Like many Chinese airports, Kunming Changshui International Airport (KMG) has steadily growing international connectivity. It offers flights to Tokyo, Hong Kong, Seoul, various Southeast Asian cities, and even a 16:30 route to Dubai. For that last destination, I wound up in the Kunming airport international departures lounge. Officially the “first & business class lounge,” it […]
China
Restaurant Review: Zhuo Yue Xuan at the Four Seasons Shenzhen
Disclaimer: In exchange for a meal at the Four Seasons Shenzhen restaurant Zhuo Yue Xuan, I am writing this review. Located in Futian, the primary CBD (central business district) of Shenzhen, the nearly 11-years old Four Seasons hotel in Shenzhen is located close to the district’s largest convention center, metro stations, and even a high-speed […]
Chinese Visa-Free Access for Three More Countries
Since reopening to international tourism in March 2023, international arrivals numbers to China have been lower than anticipated by that country’s government. To encourage more foreign tourists to visit, Beijing has temporarily eliminated tourism visas for a number of countries, mostly in the EU. Starting 1 July of this year, there will now be Chinese […]
Restaurant Review: Pin Yue Xuan @ The Venetian Sands, Macao
While traveling between Zhuhai, China’s border city with Macao, and Hong Kong International Airport, I was able to arrange to lunch at Pin Yue Xuan, a locally renowned Cantonese establishment at The Venetian Sands Macao. For those unfamiliar with Macao, a number of larger properties such as Sands Resorts offer free shuttles from its border […]
Chinatown Around the World
As a child, I used to think that the Manhattan Chinatown was one of the coolest neighborhoods to wander around. Whether it was the detailed writing system, the food, or the history, I was enthralled. But how would it compare with other Chinatowns around the world? After starting to travel, I realized that New York […]
My Top Five Eats of 2023
As usual, it was difficult to create a top five list of an entire year’s worth of eating. There could easily be numerous top five lists; after all, the periscope is always up in the search for the most clickbait-friendly of titles. But that’s tiresome. Instead, I will present you with a single list of […]
Trip Report: GX Airlines, Nanning NNG to Bangkok BKK
Here’s a new carrier for BoardingArea trip reports– GX Airlines. In this post, I will be covering my flight from Nanning, in southern China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, as well as the sole airport lounge in the international wing of Nanning Wuxu International Airport. But first, a warm tip for potential visitors […]
First Class Lounge North, Zhengzhou, China
For my second of three lounge reviews from China, today we will visit the domestic First Class Lounge North at Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport. (If you’re not so familiar with the name Zhengzhou, it’s in a particularly historic region, located between two ancient capitals of Kaifeng and Luoyang.) Not to mention, given it’s central (to […]
