidays as well. We will be going south from Yangshuo to Guangzhou on the 29th via either train or bus and then taking the train to Hong Kong. Apparently lot's of people do this to save on airfare to/from Hong Kong.

We don't know the details of getting the train/bus tickets yet, and are also looking for advice on this.

Getting the multiple entry visa for China was as easy as going to a travel agency in seoul and paying for it, it took one week to process.

[ChrisHannah]

Yeah that's what I've read. Just work with a travel agency, and they'll take care of the details.

[Jove]

If you have the time, it is well worth it to fly in and out of Hong Kong to visit China. Last time I went to China (3 years ago), I paid somewhere in the neighborhood of 130,000 won for a one month Chinese visa as an American. I could not get a multi-entry visa or a two-month visa in Korea.

So, I spent a month in China, exited through Guangzhou, and then spent 5 days in Hong Kong while getting a new Chinese visa so I could re-enter. In Hong Kong, I was able to get a two-month visa for about US$35. I think it took 2-3 days.

In Guangzhou, buses leave nearly every hour for Hong Kong from the larger hotels. I don't remember the cost, but it was more expensive than the average bus ride in China. I imagine that there are also buses that will take you directly from the Guangzhou airport to Hong Kong, but I don't know for certain. Probably something you could look up on google.

Finally, there is basically nothing to see (spent 3-4 days there coming and going), so I would only use the city as a transit point.

[Hightop]

The best way from GZ to HK is by train, you do not have to buy the tickets 6 hours inadvance. But, if the trains are sold out then you may end up waiting 6 hours for a train with seats. On the visa front, it depends how long you will be in HK. You can usually get a Chinese Visa in 28 hours in HK, drop off in the morning and pick up next day in the afternoon. Alternatively you can try to get a double entry visa before you go, these are easier to get than multi entry, well at least in NZ they are im not sure about Krea.

[chris_J2]

[D.D.]

Best way would be to fly into HK and then take the ferry to She kou (Shenzhen)China and get a double entry visa on the spot during daytime hours. Cost is 100 us bucks but you get the visa on the spot. Stay away from Beijing this time of year. Cruise around the south of China by train. When you arrive in Hong Kong you can take a boat to Shekou before you clear customs or you can clear customs and see Hong Kong and then boat it over to Shekou after a couple of days and score your instant visa for China. From Shenzhen you can fly to other sopts in China or take a train or boat it to Macau and Zhuhai.

When you are leaving you can even check in your bags in Shekou ferry port for your flight out of Hong kong.

[tzechuk]

There is no best way going in or out of China - everything SUCKS!

And I am Chinese