Studying Abroad in China with My New Yoyoor Phone
Sophomore year at college is finally over, and just a week after I left my sheltered college campus for the summer, I arrived in Beijing for 8 weeks of intensive language study. I had been to Beijing once on a class trip during spring break of freshman year, but the city has completely changed since then. I remember visiting the university that our college has a study abroad program at during that first trip and it was on a 2-lane road; now that road is 6 lanes.
The main reason I decided to study abroad in China is, of course, to improve my Chinese. I believe that studying Chinese, even more than other languages, requires being in an all-Chinese environment all the time in order to master it. But on the other hand, it is summer and I have come to China partly in search of some adventure, a change of scenery, and to explore. This has brought up a bit of a conundrum: how to balance a busy class schedule, on top of hours of out-of-class study, while still allowing enough time to see the city?
Fortunately, this problem has been solved with my Yoyoor GPS phone. When planning what to bring to China, I debated whether or not to bring a mobile phone from home, or to buy one in China. Then I saw the new Yoyoor rental phone, and thought it would make a great solution. With only 8 weeks in China, buying a new mobile phone for China would be a waste of money. And some of my classmates did bring their own phones from the US, but their phones are working with varying degrees of reliability and have caused some hassles for them.
Beijing is a big city, and with just 8 weeks here, I’ve had a lot of ground to cover in order to do some in-depth exploring. The Yoyoor phone has been great for that, because it already has a list of good attractions to visit. Every Saturday morning, my roommate and I select an attraction from our Yoyoor phone at random, and then go check out that sight. Afterwards, we find a cool restaurant near the sight we just visited, also often using Yoyoor’s restaurant listings. Then after dinner we do some more “arbitrary” exploring, finding a hidden neighborhood or interesting alleyways to wander around for most of the afternoon. When it’s time to head back to the dorms, Yoyoor gets us out of the alleys painlessly with its GPS navigation feature.
While you don’t need to ask me twice to try the latest electronic gadgets, I will admit that renting the phone was also partly my parents’ idea. They worry about their only son going to a foreign land, and can rest at ease knowing the Yoyoor phone has both an emergency number section as well as an English-speaking live help center in case I need help. Besides, the IP calling feature has been great for calling my parents in the US. The camera and email features also allow me to photograph my new haunts and email the pictures to my parents, which they appreciate.
I just passed the halfway mark in my China study trip, and as I look back at all the places I have visited, food I have eaten and sights I have seen, I am satisfied to have already reached my exploration goals. This coming weekend, we have a class trip to Shanghai, and with just 2 days to explore that city, I am going to have to count on Yoyoor’s phone package even more to make sure I see all that I want to see there. I’m sure it will be a breeze.
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See who links to itPosted at 10:17PM May 21, 2009 by admin in Yoyoor | Comments[0]
Yoyoor Phone is available in a lot of Travel Agencies now
Only 30% of mobile phones sold in North America and Europe work in China. International roaming and calling rates are extremely high. Yofone is a service aimed at making trips to China hassle-free. Get Yofone from your travel agency and begin to enjoy low local/international call rates and the famous Yofone Helpline service right away. Ask your tour organizer for Yofone today!
Success story
China Travel Service Zhejiang
Founded in 1956, China Travel Service Zhejiang has become Zhejiang's leading comprehensive travel agency, whose business scope extends to inbound travel, outbound travel, domestic travel, business travel etc. With fine business network with travel companies all over the world, CTS Zhejiang has won acclaims domestically and internationally. CTS Zhejiang has been cooperating with Yoyoor Inc. since April 2009 to provide mobile phones for travelers to China. The specially-programmed phone is proven to be valuable and popular among their tour groups with its bilingual call center and low international call rates. Users found the phones easy-to-use and helped added peace of mind while in a foreign country.
Shanghai SinoFly Business Information Consulting Co., Ltd
Shanghai SinoFly Business Information Co., Ltd was founded in 2001, originally as Shanghai office of US Inland Empire International Business Association and Sino-US Economic and Culture Exchange Center. It is now also the local office of United Canada-China Industry & Business Society. Now with 5 offices and 67 strategic partners in 46 countries across the world, Sinofly is consolidating our confidence in assisting cross-boundary business. Sinofly has about 50 international staff worldwide. Their professionals are from Big Four Accounting, international law firms, Fortune 500 Multinational companies and professional travel agencies. Sinofly has been working closely with Yoyoor China travel mobile phone project since very beginning. Together, we have serviced groups such as GE global CEO conference, Panasonic Business Tour etc. Yofone cellphones are well-received among the high-end business customers.
Posted at 10:59PM May 19, 2009 by admin in Yoyoor | Comments[0]
Yoyoor China Travel Tips - When And Where To Go
While China is a year-round destination, the months of May, September, and October are ideal months for travel anywhere in the country. The months of March and April are the lower-priced shoulder season; while the lowest price, off-season travel, is from November through the winter months. June through August is a good time to visit central and northern China. In central China, the cosmopolitan Shanghai and Chongqing, Wuhan and Nanjing along the Yangzi River are worth checking out. In the north,Beijing is on everyone's itinerary, and the Great Wall and the splendor of the Imperial City are certainly not to be missed. Though the north winters are cold, some sights may reach its ultimate beauty when, for example, Harbin is dazzling travelers at the annual Ice Sculpture Festival. The Yellow River Valley offer magnificent sights- the cave temple at Datong and Luoyang, the Terracotta Army in Xi'an , etc. Spring and autumn are the best months for travel in Southern China. Suzhou and Hangzhou are crowned as paradise on earth for their irresistible charm. In the southwest of the country, Sichuan's Chengdu and Yunnan's Kunming remain two of China's most interesting and easy-going provincial capitals. Yangshuo and Guilin in Guangxi attract a lot of tourists every year for its magnificent landscape.
If you look for exotic style, Tibet should be your best choice, as well as Inner Mongolia, the old Silk Road and Dunhuang In the northwest of China.
Overall, the best time to visit China is spring and autumn, when the weather is at its most temperate. In the spring, it's best to start in the south and work north or west as summer approaches; in the autumn, start in the north and work south.
Posted at 07:02PM Apr 15, 2009 by admin in China Travel | Comments[0]
Yoyoor China Travel Tips - Shopping
- You will have fun shopping in China today. There is an incredible choice of boutique shops, department stores, and hotel shopping arcades to browse through. Or you can try bargain hunting at one of the new "free markets" that are springing up all over the country. You're sure to be dazzled by the unique array of aesthetic and practical gifts available in China. You will find everything from high quality silks and porcelains to antique screens and traditional Chinese herbal medicines. Throughout China shops offer unique ceramics, paintings, stone rubbings, embroideries, carpets, furniture, jade carvings, custom-carved signature chops, antiques, books, and much more. Shop personnel will often pack and arrange for shipping bulky purchases back home. Prices are usually clearly marked in stores and shops, and some staff in major tourist areas can speak little English. Don't miss browsing through one of the state run Friendship Stores; they are still some of the best places to find an excellent selection of quality merchandise, plus you'll find a complete supermarket of Chinese delicacies to bring to friends back home.
[ A look at what fun things you can bring home from China ]
Posted at 09:29PM Apr 14, 2009 by admin in China Travel | Comments[0]
Yoyoor China Travel Tips - Travel Cost
- How much traveling China costs depends on where and how you have your trip. In general, by doing everything cheaply and sticking mostly to the less expensive interior provinces you can survive on US$40 a day;
travel a bit more widely and in better comfort from time to time and you're looking at US$70 a day;
while traveling in style and visiting only key places along the east coast, you are looking at daily expenses of US$120 and above.
The most expensive destinations are Hong Kong, Macau, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, the eastern coastal provinces and Special Economic Zone. Food costs remain reasonable throughout China, and transport costs can be kept to a minimum by traveling by bus wherever possible or by traveling hard-seat on the train. It is the accommodation that will take the largest chunk.
Posted at 11:56PM Apr 13, 2009 by admin in China Travel | Comments[0]
Coupon for Yoyoor Cell Phone Rental
To thanks for the blog readers, Yoyoor management team has decide to give special offers to those one who visit Yoyoor Blog.
Special offer April, 2009
TripPal Classic daily rental 50% off
Yoyoor Coupon Code: US885
Posted at 06:11PM Apr 09, 2009 by admin in Yoyoor | Comments[0]
The mainland Chinese currency is formally called Yuan, or Renminbi. One yuan breaks down into ten jiao, also known as mao. Paper money is the main form of exchange, available in RMB100, RMB50, RMB20, RMB10, RMB5 and RMB1 notes, with a similar selection of mao. One mao, five mao, and RMB1 coins are also in the circulation. At present, the Yuan is worth about US $ 0.1463, with slight daily fluctuations. The Bank of China has exchange desks for foreign currency and travelers checks which can also be exchanged at airports, some large department stores, and many hotels at a rate slightly better than cash. Exchange rates are regulated, so rates are generally about the same anywhere.[Read More]
Posted at 11:31PM Apr 03, 2009 by admin in China Travel | Comments[1]
60 More Rental Outlets Added forPublic Bicycles from Apr. 1st in Hanzhou
Source: DUSHIKUAIBAO
By Yan Min
The average daily turnover of the public bicycle rental in Hangzhou has reached over 40,000 times at present. On the busiest day it witnessed total 56,385 times of bicycles rented.
Another 1,200 public bicycles, together with another 60 rental outlets have been being put into operation since Apr. 1st. There are now total 410 outlets with 11,200 bicycles for free rental.
[Read More]
Posted at 09:50PM Apr 02, 2009 by admin in China Travel | Comments[0]
Yoyoor China Travel Monthly Pick up Beijing March 2009
More than a youth hostel
Red Lantern House Hostel sits right in the Beijing hutong (centuries old tiny alleys) so you are steps away and yet separated from the outside noisy modern life. They are also one of the few YH to arrange qualitied tours to the Great Wall.
Posted at 01:12AM Apr 02, 2009 by admin in China Travel | Comments[0]
Yoyoor China Travel Monthly Pick up Guangzhou 03 2009 (ii)
More than a youth hostel
Affords a fabulous river view, The Riverside Youth Hostel is just a short ferry ride to Shamian island where you will find some fo the best restaurants in the former foreign quarters. The hostel is also conveniently located on "bar street" so easy enough to find a good night out.[Read More]
Posted at 07:12PM Mar 31, 2009 by admin in China Travel | Comments[0]
Yoyoor China Travel Mothly Pick up Guangzhou-03 2009
Sightseeing Best Museum in Town
Nanyue Royal Tomb Museum
This unique museum is built directly on the tomb site which dates back to 2000 years ago. All tomb findings are well displayed in several exhibition rooms.
Posted at 01:30AM Mar 31, 2009 by admin in China Travel | Comments[0]
Yoyoor China Travel Monthly Pick up Shanghai - 0309
Virtually at Shanghai’s geographic heart, Mingtown Etour shacks up in a historic building along a quiet alley. You can enjoy both sides of Shanghai-its modern, dynamic architecture a nd its quainter, small-scale alley charms.
Posted at 10:36PM Mar 27, 2009 by admin in China Travel | Comments[0]
Hangzhou Monthly Pick Up March 2009
Mingtown Garden Youth Hostel
More than a youth hostel Happily situated in a beautifully cultivated Chinese garden just minuetes away from West Lake itself. Step outside from the hostel you are ready for sunset strolls through the pedestrian paths with arch bridges, water on both sides. The homy and quaint courtyard in this traditional building.is a great spot for reading or sipping Longjing tea.[Read More]
Posted at 10:46PM Mar 25, 2009 by admin in China Travel | Comments[0]
Can China's homemade theme park overtake Disney Land?
BEIJING, March 24 -- Zhao Lihong, a CPPCC member, recently proposed a large-scale amusement park based on the classic literary work Journey to the West in a bid to give Chinese children a homemade theme park that can compete with Disney Land.[Read More]
Posted at 10:22PM Mar 24, 2009 by admin in China Travel | Comments[1]
China is doing well amid financial crisis: Cohen
BEIJING, March 22 (Xinhuanet) -- China will do well in fighting global financial crisis, former U.S. Defense Secretary and Chairman of Cohen Group William S. Cohen said.
"China has the opportunity to continue to recover fast and set standards for other nations to follow," Cohen told Xinhuanet, the online news portal of the Xinhua News Agency at the sidelines of the ongoing China Development Forum 2009 in Beijing Sunday.
[Read More]Posted at 07:28PM Mar 23, 2009 by admin in In Focus | Comments[38]
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