Pearl Farm Safari?

[Nora]

Still very interested, but will skip HK. Waiting for more details.

[Pearly Shell]

Oh so tempting. Anxiously awaiting to see what dates you all settle on. If it falls during Spring Break I might be able to swing it. But I have to put school first.

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

Visiting the site in China is an intriguing side trip. I've never been to China, so I'm not sure whether it's expensive or cheap, easy or difficult to enter and travel.

[Mikeyy]

Very easy. In fact I think Canadians can get drop visas from HK into China. China is inexpensive and travel in this area is very easy. Besides, I think they would arrange all the local transportation.

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

Very easy. In fact I think Canadians can get drop visas from HK into China. China is inexpensive and travel in this area is very easy. Besides, I think they would arrange all the local transportation.

Well Mike, that certainly caught my attention.

[pearlescence]

Hi
I looked into the visa into China from HK situation a few months ago. It may or may not be piossible, there may or may not be a visa office at the hk side of the Schenzen train station where you can get a visa. It takes a few minutes or maybe several hours or the office is often shut.
I concluded that it wasn't worth the risk of being turned back at the border.
You can go into mainland China on a one day group visa as part of a shopping trip - that is the cheapest and easiest way if you are going to shop (v good shopping in Schenzen)
otherwise the safest option is either a one-off or one year visa obtained in advance from your Chinese embassy. They aren't particularly cheap

[Mikeyy]

I actually just did it recently with a friend. There is an office right at the train station at the border. Depending on which country you are from you can obtain a short term drop visa there. I don't think there was much of a fee for that one. No problem for a short excursion into Guangdong province. This isn't available to Americans. They are just jealous I'm sure. We have to get a regular visa from an agency or consulate. That type could be from a hundred to two hundred dollars depending on where you get it. You can obtain a visa in HK overnight from several agencies for about $200 U.S.. The cheapest way to get a visa is to go to a consulate yourself if you can and do it there. Again, I think that is around $100 if I remember correctly.

[pearlescence]

Oh yes, I forgot the agencies in HK and their big mark-up.
Glad to hear that office at the station does exist and the visa thing works. When I was looking into it there was so much muddled and contradictory info that I decided it was easier not to go that way and sit on the train wondering....

[Mikeyy]

It's only been about a year that the border crossing at Luohu has been open 24 hours a day. So you might have been given some old information.

[Cees]

Thought the topic was about the generous offer of Jewelmer visiting their pearlfarm, has the topic changed to how to get a visa to China? Confused here

[Pearly Shell]

Hey Guys,

Any updates to this? Are we ruckusing in the PI??

Inquiring minds want to know.

[Marianne]

Hi Donna. Good to hear from you! I could not make a trip to PI any time soon..... house needs a new roof

[jshepherd]

Hey guys,

Mikeyy is in Manila speaking with them right now. Let's wait to hear how it goes.

[lisa c]

Any news about what you guys are doing? It's cold here in Pittsburgh and some vicarious warmth would be lovely.

[Unusual Pearls]

Any update?