My Journey by Derk

What prompted my visit too Nanning.

Well my journey to Nanning began some 3 months or so before I went. . At the beginning of June through the internet I met a lady, we exchanged private e-mail address (tip it's cheaper that way) than through a dating service. We started to correspond with each other on a daily basis, and also on webcam each week. Right away we appeared to hit it off. After a month of corresponding we decided that the best thing would be for both of us to meet each other.

We agreed that early September would be a good time to meet.

The first step on planning my journey to Nanning in China was to give myself lots of time and try not to rush. I took a considerable amount of time planning what I wanted to do and when to do it, (which paid dividends in the end by everything going smooth).

I then applied for my Chinese Visa, again tip don't apply for it too soon because it only lasts for 3 months from date of issue. To obtain my Visa I used Chinese Visa Direct agency, I found them to be very efficient. From sending my application to them and receiving the visa back took only 7 days, Saturday through to Friday, they contacted me by email to say that my passport and visa was on it's way back and gave me a reference number. When I received the Visa and my Passport back there was a CD included with it, it was a basic English to Chinese. An English male person spoke the English word and a Chinese lady repeating it in Chinese.

Next was to book a flight. After shopping around I booked it through Nectar using my Nectar points, and paid the difference. The flight was booked with Air France at a cost of £165.00. (so the rush is on to use my Nectar card when ever possible.

The next thing I did was to book a hotel in Kowloon, because I had decided that I would stop over in Hong Kong for two days before going onto China.

Next was to take out insurance. I took it out in the end with M&S again after shopping around I found them to offer the best deal at the time for me (incidentally it was for a 12 month policy which cost me only £72). I had the policy start 1 week before I departed.

Next I shopped around for a return flight from Hong Kong International Airport to Nanning . Which I was quoted £195.00 for. During my purchase of my visa through Chinese Visa Direct, I spoke to a Chinese lady and told her that I was trying to get a flight to Nanning , she told don't go via Hong Kong International because you will have to pay international rates. But go via Shenzhen Airport it's just over the border in China and it becomes an internal flight, and therefore cheaper. £105. I booked the flight through www.yoee.com

Everything in place, at last the big day arrived for me to start my journey to Nanning.

My journey started one Saturday evening in early September, with my 19.45 evening flight from Manchester to Charles de Gaulle Airport Paris by Air France. At CDG, I had only had 1 ½ hours to transit to their overnight direct flight to Hong Kong which took 11 ½ hours (tip book a aisle seat it's easy to get up and walk around during the flight than having a window seat and trying to climb over people when asleep)

I arrived at Hong Kong International Airport at17.00 hours the following afternoon Sunday (what an airport) Hong Kong Airport was purpose built on reclaimed land some 30 minutes away from Hong Kong by express train. (You can download a video from HK Airport of how to move through it) From arrival to clearing immigration everything was so smooth and efficient, with no problems of locating the desk for my transport to my hotel.

I had booked a room at The Renaissance Hotel in Kowloon through Marriott Hotels. This was located on the waterfront. (Tip if you are going to make a number of journeys, register with one of the hotel groups, because after staying there you can accumulate points for free nights)

From one of the hotels restaurants you have a panoramic view over looking the bay towards Hong Kong Island and Victoria Peak. (a ride to the top of the peak a must) Each evening at 20.00 hours for approximately 10 minutes they have the world renowned light show. (not to be missed).

From Kowloon I took the MTR (Mass Transit Rail) rail link only 5 minutes walk from my hotel. The rail journey took approximately 40 minutes to arrive at the Chinese border at Shenzhen. You have to walk from the rail station across a bridge into China, then you have to fill in a Entry Card hand it in at customers and clear formalities.


A view from Victoria Peak looking towards Kowloon. The brown building in the centre of the picture was my hotel

I then had to take a bus out to the Airport. I did have a problem location the bus stop (with not speaking Chinese it was difficult finding the bus) it all seamed just chaotic people blowing whistles, waving buses on, stopping people etc. Anyway the bus you need it's at the opposite end from when you come out of the customs building. Bus Number F568. Express bus to Shenzhen Airport. It cost approximately 35 RMB £2.50, and takes approximately 1 hour.

Airport check in at the airport was very similar to any UK airport check in. One thing you have to expect when you are queuing, the Chinese are impatient and just push in.

My flight to Nanning was with China Southern Airline and took 1 hour.

My lady had come to meet me with two of her friends.

We all said our welcome hello's etc

Then travelled by car from the Airport into Nanning it's takes approx. 1 hour. The booking of the hotel in Nanning I had left to my lady. She had booked us into the Li Jing Hotel, it's located opposite Nahue Park. Our room over looked the beautiful park, and was a pleasure each morning to open the curtains and over look the park. It was also pleasant and relaxing to take walk in it (when walking in the park it was very noticeable how clean everything was).


Li Jing Hotel



All too soon, after 2 wonderful weeks together the day came when my lady and I had to say our sad goodbyes. (it's never a pleasant time) so we decided that it would be short and sweet at the Airport.

For my return journey. I flew from Nanning to Shenzhen on the lunchtime flight. I then took the free shuttle bus from Shenzhen airport to the ferry port and took the Turbojet boat to Kowloon . (I had decided that I would try various way of travel to and from Nanning from Hong Kong. You have a choice of destinations on the Turbojet boat You can either go to Hong Kong International Airport or Kowloon . 1 hour duration to Kowloon cost $120 (£8.50). The reason I went back to Kowloon was because I had some 10 hours to kill, before my night flight to Paris.

From Kowloon I took the Airport Express Train at a cost of $90 HK (£6.40) one way. (airport express operate a free shuttle bus from major hotels in Hong Kong & Kowloon to their Rail Station) At the rail station in Hong Kong and Kowloon you can check in with all major airlines. 1 day before and up to 90 minutes before departure, (this saves you having to queue at the airport).

My flight back to Charles de Gaulle Paris and onward flight to Manchester was reverse of my trip out (12.1/2 hours HK to CDG) coming back

Tip I have made a note that the next time I visit Nanning to only pack light, and when I have packed to unpack and pack light again, because I took far to many cloths with me. Every things so cheap in China.