Trip to China - Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen

[dadog13]

In 3 weeks I will be visiting China for business but in each of the cities (Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen) that I will visit I will have for sure 1x day free for some sightseeing, shopping,...

I have already done such trip however I am eager to hear what to visit in each of the cities listed above..

For sure I am gonna spend some time in the watch market in Gz, I have already been there but what is concerning me is the latest news of police raids on the market. I hope they stop by the time I will be there.

So, anything I must see?

Any kind of help/input is highly appreciated!

Rgds
V.

P.S.
I have already ordered 4x watches from a dealer that are a must have, will be delivered jn my hotel toom - everything else what I will score will be a result from my personal watch hunt...


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[Art Tic]

You need someone local who knows rep watches to guide you or you probably won't get to see the "better" stuff.

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[Raspymcnasty]

dont eat street food, if you have a friend take a native speaker to get you into the upstairs special rooms.

 

[Aidy]

Sounds seriously good though just make sure you take a bag big enough

 

[dadog13]

I have been 4x times on the watch market in Gz. I have been invited to the offices on the upper floors in some of the malls in order to check the higher end reps. Like I said, I have already secured 4x watches and I will hunt for something else just to see what can be found and for how much it can be bargaind. I will do it for the thrill and curiosity. Lately I have found some cheaper reps which are very interesting for me - online they can be purchased for 100-150$ and I already know that they can be found in the shops for ~70$.

As for the food, I eat street food many times. So far w/o any issues. Will do it again, especially once I go to Shenzhen - there is a huge food mall with very interesting street food. Been there last time and it has been a great experience.

Now I'd like to know what else can be seen. What market to visit? Etc..


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[Raspymcnasty]

Oh i meant street vendors. I had bad luck and got food poisoning. Couldn't defecate for 3 days after that. Enjoy your time there

 

[Art Tic]

Have you been to the Asia-Pacific Plaza in Shanghai? It is beneath the Science & Technology Museum next to the subway station. Lots to see but as I said before, you will not see the "better" stuff without a local guide or someone familiar with the vendors. Also, it may be worth while to visit 168 QiPu Lu. Here, you really need someone who knows to find the nice watches. Finally, you need to master the art of haggling - wait for as long as you can and then start at 10% of the asking price. Thick-skin and patience are required for successful bargaining.

 

[UDTMIKE]

Wish I was going with you. Haven't been to Hong Kong for many years. Was in Bangkok 10 years ago. I would love to go back now. Have fun and enjoy the street food, loved it. Bugs and all the things you can't get here.

 

[james.blumenfeld]

The AP Plaza "Fake Mart" in Shanghai is very interesting - its right at the Science & Technology museum subway stop - very easy to get to.
If you're obviously not Chinese someone will latch on to you and ask you what you're looking for and they'll escort you to a seller and get you into the back rooms.
The sellers give them a small commission to bring you in.
I haven't been there for 2 years but I found that the initial prices they quote are absurd. Figure about 60-80 US$ fir most watches - some much much less and a few more. Know what you're willing to pay and be firm - they're already making a decent profit at your prices.
I never seen any super reps there, mostly quartz movements.
The sellers are aggressive but in my experience nice and fun to joke with.
Here's a web site to compare actual prices:
http://shanghaishopping.org/fake-market-prices/

 

[dadog13]

A.P. Plaza is definitely on my Shanghai shopping locations list that I will be visiting. I've been there 4yrs ago.

I have some experience how to bargain with asian sellers. I've paid my schools 10yrs. ago. Last time I was asking them to give me wi-fi and opened in front of them Aliexpress, dhgate listings of the same item and got even better prices - once they saw that I knew about those websites, items, prices etc. all of us laughed so hard. Funny times..

As for Shz, I will be visiting the commercial city in LuoHu and the Dongmen pedestrian area where is an amazing mall for street food and a mall that carries some rep clothing (last time I spent there only 1-2hrs since I came late).


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[seriph]

If you can be bothered, try to find out if there is ANY way this can be repped accurately. I believe very good cashola could be achieved for its faithful repro even in quartz. Given its association with Steve McQueen and the film Le Mans I think it'd be a huge seller.

 

[dadog13]

Does anybody know if the watch market is opened on saturday/sunday because I am staying on those dates in Gz..


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[dadog13]

It looks like I will return with min. 5x super reps from my trip to China. Eventually if I see something that I like directly on spot I will be buying more. So far I have booked these 5pcs. from a dealer that I will meet face2face.

Since 5pcs is not a small amount, do you guys have any tips&tricks on how to smuggle them through customs?

So far I have been two times in this situation (once I even went through with 6pcs). I always put them in my luggage which goes in check-in and so far I have passed customs w/o issues. This time I am planning to take apart watch head from straps for 5pcs, "hide" them all over luggage and one of them will be with me on my wrist.

Any tips is highly appreciated even if it is an advice what to say if I get caught ))


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[UDTMIKE]

That is one place i would love to go to. Wear a long sleeve shirt and wear 2 reps past customs.Of course the check point you will have to remove them. Put some in your pockets. I have never been searched at customs, only my bags and carry on.

 

[Topdown89]

Never tried to get reps through customs but what about a multi-watch travel case? I feel like if it looks like you brought them in they wouldn't think twice about it, but I very well might be wrong


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[dadog13]

@UDTMIKE a long sleeved shirt is going only to attract the view on me. China is super hot at the moment and my country is on 35-38C. I'd rather have my watches seized than wear a long sleeve shirt ))

@Topdown89 10 day trip with a watchcase for 6pcs. Hmm, they are not gonna buy that. Even more when they see AP's, Panerai, Hublot,.. ))

Gotta find some solution..


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[ShanghaiStyler]

Just take ur chances. I flew in n out more than a docent times, and never have been searched. Of course there is always a risk to it, but I take my chance every time and just put the goods in my luggage

Send us pics from the watches! Did you buy them at the markets? Quality of reps there is much lower than from TDs I think

 

[purpletang]

sounds like a great time

 

[dadog13]

Just take ur chances. I flew in n out more than a docent times, and never have been searched. Of course there is always a risk to it, but I take my chance every time and just put the goods in my luggage

Send us pics from the watches! Did you buy them at the markets? Quality of reps there is much lower than from TDs I think

I am flying to China in 10 days and will stay there for additional 10 days. Will make a report once I come back..


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[ShanghaiStyler]

I am flying to China in 10 days and will stay there for additional 10 days. Will make a report once I come back..


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Oh sry mate, mb, I thought u are already here and shopping