Possible ACL Venues, China.....

[serious14]

Righto, so I had a gander at the Chinese Super League standings last night, and this is how their top four looks with one round remaining:

Shandong Luneng
Shanghai Shenhua
Beijing Guoan
Tianjin Teda

The team in 5th (2 points behind 4th) is Shaanxi Chanba, based in Xi'an.  Not _quite_ in the middle of nowhere, but close.  However, to sneak into 4th they would have to rely on Tianjin losing and themselves winning, so we can take the top 3 as confirmed, and 4th almost confirmed.

NOW, as you all know, we are drawn to play a Chinese team in the ACL.  It's just a matter of which one.  However, if this top 4 stays as is, those 4 cities are remarkably easy to get to (and if you're in on my "go to game then swing by SE Asia on the way home to par-tay" plan, then it's even better), and even with the world economy as is, flights are still relatively cheap.

Beijing - you've got a multitude of options for getting here.  Direct with all the big airlines out of Sydney, transit through Bangkok/Singapore/KL if you want to save a few pennies.  Probably looking at about $1400 return (I'll explain the "come home via par-tay option at the end).

Tianjin - go to Beijing, hop on ridiculously fast train (330km'h average) that departs Beijing South Railway Station every half an hour from 7am - 10pm, you'll be there in half an hour, literally.

Shandong Luneng (Jinan) - 360km south of Beijing, easily accesible by a connecting domestic flight from either Shanghai or Beijing, or the train from either city.

Shanghai - ah, Paris of the east.  You crazy old madame you.  Seriously, if you want a culture shock so shocking it slaps you in the face with its noises and smells and _sheer amountofshittodoandnumbersofpeopleandzomg_, then Shanghai is the place to go.  Around the same (slightly less if you look around) $'s amount to get to from Sydney, direct flights with all the major airlines readily available.

Par-tay on down option - for those of you who've expressed interest in the "home via Bangkok" option, I've found a couple of airfares with both Thai and Malaysia airlines (Emirates has a cheap one as well, although it's only for March), that go Sydney - Shanghai - Bangkok - Sydney for $1700 - $1900.  3 plane flights for 600-ish each??      The advantage of this one is that even if we do play somewhere that isn't Shanghai, you can easily jump on the Z-Class trains and get to any of the other 3 in 10 hours at the most (nice comfortable sleeper cabins too).

Now, I've only done a China one at the moment, because it's by far the cheapest country of the three.  If anyone's interested in a Japan/Korea one I can do up one of those as well, but beware that they will be significantly more expensive (to the tune of 50% more in Korea's case).

 

[Jorome Alexander Bennett]

Xi an isn't close to the middle of nowhere.
A beautiful city fusing old world with new world. World class hotels, bars, even starbucks next to bell and drum towers built centuries ago. The "inner city" is surrounded by an equally old city wall. The outer city has old pagoda and temple structures. In fact, the monk made famous in the story of 'The Journey to the West", as popularised by Monkey, brought back the books he sought from India to the Goose Pagoda, where they still are now. They have one of his teeth on display in on of the buildings of the surrounding temple structure. Xi an is home to the Banpo village. A 6,000 year old archeaological site preserving the relics of a community of early man (for me this was bloody interesting).

And most famously of all, Xi An is home to, the deservedly referred to, 8th wonder of the world, the Terracotta Army. Truly amazing. Gotta be pretty high up on things to see before you die.

I don't mention this stuff to show off my knowledge of this place or anything so self aggrandising. I mention it because I seriously enjoyed the city for many reasons and don't think it should be flippantly dismissed as simply close to the middle of nowhere.
People should do themselves a favour and go to this place.

 

[Jorome Alexander Bennett]

Bangkok???

It will soon be amid another military coup.
The Prime Minister is currently holding up in a city in the far north. The General in charge of the army demands a reelection or the stepping down of the PM and the PM is refusing.
The armies have control of the airports and aren't letting planes in or out.
With pro-goverment demonstrations, that often end in violence from the army, occuring in Bangkok the whole situation is extremely volatile. With the PM and Army at an impasse the situation doesn't seem like it will end swiftly.

For your own safety, don't go to Bangkok.

 

[Omni]

I might be in for a China trip, that's pretty cheap! Depends on how the draw comes out really.

 

[greenlion]

OK, here's the profile of the clubs he mentioned above, I'm Chinese and my club is Beijing Guo'an

Shandong Luneng Taishan
nickname: Taishan (the name of a mountain near Jinan)
Fans group: Orange Flame
Found: 1956 as Shandong Provincial team
Professionalism: 1993
League Champions(2): 1999 & 2006
FA Cup Winners(4): 1995,1999,2004 & 2006
CSL League Cup winners(1): 2004
Asian Performance:
ACC 00/01: Quarter-Final
ACL 2005: Quarter-Final
ACL 2007: Group Stage (Group Runner-ups)
Stadium: Shandong Stadium (Capacity: 43,700)
Average home attendance in CSL 2008: 25,509

Shanghai Shenhua
nickname: Shenhua
Fans group: Blue Devil
Found: 1950 as East China
Professionalism: 1993
League Champions(4): 1961,1962,1995 & 2003
FA Cup Winners(3): 1956,1991 & 1998
Asian Performance
ACC 96/97: Second Round
ACWC 99/00: Second Round
ACL 2003: Group Stage (3rd in group)
ACL 2004: Group Stage (3rd in group)
ACL 2006: Quarter-Final
ACL 2007: Group Stage (4th in group)
East Asian Club Championship 2007: Champions
Stadium:
Hongkou Football Stadium (Capacity 33,060)
Yuanshen Stadium (Capacity 16,000)
Average Home Attendance in CSL 2008: 11,228

Beijing Guo'an
nickname: Imperial Guard or The Guards
Fans Group: the Guards; Green Hurricane
Found 1956 as Beijing Youth
Professionalism: 1992
League Champions(7): 1956,1957,1958,1963,1973,1982 & 1984
FA Cup Winners(4): 1985,1996,1997 & 2003
Asian Performance:
ACWC 97/98: 3rd place
ACWC 98/99: 2nd Round
ACL 2008: Group Stage (Group Runner-ups)
Stadium
this season:Fengtai Stadium (Capacity: 31,000 this season)
Starts from next season: national Olympic Sports Center (Capacity 36,288)
Average Home Attendance in CSL 2008: 14,650

Tianjin Teda
nickname: Jinmen Tigers
Fans Group: Bohai sea Storms
Founded: 1957 as Tianjin City
Professionalism: 1993
League Champions(2): 1960 & 1980
FA Cup Winners(1): 1960
Stadium:
Teda Football stadium (Capacity: 37,450)
Average attendance in CSL 2008: 14,382

Shaanxi Chanba
nickname: Northwest Wolves
Fans Group: Wolf Soul
Founded: 1995 as Shanghai Pudong
moved to Xi'an in 2006
Stadium:
Shanxi Coca-cola stadium (Capacity 57,000)
Average attendance in CSL 2008: 24,425

 

[serious14]

For your own safety, don't go to Bangkok.

Having been there previously when there was trouble between pro and anti government supporters, I can personally vouch that they leave Westerners out of it.  It's a purely internal thing, and they will literally stop the fighting to let Westerners cross the road.  Bangkok/Thailand is no less safe to visit than anywhere else in East Asia, and it will be even cheaper to go to now because of travel agencies trying to entice scared Westerners back there.

I'm trying to organise this trip as cheaply as possible, because that's what people have asked me to do.  China is by far the cheapest country out of the three that we have been drawn into, hence this thread letting people know how much it's going to cost to get to these places and a little bit of what to expect.

Btw, the only reason I cited Xi'an as "close to the middle of nowhere" is that it's the hardest out of the 4 places for us to get to/organise, especially considering there could possibly be a group of up to 10 of us.

 

[Jorome Alexander Bennett]

You're right. If you're flying in for the football match all the other aspects of a city don't matter. I got carried away because I loved Xi'an. Keep in mind though, it is only a 1 hour domestic plane trip from Beijing. Easier than train travel.

I do think you are underestimating the situation in Thailand though.
The two Bangkok airports are undersiege from the anti government forces.
The city is effectively cut off.
Noone can fly in, even if they want to.
Every article I've read suggests that the situation is serious and solutions of any kind are hard to think of.

 

[serious14]

You're right. If you're flying in for the football match all the other aspects of a city don't matter. I got carried away because I loved Xi'an. Keep in mind though, it is only a 1 hour domestic plane trip from Beijing. Easier than train travel.

I do think you are underestimating the situation in Thailand though.
The two Bangkok airports are undersiege from the anti government forces.
The city is effectively cut off.
Noone can fly in, even if they want to.
Every article I've read suggests that the situation is serious and solutions of any kind are hard to think of.

Get rid of the current and ridiculously corrupt government because a lot of people in the country want Thaksin/his puppets gone forever?? 

I'm not at all against experiencing "the city" and all that gear on a football trip, far from it.  Even though we were in Tianjin for barely 6 hours to see the Olyroos play, we did our best to soak up the old town and all that whilst we were on our way to and from the ground.

I understand what you're saying about the 1 hour plane trip though - however, in my experience (not sure what you encountered with it, perhaps you know someone who can do it cheap??) flying domestically in China is ludicrously expensive compared with other countries.  Again with the "keeping costs down" side of things.

I do hope that whatever game city we end up going to that we can stay for 3 nights at least.  Enough to at least get an idea of what the place is like.

 

[MattSimon]

What's this talk of sleepers on the train? You know you're a man when you can do Kunming-Beijing 34 hours hard seat Never was there a greater test of my sanity.

If Mariners were playing in Xi'an, you would probably want to get the train. Domestic flights *are* expensive. From BJ, hard seat to Xi'an would cost around $50, hard sleeper about $80. It's a bit long though, 15 hours or so, but getting the train is a fun cultural experience in itself. You can get some weird and wonderful eats from the platform stalls at the various train stations you pass through, then dump your guts out in the putrid train toilets hahahaha

Without a doubt, here's hoping for BJ or SH. Even Tianjin is alright, goubuli dumplings and decent seafood. All three are easier to get to (Tianjin is very close to BJ) and while Xi'an is historic and lovely etc., it is also affectionately known as dirt city.

 

[fedelta]

I thought you used to be a plasterer, not a travel agent

 

[Jorome Alexander Bennett]

Kunming-Beijing hard seat?? f**k.

Xian would be great with a 3 night stay.
I was being genuine when I said that the city doesn't matter if you're in and out for the game. No sarcasm, it really doesn't matter. But 3 nights in Xian would be tops.

Kunming -Beijing?? I did a trip that was half that and it was seriously one of the worst experiences of my life. Creates a memory, that's for sure. But at the time it is torture.

 

[marinermick]

For your own safety, don't go to Bangkok.

Having been there previously when there was trouble between pro and anti government supporters, I can personally vouch that they leave Westerners out of it. 

yes, that is why they are storming the international airport

 

[serious14]

Amount of Westerners harmed in Bangkok??  0

Amount of Westerners harmed in India??  Many

Defence rests etc. 

 

[Redline]

For your own safety, don't go to Bangkok.

Having been there previously when there was trouble between pro and anti government supporters, I can personally vouch that they leave Westerners out of it. 

yes, that is why they are storming the international airport

They stormed the airport to stop the countries Leader from flying back in. They forgot about the old international airport though apparently.

No Westerners have been harmed in Bangers yet. Theres reports of up to 80 westerners killed thus far in India, plus upwards of 200 injured.

 

[marinermick]

Why are we comparing India to Thailand?

All I was responding to was the comment that they leave westerners out of it. I didn't mention anything about harm. The fact that they stormed the international airport and that there was hundreds of flights diverted, cancelled or moved means that westerners were involved.

 

[brett]

I don't see the logic in stopping in an unstable country where protesters/armies are controlling the airports and shooting at each other, when the team isn't even playing there. All for what, a sweet exchange rate?

What I've seen on the news is westerners in the airport being mightily pissed off because they can't get out of the country.

My plan is to go to the Japan game because that destination appeals to me, and I'm going to exhaust my whole time and $ budget extracting as much value from my trip there as possible. Not much point spending the flight money and going that far just to get in and out for a footy match.

PS Greenlion, thanks for posting those pics. I love Teda's stadium.

 

[serious14]

I guess some of us just want different things out of this trip y'know??

Again, the people who are looking to come with me on this particular trip are having to do it on the very cheap - so much so that we might end up flying Air Asia out of the Gold Coast/Melbourne to save a few hundred pennies, y'know??  Hence such things as a kickarse exchange rate become important.  And the opportunity for these people to experience two countries on the single trip - stretch the $'s and all that.

And every country in the world can be unstable if you choose to let it be - Japan sits on one of the most dangerous fault lines in the world.  There could be an epic earthquake whilst you're there, but is that going to stop you from going?? 

Brendo - Don Muang doesn't do international flights anymore, but they figured so that they could claim total control (and thus get rid of this f*ckwit of a premier/government sooner rather than later) over the capital's transport options, it was best to take contrlol of both.