[Rockhounds] China!

Lyle Pai lpai at hotmail.com
Thu Jun 25 10:24:24 PDT 2009 

Hi Flint,

Please give me a call when you get into Shanghai. My local cell phone is: 139 1661 3887. If you want, we can meet for an hour or so whenever you are free... You wouldn't be imposing and I should be around for the rest of the week.

If you like agates, I recently came across a source for agates from Inner Mongolia.... Very colourful, some of them look like Chinese roast pork... That brownish red color... These are already polished but if you need rough, I can check to see if they are available as rough...

As for shipping, it is best to coordinate the shipping from one location (if possible) to save on shipping cost. You can always use EMS at local post offices... I'm not sure about Tibet but most of the major cities' post office will have EMS service. I normally ship to the major shows from Changsha or Guilin. We consolidate onto pallets and go through a local shipping agent. I don't suppose you will be buying that much that you will need to ship in this fashion. Having said that, if you end up buying 100-200 kgs of minerals, shipping by EMS would be prohibitive. Anyway, we can discuss this in more detail if you decide to meet up...

Kind regards,
Lyle

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Flint Smith" <flint...smith at sbcglobal.net>
To: "Rockhounds at drizzle.com: A mailing list for rock and gem collectors" <rockhounds at lists.drizzle.com>
Sent: Friday, June 26, 2009 12:40 AM
Subject: Re: [Rockhounds] China!



Thanks Lyle,
We're actually flying there today. I don't want to impose though. I'm not a mineral-guy like most of the list these days. I like agates and jaspers and those stones seem to only show up in the States in their final prepared state. They'll probably be that way in China too... unless I go to a show then it'll be the same as Tuscon or maybe Quartzsite.

Could you give me an idea about how things get shipped from China? I know there is some kind of an inexpensive method because when I purchase goods from China online, shipping is usually included in the price of the item. That's true even if the item is only a couple dollars! Here in the US there are certain boxes that ship at a fixed cost regardless of the weight of the contents so they are the popular way to ship rocks.

Thanks, 
Flint

Here's our Shanghai itinerary




Day 2
June 26, 2009
Arrive in Shanghai, China




Your
local guide greets you at the airport and transfers you to your
Shanghai hotel, where you'll spend the next four nights.

ACCOMODATIONS:
JIAN GONG JIN JIANG HOTEL

Day 3
June 27, 2009
Visit the Bund/Home-hosted lunch




After
breakfast at our hotel this morning, we set out for a sightseeing
visit to the Bund. The Bund is perhaps the most recognizable area of
Shanghai; its art deco buildings hug the Huangpu River and stand as a
tribute to the city's wealthy past. But developers are breathing life
into this remarkable area and restoring it to its former glory. As
you stroll the waterfront boulevard, notice how the European
influence on Shanghai is apparent everywhere—from the historic Bank
of China to the clock tower of the British Customs House.

Then
we delve even deeper into Shanghai's culture when we enjoy a
home-hosted lunch. This is a unique opportunity to spend time with a
local family and absorb the subtleties of Chinese life. There may be
a language barrier, but you'll be surprised at how much you can
actually communicate without using words.

This
evening we gather for a Chinese dinner at our hotel.

ACCOMODATIONS:
JIAN GONG JIN JIANG HOTEL

Meals
 1B, 1L, 1D

Day 4
June 28, 2009
Explore Yu Garden/Explore Shanghai Museum




This
morning we explore the Yuyuan (or "Yu") Gardens. Along with
the Bund, this area, located at the northeastern side of the Old
City, is as justifiably famous for its serenity as the rest of the
city is for its feverish pace. Founded by the Pan family in 1557, the
Yu Gardens took 18 years to create. They consist of three main
sections: traditional Chinese teahouses, sparkling goldfish ponds,
and beautifully manicured pavilions.

Next
we discover the treasures and trades of the Shanghai Museum. The
Shanghai Museum is a must-see for visitors. Built in 1994, it
reflects a new approach to viewing ancient artifacts. The galleries
are vast and airy and the exterior of the museum is just as
impressive as the collections housed within. As you pass through the
Bronze Gallery to the sculpture collections and on to the Chinese
Calligraphy exhibit, the museum also guides you through the pages of
China's history. Other displays include ornate furniture from the
Ming and Qing dynasties, rare coins, exquisite Chinese paintings, and
beautifully sculpted ceramics. Following our museum visit, we enjoy
an authentic Mongolian barbecue lunch. 


The
remainder of your day is at leisure. 


ACCOMODATIONS:
JIAN GONG JIN JIANG HOTEL

MEALS
1B, 1L 


Day 5
June 29, 2009
Optional Suzhou tour/Day at leisure




After
a leisurely breakfast at our hotel, the day is free for relaxation or
independent exploration. 


If
you wish, you can join our optional tour to Suzhou, which we reach
with a 40-minute train ride. This 2500-year-old city is known for its
traditional Chinese handicrafts, in forms from woodblock prints to
silk embroidery, and for its exquisite gardens. When we arrive, we
enjoy a short cruise by the city's Water Gate, which links this city
of waterways to China's Grand Canal. We then visit a local silk
factory where we see how this classically Chinese fabric is woven. We
enjoy a buffet lunch at a Suzhou restaurant before continuing to
Dinghui Temple, said to be built at the end of the Han Dynasty around
AD 220. Next, we visit the Ou Garden, a beautifully landscaped
enclave begun 6th
century. We return by train to Shanghai before dinnertime. This
optional tour includes lunch.

Tonight
you are free to enjoy your last night in Shanghai as you choose.

--- On Tue, 6/23/09, Lyle Pai <lpai at hotmail.com> wrote:

From: Lyle Pai <lpai at hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Rockhounds] China!
To: "Rockhounds at drizzle.com: A mailing list for rock and gem collectors" <rockhounds at lists.drizzle.com>
Date: Tuesday, June 23, 2009, 11:59 AM

If you're interested in seeing a wide selection of minerals, I would suggest going to Guilin...

I don't know about bargains... but many things should be cheaper than Tucson since they don't have to pay the extra shipping costs to the states... Having said that, you could've picked up some bargains towards the end of any show when the dealers are dumping their inventory... especially this past year...

If you need any help, I'd be happy to point you in the right direction. You're welcomed to look me up when you get into Shanghai. I can give you more details in person. Please email me off list with your itinerary and when you will be in Shanghai and for how long. 

Lyle


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Flint Smith" <flint...smith at sbcglobal.net>
To: "Rockhounds at drizzle.com: A mailing list for rock and gem collectors" <rockhounds at lists.drizzle.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2009 9:36 AM
Subject: [Rockhounds] China!


I'm off to China! Can anyone tell me where to go or what places are must-see?


Will I find bargains there, or am I better off just going to Tuscon?

The itinerary is that we start in Shanghai, fly to Beijing, train to Xian, boat to Xiyang, fly to Lahsa Tibet, fly back to Chongqing China, and cruise to Hong Kong. 

Not a lot of Rockhound activities on the list other than scoping out the Three Gorges and visiting a jade factory in Xian. We do have free days pretty much everywhere and Plenty of time in Hong Kong at the end.

One thing I could especially use help with... I'm limited to 44 pounds of baggage...how do I ship things back to the States? Is it expensive? Is there anything like the USPS Flat-rate box that will hold big hunks of stone?

Thanks



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