I survived the 14 hours "parkinson-like" train-ride from GZ to Nanning with three snoring chinese strangers sharing a nite cabin.
However, I did not survive the pick-pocketer at ChaoYang street.

I was searching for the Langdong bus ticketing office to get a bus ticket to Hanoi....and my guard was down as the street away from the train station was rather sparse.
 

In retrospect, I think the smilingly security guard offering to help was the suspect (he was  the only one who was rather close to me offering wrong directions when it was just 10 doors away). He must have picked my 15-day old motorola smart phone (with maps and details, stored inside).
 

Kinda surprised myself that I got pick in a quieter place rather the Gongbei custom (like a 30,000 people there).. GZ train station (like a 15,000 people there).. Nanning station (like 1,000) 

Later, after making a police report (most of them rather unfriendly except for the typist) I walked down to Renmin Lu. Over here, I saw rows and rows of 2nd hand phones for sales. I tried to see if my stolen phone was for sales the next day, but no luck. Model is too new, they said. Most 2nd hand phones sales are w/o chargers - and you know why.

SO, be very careful. The police, the hotel receptionist, the cleaners confirmed that many pick-pockers at and near the train stations eyeing weary travellers. Keep all your valuable, keep a distance from everyone if possible and the friendly want-to-help ones are dangerous!