Was figuring where to go for vacation early this year. Then I chanced Marathon’s FR on his trip to Changchun. Enjoyed his report and the side trip he made to Puyi’s (China’s last emperor – from the Qing Dynasty) palace in the then state of Manchukuo controlled by the Japanese in the 1930s. After some reading up on Changchun and checking around for flights and hotels, Changchun was it.
Besides the last emperor’s palace in Changchun, I found that Shenyang (about 300km from Changchun) was where the Qing dynasty first began with its palace right in town. Shenyang is also the place where the Japanese attacked (Mukden incident) that would lead to World War 2 in the Asian Pacific. Then I read that Dandong was just around the vicinity too (about 250 km from Shenyang). Dandong is the city that faces the Yalu River and North Korea. Dandong and Yalu River made famous during the Korean War with the US troops bombarding near the area that brought the Chinese into the war.
So this gonna be a history trip, from the beginning to the end of the Qing dynasty, World War 2 and Korean War. Credit to Marathon for helping me decide on this trip.
Made Shenyang my base and took day trips by China’s very reliable and reasonable speed trains to Changchun and Dandong.
Shenyang is served by China Southern Airlines from SIN direct with a transit stop in CAN with no change of flight number and aircraft (and crew). Scoot has flights from SIN too. But after adding up the luggage and meal extras on Scoot, CZ full service was still cheaper with a much better flight schedule.
Flight: CZ 532
SIN to Shenyang (via Guangzhou)
0800-1155
Leg 1: SIN to CAN
Early morning at Changi
Quite full flight on J, PE and EY
J Class seats
View from my seat. Row 38 has a misaligned window… arghhh…
Drop down screens for IFE… absolutely boring
Breakfast service starts with a drink cart, then the meal cart.
Choice of chicken or seafood
More like a lunch meal rather than breakfast.
But it's quite good. Catered by Dnata since late 2015. Used to be by SATS.
Pickled cucumber with tandoori chicken
Chicken with tomato sauce and roast potatoes
Fresh fruits, roll and butter
Premium Economy
Transit stop in Guangzhou
Next Leg Guangzhou to Shenyang
1320-1700
While the last group of passengers were still walking in and storing their luggage in the overhead bins, PA came on that doors were closed and the aircraft push back. Pax were not seated yet… only in China…
After take off, meal service starts.
Lunch with 2 choices Pork with noodles or Something with rice.
Domestic meal box
I might as well upload the return trip
Leg 1: Shenyang to Guangzhou
Lots of N.Koreans in Northern China.
Most pax I saw during check-in for this flight looked like officials and their families.
Air Koryo to Pyongyang.
While pax were boarding, cabin crew was checking her cell phone.
Seats
Cabin views
Airphone
Drinks before the meal cart
CZ has quite a good range of drinks offered.
This is mullberry juice.
Lunch
Seafood with rice or Pork with rice
Sweet and Source Fish with Rice and packaged pickles.
Yogurt for dessert.
But that's fine. Chinese plain yogurt is really nice, sweet and creamy (with lots of melamine???)
He's really nice and polite as compared to the female crew.
May not make sense in English, but pefect in Chinese. CZ with their spork.
Leg 2: CAN to SIN
Transit stop in CAN.
Guangzhou was drenched in heavy rain. This delayed almost all flights leaving CAN that evening.
The return flight was delayed for 2 hours
Dinner was served after take off
Seafood with Rice or Chicken with Rice
Wah… Exact same dish I got in 2011. I can still remember the horror I got in 2011. The white sauce is like from a fertility bank. No way again…
Decided to change to the chicken.
The guy crew was really nice and changed my meal.
After the delay, I was super hungry and asked for seconds and he gladly offered saying … be careful, the foil is hot.
Female crew putting legs up after meal service - very unprofessional.
I have taken CZ quite a few times. Each time I have seen improvements.
For this time, I ca see that their PA in English is much better, international sector meals were better too (maybe with the change of caterer ex-SIN).
This time after the main meal service, drink runs on trays were offered by crew almost every hour.
If you understand Mandarin, the conversation between pax and crew are actually very polite.
I fly CZ as it's very reasonable. With the price I paid, I'm not gonna complain the food, lacking IFE or scruffy crew.
Sept 18 Museum - Shenyang
Mukden Palace - Shenyang
Yalu River - Dandong
Looking at N. Korea
Pu Yi's Palace - Changchun (go see Marathon's FR for more pics of the palace)
My base in Shenyang
I did not expect my FR to generate a trip all the way from SIN. Thanks for the credits !
The quantity of food was standard, but the hot meals somewhat unusual (i.e. not the chicken-rice / beef-noodles; I've had fish at times, but I do not remember pork).
I do not remember seeing that "Crew only" barrier in the galley, but then I seldom move around during flights.
Melamine is so 2008 ! Air pollution is in (now that the 2008 Olympics clean-up is forgotten history).
Thanks for sharing !
PS : I would have posted two separate reports for the flights to/from SHE, but this single report is consistent.
Not at all Marathon!
Since pork is eaten so widely in China, it's fine to serve in most sectors within China (except Western region).
Not at all Marathon!
Domestic meals on CZ are meant for the Mainland Chinese. Only can appreciate such offerings.
Since pork is so widely eaten in China, it's perfectly fine to serve in most sector within China (except the Western China).
Thanks SIN7 for the review.
I'm not a fan of Chinese carriers. They are bearable for domestic hops (and due to a lack of options), but not for international routes. Chinese carriers may have the hardware to match other carriers, but when it comes to software, it fails.
I've seen many documentaries about how Chinese carriers train their crew on service and deportment. Some how, all that they have been taught is forgotten the moment they start duties onboard.
Hello. I will fly with CZ on Penang-Guangzhou route and Guangzhou-Guiyang on 27th Sept. Do you have any idea if they serve wine? Also, how was your experience transiting in Guangzhou? Thank you.