Bank of China introduced their travel prepaid card with UnionPay. It's a prepaid card, application is fast but you just have to monitor the daily exchange rate to get better deal. For more information, click HERE. I applied one as I was thinking not to carry too much notes in hand. At the same time, I doubt its usability because not every merchant has the UnionPay facility. I deposited enough of amount for my hotel fee (thought hotel should has it). But upon check-in my hotel, I was told they don't accept UnionPay asked me for credit card i.e. Mastercard or Visa. I was quite surprised. I noticed the merchants in wholesale markets in GZ too if any of them accept UnionPay payment, truth is majority prefer cash term. Unless you buy in bulk quantity at office floors then they do have such facility. Anyway, I managed to use my UnionPay prepaid card to purchase a luggage. Though insufficient amount contained in the card, they accepted balance to pay in cash. I think it's a risk to deposit all cash in the prepaid card. One of its disadvantages is that you can't withdraw cash out in China. Have to think twice before you apply one.
These are the only photos I took at 十三行 (Shi San Hang) wholesale market in GZ. Starts at 6am until 1pm daily. Busy streets, all you can hear is trolley sound and people shouting 沙河, 沙河 (there are vans bringing customers to another wholesale market named 沙河).
First to third floors of these wholesale markets are small stalls, accept 拿货 (na huo) and 打包 (da bao). These two are important terms. The quantity of 拿货 (na huo): buy 2 pieces at least per design. Depends on their requirement, some accept minimum 2 pieces, some has higher requirement to accept 4 or 5 pieces. 打包 (da bao) is 10 pieces above. You can mix the quantity with different colour but not the design. They don't accept bargain if the quantity is small. But if you buy in big quantity you will be the boss. Price bargaining is a skill to master. Please teach me too if you are good at it ok :)
I stayed at Homeinns 如家. A lot of reviews on this hotel chain, good service, hygienic, etc. Oh yeah, it's a listed company on Nasdaq in US too. But I failed to make booking at their website, as it requires you to enter China mobile phone number. Researched for alternative methods to make booking, found a website which you can make China hotel booking without paying a penny. Sounds great isn't it? Here it is: http://www.chinahotels.org/ For those can't read Chinese, it's a great source for you to make hotel reservation.
This is my hotel room at Homeinn. No window because I opted the cheapest. Though the space is small for two but it is enough for a single like me. RMB606 for 3 nights. Plus point, it is adjacent to the subway station.
