20th April 2019 (Saturday)
[To have a better view of the wide landscape photos, you are encouraged to download them, zoom in so that the top and bottom of the photos touch the edge of your computer screen and then scroll them left and right to get a 180° perspective of the landscape]
Today was the last day. I have another full day today because my flight was only departing at 23:20 p.m. tonight. However, I have no plan for today. I could leave my backpack in the hostel and explore the city again but that would leave me sweaty and needing a bath before going to the airport. I could also take it easy, checking out from the hostel at 12:00 noon and going to and exploring Changsha Maglev Station/ Changsha South Railway Station before taking the maglev train to Changsha Huanghua International Airport. I was in no hurry to do anything.
I went to find breakfast at Cai'e North Street, a street which I had not taken before. Like the day before, I was glad I made that decision because I discovered some really good breakfast food. I actually returned to the same shop and bought another piece of the egg wrap. After breakfast, I went back to my hostel and spent my time on Youtube, downloading videos. Internet in China sucked. It was so slow using VPN to access Youtube.
[To have a better view of the wide landscape photos, you are encouraged to download them, zoom in so that the top and bottom of the photos touch the edge of your computer screen and then scroll them left and right to get a 180° perspective of the landscape]
Today was the last day. I have another full day today because my flight was only departing at 23:20 p.m. tonight. However, I have no plan for today. I could leave my backpack in the hostel and explore the city again but that would leave me sweaty and needing a bath before going to the airport. I could also take it easy, checking out from the hostel at 12:00 noon and going to and exploring Changsha Maglev Station/ Changsha South Railway Station before taking the maglev train to Changsha Huanghua International Airport. I was in no hurry to do anything.
I went to find breakfast at Cai'e North Street, a street which I had not taken before. Like the day before, I was glad I made that decision because I discovered some really good breakfast food. I actually returned to the same shop and bought another piece of the egg wrap. After breakfast, I went back to my hostel and spent my time on Youtube, downloading videos. Internet in China sucked. It was so slow using VPN to access Youtube.
Just before 12:00 noon, I checked out from the hostel. I would take another route to Furong Square Subway Station. On my way there, I saw the name Huatian Food Street emblazoned boldly on a building. It was part of Huatian Hotel and was in the same building as Bank of China. Food Street was on the first floor (2nd floor in American English) of the hotel. It looked more like a food court and I did not even bother to walk in as the place was practically empty of diners.
From Furong Square Station E4, I took the subway to Changsha South Railway Station. From South Railway Station, I took the underground corridor to the Maglev Station, which was quite a walking distant away.
At South Railway Station/ Maglev Station, I had lunch. I explore the station but there was nothing interesting. The station provided free WIFI but it required registration to access it. I could not understand the instructions to register an account. There was no aircon. The weather at that time was warm and it was uncomfortable waiting at the station.
At South Railway Station/ Maglev Station, I had lunch. I explore the station but there was nothing interesting. The station provided free WIFI but it required registration to access it. I could not understand the instructions to register an account. There was no aircon. The weather at that time was warm and it was uncomfortable waiting at the station.
In the end, I decided to leave for the airport, by Maglev train. As I entered the door to the Maglev platform, I was greeted by the security screening team. Everyone had their token to show to the security officers. I panicked. Where was I supposed to buy the token? I did not see any counter or ticket vending machine selling the token. I asked a security officer manning the screening machine. He looked sheepishly at me and could not answer me in English. I saw counters on my left. From the corner of my eyes, I spotted a row of ticket vending machine behind me. I walked over, bought my token and queued up again for the security check before taking the escalator up to the Maglev platform. I have no photos to show since photography was prohibited.
The Maglev train was very comfortable, with plenty of empty seats. It took only 20 minutes to reach Huanghua International Airport at 3:05 p.m. There was a security officer in uniform in the train who was monitoring the passengers. Security in China was really tight.
The Maglev train was very comfortable, with plenty of empty seats. It took only 20 minutes to reach Huanghua International Airport at 3:05 p.m. There was a security officer in uniform in the train who was monitoring the passengers. Security in China was really tight.
At the airport, all the train passengers were again screened by security officers, in groups before they were allowed to leave. The scanning was done in a strange manner. I did not know what the small pieces of item were and the security officers were using them to touch the passengers.
Once the passengers arrived inside the airport terminal, they should not leave the secured area, i.e. Departure Hall and Arrival Hall. I unknowingly left the secured area when I walked down to the basement, which was a public area. I could only re-enter the terminal at a designated gate to the Arrival Hall. I was again scanned in the same manner before I was allowed to re-enter.
I had too much time. As usual, I explored the airport. Most of the restaurants were in the basement but they were literally empty of people. There were also restaurants/ shops in the Departure Hall and Arrival Hall. At the basement too, there was an airport hotel.
Once the passengers arrived inside the airport terminal, they should not leave the secured area, i.e. Departure Hall and Arrival Hall. I unknowingly left the secured area when I walked down to the basement, which was a public area. I could only re-enter the terminal at a designated gate to the Arrival Hall. I was again scanned in the same manner before I was allowed to re-enter.
I had too much time. As usual, I explored the airport. Most of the restaurants were in the basement but they were literally empty of people. There were also restaurants/ shops in the Departure Hall and Arrival Hall. At the basement too, there was an airport hotel.
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