North China - Beijing

[Zhuren]

May I perhaps suggest that you are way too intolerant? "Gut full of all the crap about people posting re Maggie's??" At least they were reporting and reporting the real line.

Yes, the Maggie's post had dominated this thread and yes, some of them were repeats etc but is it really necessary for you to castigate them all?
Without these guys, the Beijing thread is down to the hapless newbies asking for help to get action, ask silly questions which could be easily answered by RTFF, others reporting not being able to get any action. Where's YOUR great reporting??

Some of the old regular Maggies posters had tried to supplement their old information by adding new ones - but your inane "getting off the chest" will certainly not help in getting these same posters to continue doing so.

Just IMHO

SEAJ

Amen to that.

Maggie's dominated the Beijing section, simply as a reflection of Maggie's dominating role in the Beijing market. For years, Maggie's was the one and only stable venue for P4P catering to Western expats. Like it or not, it was a fact.

Some people didn't like Maggie's. Probably, because they were not admitted. Can't blame them. However, I have a Japanese wife, and both of us are not accepted at many clubs in Tokyo, due to the fact that I'm a foreigner. You won't see me ranting and raving about this in the Tokyo section. Instead, we quietly enjoy the hospitality of the Tokyo clubs where we are admitted.

The closing of Maggie's was just the first salvo in a drawn-out war against all kinds of P4P in Beijing and elsewhere in the run-up to the Olympics. That was expected and predicted.

In the meantime, "the old regular Maggie’s posters" (me included) kept their mouths shut. Reporting has long become counter-productive.

Also as a reflection of the market conditions, the Beijing section has deteriorated to trading information about where to find free Internet access, or printing services at a discount. The P4P paradigm has shifted to pay for printouts. I can attest to the fact that there is little else worth posting.

As far as Maggie's goes, we receive bits and pieces of information. Most pieces are grim. Some pieces confirm old and new suspicions. We will keep them to ourselves. Suffice it to say, the chances of Maggie's opening before the Olympics are nil. The chances of Maggie's ever opening under its old concept are slim. 2009, when all is over, and when China will start focusing on the Shanghai Expo 2010, normalcy may set in, and something else will take Maggie's place. But it won't be the same, ever.

So whoever didn't like Maggie's, or the many posts about Maggie's, shouldn't worry: It won't happen again.

As for people who contribute little, and who pop-up posting stale vitriol months after Maggie's had closed, and people had gone to jail, or had to flee the country, the Chinese have a nice three-digit number:


250.

[Makeupaname]

I have become a master charades player since I started traveling to countries where I don't speak the language. ED drugs are very easy to get.

Show a limp finger near your waist.

Pretend to swallow a pill.

Show a your finger getting stiff near your waist.

I've seen that same exact price in 2 pharmacies myself. These packs seem to be readily available to the public without a prescription. The harder part for me is if I don't have an old package available to show them. I have no clue what the name is in Chinese. The pharmacy in the basement of Kerry Centre was handy as the vitamins are in a glass cabinet so you can see the English names on them as well. My fingers are at least able to point in many languages...

Tankuki

[FernandoAlonso]

I've seen that same exact price in 2 pharmacies myself. These packs seem to be readily available to the public without a prescription. The harder part for me is if I don't have an old package available to show them. I have no clue what the name is in Chinese. The pharmacy in the basement of Kerry Centre was handy as the vitamins are in a glass cabinet so you can see the English names on them as well. My fingers are at least able to point in many languages...

Tankuki

Viagra: 万艾可, wàn'àikě or "weige." 伟哥
Levitra: 艾力达, àilìdá
Cialis: 希爱力, xīàilì

Does that help ?

FA

[The Tanuki]

Guys -

There is a local pharmacy in the lido area that carries what I believe to be legit viagra, cialis, and levitra. As you leave the Lido hotel main entrance go out to the main road. Cross the street and turn right. Walk down the street until you get to a 4 way intersection. You will see the Cafe Del Mar and a Starbucks on your right hand side across the street. Staying on the same side of the street turn left. You will pass a bank and some massage parlors. These were once hand job joints, but I think they have been "cleaned up" in the last few weeks. You will see a large realestate office with a big yellow sign. The pharmacy is just past this office. Inside they have a 4 pack of Viagra and Cialis for 495 RMB. The 4 pack of Levitra was 395 RMB. They also have the pills available in singles for 128 RMB each.

Sammy

I've seen that same exact price in 2 pharmacies myself. These packs seem to be readily available to the public without a prescription. The harder part for me is if I don't have an old package available to show them. I have no clue what the name is in Chinese. The pharmacy in the basement of Kerry Centre was handy as the vitamins are in a glass cabinet so you can see the English names on them as well. My fingers are at least able to point in many languages...

Tankuki

[Senu]

crazy if your fed up of coffee a lot of bars have wireless includind Den bar and Franks Bar (lot of guys work here as a large draft is 12 rmb).

[Schubba]

I just came back to Beijing a week ago and found the new situation not as bad as reported. One Bar down (a Big one) can not make it, there are still lot of places to go, to meet your girl for the night. I have been to several bars where there were some few Mongolian girls or (for me new) Philippine girls. They knew exactly why they were there.

So do not be so pessimistic about the fun in Beijing. You just just has to move more around to look it up.

Also the BBS I use to visit are still offering the good work :-)

[Gcrudom]

Thanks. I speak Chinese, no problem there. Any Starbucks in particular you recommend that would have a convenient hotel business center (3-star)? Perhaps near the subway?

CJW

If you are going to work on late night, Starbucks may not be a choice since most of them close on 10pm or 11pm. Their is a HK Style Resturant next to Landmark Hotel 4stars (opposite of the Great Wall Sheraton) open 24hours and offer free internet access.

For printing, you take a cab and can go to the Fedex Kinkos store on the east 3rd ring road (cost is about RMB10), there are other local printing stores close to Kinkos store as well.

[Crazy Jim Wood]

All of the Starbucks in Beijing now offier free wireless...

Thanks. I speak Chinese, no problem there. Any Starbucks in particular you recommend that would have a convenient hotel business center (3-star)? Perhaps near the subway?
CJW

[Sammy_T]

Guys -

There is a local pharmacy in the lido area that carries what I believe to be legit viagra, cialis, and levitra. As you leave the Lido hotel main entrance go out to the main road. Cross the street and turn right. Walk down the street until you get to a 4 way intersection. You will see the Cafe Del Mar and a Starbucks on your right hand side across the street. Staying on the same side of the street turn left. You will pass a bank and some massage parlors. These were once hand job joints, but I think they have been "cleaned up" in the last few weeks. You will see a large realestate office with a big yellow sign. The pharmacy is just past this office. Inside they have a 4 pack of Viagra and Cialis for 495 RMB. The 4 pack of Levitra was 395 RMB. They also have the pills available in singles for 128 RMB each.

Sammy

[Sammy_T]

Hello,
Planning a business trip next week and I need some info:
Where in Beijing can I find free or reasonably priced wireless internet that is reliable?
I may also need to print out 20-30 pages, work for a few hours, etc.

Any ideas?
For example, I could work for a few hours using free wireless then walk somewhere where I can print out documents, etc.

Peferably open on weekends/late at night.

I have used run of the mill internet cafes and just found it to be too smoky, the computers to be too slow, to many problems with access, nosey people looking over my shoulder, etc.

I don't mind paying a little, but I don't want to be paying 5-star hotel business center rates either. Maybe 3-star hotel business center rates.

I will be in the suburbs (Tongzhou) about 45 min by subway from down town.

TIA,
CJW

All of the Starbucks in Beijing now offier free wireless internet access. You could work from there and then walk over to one of the many 5 star hotels and print your documents in their business centers. There are many print shops all over town where you could get it done cheaper, but you would need to speak Chinese. A hotel business center will charge a premium, but they will speke English and accept credit cards should you have a large bill. There is also a FedEx/Kinkos store on the east 3rd ring. This will be cheaper than the business centers, but more expensive than the local print shops. The also will speak English and accept credit cards.

Good Luck!

[Bold Focker]

I am in Beijing for the first time, staying at the above hotel with my wife for 4 days before moving onto Xian.

Takeout are not possible, so can anyone advise me of any MP or BBS near this hotel. As this is my first time in BJ, I have no idea where this hotel is, or the layout of the surrounding area. So directions would be appreciated!

The usual unhelpfull answers like RTTF will not be appreciated so please dont bother posting. Anyone with usefull info can post or PM me to save any unwanted scanning by the authorities.

[Luang]

Hello,

Planning a business trip next week and I need some info:

Where in Beijing can I find free or reasonably priced wireless internet that is reliable?
I may also need to print out 20-30 pages, work for a few hours, etc.

Any ideas?

For example, I could work for a few hours using free wireless then walk somewhere where I can print out documents, etc.

Peferably open on weekends/late at night.

I have used run of the mill internet cafes and just found it to be too smoky, the computers to be too slow, to many problems with access, nosey people looking over my shoulder, etc.

I don't mind paying a little, but I don't want to be paying 5-star hotel business center rates either. Maybe 3-star hotel business center rates.

I will be in the suburbs (Tongzhou) about 45 min by subway from down town.

TIA,
CJW

Fed Ex/Kinkos are very good for 24x7 printing. www.fedexkinkos.com.cn

There are many coffee shops - SPR, Starbucks, Shangdao, Milo, that offer free Wifi, as well as many Hong Kong style restaurants - www.wlan.com.cn/bjdidian.htm

[Crazy Jim Wood]

Hello,
Planning a business trip next week and I need some info:
Where in Beijing can I find free or reasonably priced wireless internet that is reliable?
I may also need to print out 20-30 pages, work for a few hours, etc.

Any ideas?
For example, I could work for a few hours using free wireless then walk somewhere where I can print out documents, etc.

Peferably open on weekends/late at night.

I have used run of the mill internet cafes and just found it to be too smoky, the computers to be too slow, to many problems with access, nosey people looking over my shoulder, etc.

I don't mind paying a little, but I don't want to be paying 5-star hotel business center rates either. Maybe 3-star hotel business center rates.

I will be in the suburbs (Tongzhou) about 45 min by subway from down town.

TIA,
CJW

[SE Asia Joe]

I have not posted in the Beijing thread for a few months partly because I have been overseas for a lot of the time but also because the last time I posted, I had had a gut full of all the crap about the people posting re Maggies (again nothing against Maggies - I think its great (or was great when it was open) but the people posting about it (whom I have put on my ignore list) were annoying me.

May I perhaps suggest that you are way too intolerant? "Gut full of all the crap about people posting re Maggie's??" At least they were reporting and reporting the real line.

Yes, the Maggie's post had dominated this thread and yes, some of them were repeats etc but is it really necessary for you to castigate them all?
Without these guys, the Beijing thread is down to the hapless newbies asking for help to get action, ask silly questions which could be easily answered by RTFF, others reporting not being able to get any action. Where's YOUR great reporting??

Some of the old regular Maggies posters had tried to supplement their old information by adding new ones - but your inane "getting off the chest" will certainly not help in getting these same posters to continue doing so.

Just IMHO

SEAJ

[SidTheSexist]

The chun xiu lu sauna is completely closed and looks as if it is being gutted. Whether or not this is a refurbishment or its been closed and taken over, I dont know, but it certainly wont be open for a while judging by the work they seem to be doing to it.
Sid