Harbin Travel Forum

BEIJING, HARBIN, SHENYANG.
Travelling alone. Seeking travel companion. Would appreciate VT members who are kind enough and can spare a time to meet for meals, tea/beer.
Fellow travellers who are keen for companionship can be for one or all of the cities mentioned.
Will land in BEIJING on January 10, 2007 heading straight to HARBIN for 5 days by Train, onwards to SHENYANG for a brief stay (perhaps 2 days), then to DANDONG - both cities in Liaoning Province. Back to BEIJING around January 19/20 visiting the best places BEIJING has to offer.
I am a Male, Malaysian Chinese, speak, read and write English. Also speak fluent Mandarin (Putonghua - the language of communication in China).
Thank you.

Sorry, will only be in Beijing after you. Been to the rest already.

Ellyse, the girl who has left foot prints in a lot of places in China, Thank you for your speedy reply.
If I may can I seek your advice on the following:
1.The best way to book train ticket from Beijing to Harbin?
2.What is the rate for 3 star Hotel like in Harbin, Shenyang.
3.Are Hotels in Beijing, Harbin, Shenyang have heater in the room.
4.Hotels where you have stayed previously, which you considered suitable and nice, which are the ones? Can you be of help in getting a better rates?
Your advice and help will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

P.S. Messages sent through here appear jumpy. I have experienced messages sent out are recorded/repeated twice. I hope this one would not.

1) Assuming you won't be in time to buy your own train ticket, email Richard Tian (richards@public3.bta.net.cn) and see what he can do to help. He's a reliable ticket agent but you'll still need to pay commission anyway. If you are willing to risk it then wait till you get here to buy your own ticket, if you don't get a sleeper you'll at least have a seat anyway.
2) Harbin would be a lot more expensive than Shenyang. It really does pay to stay somewhere close to Zhaolin Park and Zhongyang Dajie in Harbin otherwise you'll have to travel to and fro everyday, not fun considering the cold.
3) Yes, definitely.
4) Well, I think most of the places I've been staying in recently might be a bit too expensive for you. Are you still on the budget of <200 RMB for accommodation? Drop me a VTMail if you want me to help with the bookings.

Thank you for the reply and the answers given.
Yes I need help to get an advance booking for my train ticket to Harbin just to make sure I get a soft sleeper. I will email Richard to get help. While on this subject can you give me an indication as to how much he is charging for the commission and how should I remit the money to him as well as how will I obtain my ticket.
Ellyse, I will need your expertise in getting a suitable accommodation in Harbin, Shenyang. Yes, I will email you after I get the booking of the Train ticket to Harbin settled. I need to be certain of the day I will arrive in Harbin.
Thank you.

Sorry, don't know how much he's charging for commission as I've not had the chance to use his services before. However, his name is well-recognised on Lonely Planet's ThornTree forum (North-East Asia branch), especially with regards to obtaining tickets for the TransSiberian train, as far as I know he should be reliable.

Thank you.
I am feeling comfortable with this information.