Hi Steve,
Good luck with it all.
A few tips from somebody who was in your shoes 12 months ago, and has been to China 8 times since to spend time with the same girl. She was the third girl, and fourth trip, so I have been there a total of 12 times over the past two years, and about 15 times in total.
Point one
GZ is a hole, as is most of the pearl river delta, ESP if you come from great climates and places like Oz and Unzud. One day is plenty, the shopping is generally crap and you run a good risk of paying reasonable dollars for good quality fakes, even in the best stores. Beijing road is fun for crowd watching.
If you got three teenage kids, go to the Canton tower and check out the green store beneath it..... full of really cool stuff your kids will love, trust me. Got a sister store in HK... equally cool.
Pearl river night cruise pretty good, do not do the dinner cruises, food is pretty crap, but I would say GZ has the worst food in China anyway. Haha, it seems even Anthony Bourdain agrees with that!!
Point two
Wise man for taking a days rest first, the best thing you can ever do, actually two would be even better. I assume you are flying China Southern, it is a tough flight. I pay the extra couple of hundred and fly premium economy, the best money you will spend as you often get a four seat row to yourself, and sweet dreams.
NEVER go straight to Chengdu from NZ... if this lady is the one for you, then the only way you will stuff up is when you turn up exhausted and make rash decisions, or become easily irritated.
I often go to Qingdao, JiNan or Honkers just for a few days to see her.... HK is ok but the extra 3 hours plus stop over time to the other two cities makes the trip very tiring, and we are never at our best when exhausted. So always plan a short lay-over,even if you feel it is encroaching into your time with her. Bitter experience has taught me this!! If you can get the China Southernnday flight then that is great, or else check out Cathay when on sale.... fly into Honkers and limo to Shenzhen airport if you need to.... I got a great driver who will teach you mandarin on the way!!
Again...... NEVER turn up tired!!
Point three
You are a lucky man, Chengdu is a sensational city, you will have a great time. If you are there for a week, I also advise you to spend just half a day apart, gives your subconscious time to have a say, and relaxes your mind from all the nerves and quick thinking.... for example, there are many great golf courses there, go spend four hours there on your own. Trust me, both you and her will be glad to have that little breathing space, no matter how strong the chemistry is. Gives her a good chance to chat to the family and friends too.
Point four
No matter how many times you tell yourself this, you will at some point forget what a huge cultural divide there is between the two countries. If you have instant chemistry, then just make the assumption up front that if anything goes wrong, or does not seem right, it is cause of the cultural divide. You will be correct 99.9% of the time. And if you do accept this assumption, you will work out the problem 99.9% of the time.
Point five
You are going to have a long hard road ahead. I am still not even half way there, but we put our papers in soon, and I think this is the best thing I have ever done. Period. I love this girl to death. There is surely nothing as magnificent as a warm, loving Chinese lady.... they are incredibly special.
Good luck bro, keep us all informed!!
