Here, Shanghai-based fashion writer and marketing director Stephany Zoo explains the protocol behind one of China's most indulgent holidays.
All other holidays in China, such as the Moon Festival and Chinese New Year, are reserved exclusively for facilities and four-hour-long, carb-heavy, banquet-style dinners. But Golden Week belongs to your best friends and significant others. This holiday is the Chinese-yuppie version of spring break.
Because of the sheer number of people who flood out of the major cities to destinations, my friends and I start planning months in advance. The early planning only draws out the the anticipation of the much-awaited and much-needed vacation. The common Chinese greeting is “Have you eaten yet?” but during these months, the more common phrase you hear is “Where are you going for Golden Week?"
First we consider, Sanya—the Chinese Miami, a lot of new money, great beaches, and resorts. It’s a week of tropical drinks on the yachts of chummy fu er dai, the spoiled sons of mega-rich Chinese industrial magnates. Unfortunately, there are often visa problems for those carrying Chinese passports—and, admittedly, we want to avoid a certain ex. Thankfully, Thailand is both easy to get into and get to (there are hundreds of direct flights from Shanghai to Bangkok). Bangkok always provides good shopping in the form of J.J. (also known as Chatuchak) Market—the largest weekend market in the world—with everything from trendy emerging Thai fashion designers to home decor products in bulk. The ideal plan involves spending a couple of days in the capital and then moving on to Ko Phi Phi, which is abundant with villa options.
For many, there is one mission and only one mission in mind: shopping. We considered the closer options of Tokyo and Seoul, but those are easy enough to be a weekend trip. Paris or London are viable as well, but it’s been nearly a year since I’ve been back in New York, and it tugs at my soul. The call of recently released products or exclusives only available in certain American flagships is strong. Finally, we all give in: New York City, the Holy Grail of shopping, dining, and photo opportunities. We will take a million photos of the yellow cabs, shopping bags on Fifth Avenue, and desserts at Sant Ambroeus. After we announce that we’re going, our social media floods with requests from perfume to shoes from other jealous friends who can’t go to New York.
Because of Chinese sky-high export taxes, everything from daily needs such as makeup to special purchases can be marked up almost twice or three times the price you would find in the country of origin. I’ve been eyeing a new Proenza Schouler purse, and the amount of money I will save from the US price justifies my plane ticket to New York.
For those who stay in Shanghai, every year everyone brings inflatable hammers to People’s Square and initiates an epic fight that can last for hours—queueing in line for everything from Louis Vuitton keychains and American-sourced toiletries to the latest Hong Kong gadget, the electronic fork equivalent to the Jawbone Up. Workers from KFC and McDonald’s, wearing their uniforms, will even declare war on each other. The police don&r
All other holidays in China, such as the Moon Festival and Chinese New Year, are reserved exclusively for facilities and four-hour-long, carb-heavy, banquet-style dinners. But Golden Week belongs to your best friends and significant others. This holiday is the Chinese-yuppie version of spring break.
Because of the sheer number of people who flood out of the major cities to destinations, my friends and I start planning months in advance. The early planning only draws out the the anticipation of the much-awaited and much-needed vacation. The common Chinese greeting is “Have you eaten yet?” but during these months, the more common phrase you hear is “Where are you going for Golden Week?"
First we consider, Sanya—the Chinese Miami, a lot of new money, great beaches, and resorts. It’s a week of tropical drinks on the yachts of chummy fu er dai, the spoiled sons of mega-rich Chinese industrial magnates. Unfortunately, there are often visa problems for those carrying Chinese passports—and, admittedly, we want to avoid a certain ex. Thankfully, Thailand is both easy to get into and get to (there are hundreds of direct flights from Shanghai to Bangkok). Bangkok always provides good shopping in the form of J.J. (also known as Chatuchak) Market—the largest weekend market in the world—with everything from trendy emerging Thai fashion designers to home decor products in bulk. The ideal plan involves spending a couple of days in the capital and then moving on to Ko Phi Phi, which is abundant with villa options.
For many, there is one mission and only one mission in mind: shopping. We considered the closer options of Tokyo and Seoul, but those are easy enough to be a weekend trip. Paris or London are viable as well, but it’s been nearly a year since I’ve been back in New York, and it tugs at my soul. The call of recently released products or exclusives only available in certain American flagships is strong. Finally, we all give in: New York City, the Holy Grail of shopping, dining, and photo opportunities. We will take a million photos of the yellow cabs, shopping bags on Fifth Avenue, and desserts at Sant Ambroeus. After we announce that we’re going, our social media floods with requests from perfume to shoes from other jealous friends who can’t go to New York.
Because of Chinese sky-high export taxes, everything from daily needs such as makeup to special purchases can be marked up almost twice or three times the price you would find in the country of origin. I’ve been eyeing a new Proenza Schouler purse, and the amount of money I will save from the US price justifies my plane ticket to New York.
For those who stay in Shanghai, every year everyone brings inflatable hammers to People’s Square and initiates an epic fight that can last for hours—queueing in line for everything from Louis Vuitton keychains and American-sourced toiletries to the latest Hong Kong gadget, the electronic fork equivalent to the Jawbone Up. Workers from KFC and McDonald’s, wearing their uniforms, will even declare war on each other. The police don&r