Chinatown

[awch]

However, I have been warned by 4 students currently on f1 visas who all hail from there that theft is a HUGE problem, as compared with elsewhere in China.

 

I additionally was warned by a bus load of tourists from GZ who were traveling from xuenkongsi to datong (my precious and I caught a ride with them after agreeing to help them with their english) of the exact same thing.

 

I also met a person my first time in China from GZ who warned me of the same thing too.

 

The numbers of people warning, in addition to multiple guidebooks which state this, lead me to believe its true.

 

I have also heard that crime in Guangzhou is out of control- it's supposed to be the most dangerous city in China. Xiao Ming's friend was living there and warned us that theives now carry knives, cut your arm and then steal your bag- they also move in gangs. Needless to say, Xiao Ming now has something else to worry about excessively

[lele]

I have also heard that crime in Guangzhou is out of control- it's supposed to be the most dangerous city in China. Xiao Ming's friend was living there and warned us that theives now carry knives, cut your arm and then steal your bag- they also move in gangs. Needless to say, Xiao Ming now has something else to worry about excessively 

I am sorry to hear that he is worrying!

 

I also did *not* know about the knives, yikes!

 

Except, there is potential hope too. In Vietnam, using a knife to cut a bag away is a common trick used by thieves. However, the people are generally very willing to help out an obvious foreigner there, and hence foreigners are much less likely to be targets. Hence, if you were to travel together, maybe you could reassure him?

 

Does anyone have a breakdown of crime directed against foreigners as compared to Chinese in GZ?

 

And if nothing else, you could go and kick their butts!

[Shosetsuin]

I used to live in NYC and I must agree that the Chinatown there is comparable to Guangzhou (living in shenzhen now). I also stayed in Flushing for about a month and thought it was a more interesting place as far as chinatowns go...not so much tourist stuff...just more Chinese.

 

There is also an excellent sichuan place called golden monkey? iron monkey? i forget...something monkey...

 

nate

[sylinchinastill]

I have never heard of being cut by knives- but I did have someone in Shenzhen cut my bag on the street- I felt someone touch my bag while my friend and I were walking on a crowded street- she thought I was just having one of those 'too many people don't touch me' moments- we didn't know until we got home that my bag had been cut- luckily he only cut through the outer lining of my bag and nothing fell out.

[corvette]

Talking about crimes, I would advice that anyone that comes to China should take good care of his/her belongings. Always put your pack/bag in the front, and try to avoid using cellphones in public. Follow my instructions, you will be fine.

 

I had heard a lot about the theft and pickpockets in Rome, but actually when I was in Rome, I felt it was a safe place.

[awch]

Talking about crimes, I would advice that anyone that comes to China should take good care of his/her belongings. Always put your pack/bag in the front, and try to avoid using cellphones in public. Follow my instructions, you will be fine.

This is good advice- my wallet has been stolen 3 times in China and my cell phone was almost stolen- the guy had it in his hand then xiao ming saw him and he gave it back to us.

Be especially careful on the busses.

[lele]

Talking about crimes, I would advice that anyone that comes to China should take good care of his/her belongings. Always put your pack/bag in the front, and try to avoid using cellphones in public. Follow my instructions, you will be fine.

This is good advice- my wallet has been stolen 3 times in China and my cell phone was almost stolen- the guy had it in his hand then xiao ming saw him and he gave it back to us.

Be especially careful on the busses.

Be really *careful* on the sleeper trains.

 

I always sleep with any valuables I have either in my pocket or under my pillow. One time, there was a person snooping around, but he never would have dared to do anything other than rummage through bags on the floor...

 

However, the trains are good in that if it is stolen, but you can notice before the train stops, and you ask the police nicely, they can hunt through the train to help you track the thief down...but luckily I never needed to use this option!

[ghall20]

Hey wow, my sweetie and I were in NYC Chinatown last week!!  Juxin also commented on how much of a "Cantonese" flavor the whole area has (which is understandable since most "chinatowns" around the world have a strong Cantonese flavor since the Cantonese have a tradition of emmigrating elsewhere to find riches abroad).  Anyway, Juxin was surprised by how many (Chinese) people there were.  Very crowded, and the NYC chinatown did make her feel almost as if she were back in China again (begrudgingly )

 

One of the things I was suprised by is how much NYC Chinatown has grown!  It used to butt up against "Little Italy".  I forget the name of that street, but it used to divide Chinatown from Little Italy.  Now, Little Italy is gone!.  That whole big area that used to be Little Italy is now filled with Chinese shops, stores, restaurants, clinics, everything.  Chinatown is getting bigger and bigger, overtaking all surrounding communities.  We joked that NYC Chinatown is now "Chinacity".  Its really like a (small) Chinese city dropped inside of an American metropolis.  We also joked that someday hlaf of Manhatten will belong to the Chinese 

What did she say about our big China Town here in Portland... ha ha...

 

Don't blink--you'll miss it..

 

Geroge