Hi there guys and girls,

I am planning to have my 'summer holiday' in China (yep, I must be crazy) where I will be going to Beijing (Peking), Shanghai, Shenzen, Hongkong and fly back via Bangkok to Istanbul.

All this between 9th and 24th of October.

All contacts, tips, shopping ideas, naughty ideas are more than welcome!!

Cheers

Dirk

I lived in HK and I was there in December last year. I stayed on Hong Kong Island, not Kowloon Peninsula. In HK, for a well heeled international crowd and great bar scene at around 9, Divino is the the place on Wyndham Road. If you know of anyone who can get you to Kee Club, you are guaranteed to have tons of fun in this members'-only ultra hip lounge/club. Another members-only afterhours club is called Drop and everyone at the Kee Club goes here at around 2 am. Hottest DJs spin here. Dance until you "drop" is the motto there. Another cool bar/club: Dragon I and don't miss the famous Lan Kwai Fong area off of Wyndham Street also for a fun night out. In HK Island, Wanchai used to be the red light district with places like Joe Bananas but I think it may have been gentrified now. Tea at the Peninsula Hotel on Kowloon side is legendary. In Beijing, go to the Chinese opera if that is your cup of tea. Shanghai, go to the Bund. For more on shanghai:

http://www.departures.com/bb/bb_1005_shanghai.html

BTW, the first week in October is China National week. Everything will most likely be closed for one week, including banks in HK. It's a good thing you will be going right after that.

Have fun!

you'll get the dirty deed advice only because you asked for it:
shanghai is definitely a good place for nightlife and dirty deeds...you'll have fun there. the karaoke places are whore houses...so don't expect much singing... if you find a girl you like there, after a paid night she might spend the remainder of your stay with you for free...and once you are out of the karaoke place, prices are very negotiable...not that i would have any first hand experiences!!!!!

nighclubbing in shanghai is great...every day of the week...decent percentage of westerners usually as well. go to hooters (no they don't have the american standard big boobs), chat up a nice waitress or a few of them and have them take you to the good party places...many of them go anyway after work...or have them at least show you the good clubs for each night of the week in the nightlife magazine they have there.

and if you order massage service in the hotel then expect to be hustled for additional services for 'pressure relief'. you can get the massage for free when you complain to the hotel management about these indecent proposals!!

bear in mind: girls can be gorgeous, one night stands are not a problem, but sex usually sucks (not the good way).

if you are going shopping at the fake brand marketplace, only shop from the hidden backstreet warehouses where they keep the high quality stuff. prices are VERY negotiable.

Thanks for the great advice on shopping....

I wonder if theres any truth to that