Hi Folks,

I've been in Shanghai for the past couple of weeks and I love it here. However, I have to move. I'm moving to Guangzhou. I bought a lovely bicycle here in Shanghai, a Giant bicycle. I hate to sell it or leave it here in Shanghai. Is there any way I can send it forward to Guangzhou? Can I book a train ticket for my bike too?

Ride it! You will really love China, if you make it!

You can freight it if it doesn't cost as much as buying a new one in Guangzhou.

Look for a company called 中铁快运 （www.cre.cn). They can arrange it through rail or truck. I don't think they have English service though. If you speak Chinese or can have a Chinese friend help you can contact their branch nearest of your house and they will arrange it.

Not that difficult at all.

Disassemble the bulky parts....take off the wheels, saddle and either rotate the handle bars (90 degrees) so that their in line with the top tube of the bike or take off the handle bars completely.
You you could also take off the peddles to if you have a basic tool kit. No need to bother taking off some of the other fiddly bits. But would suggest you somehow wrap up and protect the rear de-railer, use an old towel or cloth or something would be fine

Easily put all the pieces in a big hold all or box it up. You'd be surprised by just how small you can pack up a bike.... I used to do it all the time.

Either take on the plane (if allowed, some domestic do) or train or courier it.

Hi Namesake,

first, you need enforce you brain in any situation !

Reassemble it, pack and ship by Post. Guess it cost ~100 rmb. Easy ?

Good luck in GZ ! That is another hole in China.

http://search1.taobao.com/browse/0/n-g, ... opsearch=1

Thank you folks for all your advice. I think I'll try Cylon's suggestion and contact these CRE folks.

OP> have you considered taking the bike apart, remove the seat and seat post, remove the wheels (front and rear), remove the pedal sets (if they're not the folding type, even remove the cranks, basically remove everything except for the brakes, derailers and the handlebars. Flick the handle bars round so that they sit horizontal and inline to the top tube of the frame, and drop them down as for as they will go in the steering head. Get yourself a packing box from one of your nearest bike shops, probably free or maybe 10-20 kuai, pack the bike inside it, make sure to wrap the rear derailer and your all set. It'd be just as easy to take on the plane if thats your mode of travel, otherwise many different frieghter will handle it. Can also send by rail, though you have to be able to speak Chinese to get that done. Have taken that option once a long time ago. Changzhou to Shanghai, I forget the cost.

Thats one of the advantages that a foldup bike has over the full framed sized bkes... and there are some very high quality foldup bikes... www.dahon.com www.dahon.cn

sinned69 wrote:OP> have you considered taking the bike apart, remove the seat and seat post, remove the wheels (front and rear), remove the pedal sets (if they're not the folding type, even remove the cranks, basically remove everything except for the brakes, derailers and the handlebars. Flick the handle bars round so that they sit horizontal and inline to the top tube of the frame, and drop them down as for as they will go in the steering head. Get yourself a packing box from one of your nearest bike shops, probably free or maybe 10-20 kuai, pack the bike inside it, make sure to wrap the rear derailer and your all set. It'd be just as easy to take on the plane if thats your mode of travel, otherwise many different frieghter will handle it. Can also send by rail, though you have to be able to speak Chinese to get that done. Have taken that option once a long time ago. Changzhou to Shanghai, I forget the cost.

Thats one of the advantages that a foldup bike has over the full framed sized bkes... and there are some very high quality foldup bikes... www.dahon.com www.dahon.cn

Well, I wish I was a bicycle expert, Sinned69. And I wish I could speak Chinese. My bike's not a fold up bike. I gather from what you write, even if it isn't, I can do this but, again, frankly, I'm not an expert and it seems like too much hassle unless I can find someone who can do it for me.

Cylon wrote:Look for a company called 中铁快运 （www.cre.cn). They can arrange it through rail or truck. I don't think they have English service though. If you speak Chinese or can have a Chinese friend help you can contact their branch nearest of your house and they will arrange it.

Hi Cylon,

I can't access that website you told me about - www.cre.cn .

it's not that difficult at all, you can send the bicycle by train, it will cost you within 100 kuai, just find 托运 (tuoyun) at railway station, pay them money, they'll give you fapiao, and you can get the bycickle at the Guangzhou railway station.. last time i send my bycycle to Wenzhou, it was 30 kuai or something, and my bycyckle was completely alright when i got that at Wenzhou..

paulcarr wrote

Well, I wish I was a bicycle expert, Sinned69. Sad And I wish I could speak Chinese. Sad My bike's not a fold up bike. I gather from what you write, even if it isn't, I can do this but, again, frankly, I'm not an expert and it seems like too much hassle unless I can find someone who can do it for me.

Paulcarr its not that difficult. If you have a Chinese friend that can assist you or, if not, then explain to a Chinese acquaintance what it is you want to do ie. freight bicycle from Shanghai to Guangzhou and have them write the basics of that down for you in Chinese. Then take that along to the freight window of the railway station. Better though if you can have a Chinese assist you. Even a combination of the directions and using a mobile phone to call the same friend and phoning that friend when you are at the freight window at the train station so that they can clarify the situation at the time. Isn't there a mobile phone language service in Shanghai that provides that kind of service for a fee? We've one here called "Guanxi"

Paulcarr, you disappointed me You are still don't know how to take your fuсking bike to GZ ?

root wrote:Paulcarr, you disappointed me You are still don't know how to take your fuсking bike to GZ ?

Good grief!! The CRE site was down!! - like I reported. That's not my fault!!. Anyway, it was online tonight. I'll have a Chinese colleague contact them.

Thank you all for your feedback.

jeffinflorida wrote:Dude take it apart, put it in a box or large duffel bag and stick it on the train with you.

As written already, I'm not an expert on bikes. I don't know anyone, Chinese or English speaking, who can help me. If I tried it myself, I'd probably make a balls of it.

jeffinflorida wrote:Dude take it apart, put it in a box or large duffel bag and stick it on the train with you.

As written already, I'm not an expert on bikes. I don't know anyone, Chinese or English speaking, who can help me. If I tried it myself, I'd probably make a balls of it.

Sherali wrote:it's not that difficult at all, you can send the bicycle by train, it will cost you within 100 kuai, just find 托运 (tuoyun) at railway station, pay them money, they'll give you fapiao, and you can get the bycickle at the Guangzhou railway station.. last time i send my bycycle to Wenzhou, it was 30 kuai or something, and my bycyckle was completely alright when i got that at Wenzhou..

This sounds like a good option. Maybe, I'll give it a try. By the way, the internet in this hostel I'm staying at is crap. Although, I'm in Shanghai, I'm sometimes finding it impossible to access the shanghaiexpat website. Anyway, my plan is to travel to Guangzhou today or Wednesday. Thank you all for your feedback.

sinned69 wrote:paulcarr wrote

Well, I wish I was a bicycle expert, Sinned69. Sad And I wish I could speak Chinese. Sad My bike's not a fold up bike. I gather from what you write, even if it isn't, I can do this but, again, frankly, I'm not an expert and it seems like too much hassle unless I can find someone who can do it for me.

Paulcarr its not that difficult. If you have a Chinese friend that can assist you or, if not, then explain to a Chinese acquaintance what it is you want to do ie. freight bicycle from Shanghai to Guangzhou and have them write the basics of that down for you in Chinese. Then take that along to the freight window of the railway station. Better though if you can have a Chinese assist you. Even a combination of the directions and using a mobile phone to call the same friend and phoning that friend when you are at the freight window at the train station so that they can clarify the situation at the time. Isn't there a mobile phone language service in Shanghai that provides that kind of service for a fee? We've one here called "Guanxi"

Sounds like common sense advice, Sinned 69. Thank you. Where are you, by the way? What city are you located at? This Guanxi service - this is a mobile text messaging service? Is there a website for that? A number I text? I've been in Shanghai for nearly 2 months but sorry I don't know the situation regarding if there is a mobile phone language service in Shanghai. My guess is there is, given that Shanghai is probably the most advanced city in the country (outside of Hong Kong).

guanxi sms service... > http://www.minfo.com/guanxi/en/index.aspx

sinned69 wrote:guanxi sms service... > http://www.minfo.com/guanxi/en/index.aspx

Thanks for the link, sinned69. It seems like a useful service.

jeffinflorida wrote:Where do you live? usually I only make house calls for females in need...

Thanks for your offer of help, jeffinflorida, but it won't be necessary.

Suggest the train as I've sent my electric bike on it more than once. CRE is an over-priced shipper who usually have their offices right beside the train station shipping facilities. They charge about double what the train company does.

Also remember to take the receipt you received when you bought the bike. Sometimes they get really sticky 'cause they think you stole it and are shipping the bike out of town... not that any bikes are stolen here.

When you pick it up you will need your receipt for shipping and your passport.

That is my experience.

Thanks for the feedback, One_Brick_Shy. I'm going to fly to Guangzhou tomorrow evening. I came down with a bout of diarrhea and stomach pains 2 days ago. I'm not taking any chances. Chances are the diarrhea will get worse, or at least, not go away if I take the train. Taking a long train trip with a bout of diarrhea, I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. I'll contact CRE this morning to see if they can transfer my bike. I've got 3 heavy roller bags as it is. And I've only got 2 hands - my right and my left.

Ok, Paul, pls keep posting, we want to know more about happy end of the story.

Bike and you in GZ, take in new apt. and married.. kids tried ride bike of the father..

Hi Root,

Anyway, I booked the plane ticket yesterday morning for yesterday evening. Yesterday afternoon, I packed my things. I then went downstairs to talk with the staff at the desk of the hostel I'm staying at and I asked them to contact CRE for me in order to ask them to transfer my bike to the new hostel I'm staying at in Guangzhou. I hit a mishap however as foreshadowed by One_Brick_Shy in his post. I didn't have a receipt for my <brand>Giant</brand> bike. You see, when I first went to Shanghai nearly 2 months ago, I had no plans to leave Shanghai. I intended to stay and find a suitable job there. Well, anyway, I didn't find a suitable job so now I have moved onto Guangzhou. Anyway, I bought the bike during the time when I had no plans to leave Shanghai and then I.... got rid of the receipt. I didn't think it was important to hold onto it. So, anyway, fast forward to yesterday, and the CRE folks are saying they can do nothin' because I don't have proof of purchase of the bike. The hostel folks suggested that I go to the local post office, maybe, they could help me. They couldn't. So, in the end, I donated the bike to a pretty Chinese member-of-staff at the hostel I was stayin' at. LOL.

Anyway, I'm in Guangzhou now. Thank you all for your feedback. I'm all the wiser for your feedback. You're all straight up guys.

Ok Paul, wish you good luck in GZ !

There a lot of foreign companies and finding of job is easy (depend your expectation for salary).

Also you may try check here: http://guangzhou.craigslist.com.cn/jjj/ and here: http://jobsearch.monster.com.hk/searchresult.html


Probably, if you check for GZ expats forum/s - that may help too.

Thank you, root, and thank you for the links. I'll check them out.