The Wenzhou model.....
Mar 17, 2013 | 4:40 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 6,978
The Wenzhou model.....
Wenzhou is really an unique city: everyone is a businessmen entrepreneur. The taxi is never by the meter (unless you're a foreigner that doesn't speak English) and always by bargaining. And the best of all: you can almost never get anything less than full fare ticket to go to Wenzhou from Hong Kong. Not to mention the ripped off coffee house in Wenzhou ticket international side. A cup of coffee or tea is $10 USD. Although if you order tea they will be happy to refill you with hot water...
Mar 17, 2013 | 10:06 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 11,243
Happens at nearly every second and third tier city airport in China. Not exclusive to Wenzhou...The coffee shop at the Beijing Hotel also serves a delicious cup of joe for 90 RMB+service fee.
Mar 17, 2013 | 11:06 am
#3
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Southeast USA
Programs: various
Posts: 6,710
Amongst other things, Wenzhou is famous for its entrepreneurs, speculators, and its underground banking system. I once had a landlord from Wenzhou, he was quite the shark, heh-heh. I've found Wenzhou people don't spend a lot of time on chit-chat and shmoozing, they just want to get down to business quickly.
The rip-off food and drink at Chinese airports is nothing new, though they tried to curb it at some extent in PEK a number of years ago, due to massive (domestic) passenger complaints. Still holds true at the less well-known airports though.
The rip-off food and drink at Chinese airports is nothing new, though they tried to curb it at some extent in PEK a number of years ago, due to massive (domestic) passenger complaints. Still holds true at the less well-known airports though.
Mar 17, 2013 | 5:54 pm
#4
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: KIX, ITM, UKB, YVR
Programs: Star Alliance - AC
Posts: 2,356
Since we have been living in Wenzhou now for over two years, I can totally agree.
It took a lot of getting used to but now it's second nature.
As for the airport coffee, its the same price as any other overpriced airport coffee shop.
The taxi service at 5 pm is the craziest because that is when the day shift gets off work and the night shift gets on. They will not pick you up if you are going the wrong direction or if you don't allow yourself to be a part of a group of strangers sharing a cab. If you can't speak the language, it is intimidating.
It took a lot of getting used to but now it's second nature.
As for the airport coffee, its the same price as any other overpriced airport coffee shop.
The taxi service at 5 pm is the craziest because that is when the day shift gets off work and the night shift gets on. They will not pick you up if you are going the wrong direction or if you don't allow yourself to be a part of a group of strangers sharing a cab. If you can't speak the language, it is intimidating.
Mar 17, 2013 | 9:07 pm
#5
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 46,306
Wenzhou is really an unique city: everyone is a businessmen entrepreneur. The taxi is never by the meter (unless you're a foreigner that doesn't speak English) and always by bargaining. And the best of all: you can almost never get anything less than full fare ticket to go to Wenzhou from Hong Kong. Not to mention the ripped off coffee house in Wenzhou ticket international side. A cup of coffee or tea is $10 USD. Although if you order tea they will be happy to refill you with hot water...
Mar 17, 2013 | 10:00 pm
#6
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Asia/Europe
Programs: CX, OZ, MU (+AY, DL), Shangri-La, Hilton
Posts: 7,233
Have similar experiences (airport refreshments) from Yantai and Nanjing among other places. In the former a few tables set up in a corner, disinterested service and a TV set blaring over it all.
As a contrast, some of the CRH train stations are, after being overhauled, not bad at all regarding their food and beverages offerings. Nanjing South still the best I've seen in China but for example Xuzhou is also quite satisfying.
As a contrast, some of the CRH train stations are, after being overhauled, not bad at all regarding their food and beverages offerings. Nanjing South still the best I've seen in China but for example Xuzhou is also quite satisfying.
Mar 22, 2013 | 11:02 am
#7
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: YYZ, PVG
Programs: Marriott Titanium, Ex-UA-1K
Posts: 430
Just flew out of Xi'an. T2 and T3 are literally night and day. T2 is old school like Nanjing's. T3 is actually quite nice though I am easily swayed by how much an airport sells Coke Zero for. At T3, it's 4 kuai!