North-East Asia branch Frequently Asked Questions thread

This branch covers China (inc. Hong Kong and *Macau*), Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan and Tibet. Other information about the region can be found under Lonely Planet Destinations.
Inside this thread we hope you'll find the answers to all your questions, if not, feel free to share anything you feel is missing!

SEEKING TRAVEL COMPANIONS OR TREK PARTNERS? Please post only on our Travel Companions branch, not here on the destination branches. Any such topics posted on this branch will normally be moved by the moderators to the Travel Companions branch without notice. If you also have a travel question then please post it as a separate topic on the appropriate travel branch.

*Choosing a... more »

2012 PERMIT SITUATION UPDATE

TIBET PERMIT UPDATE 2012

SEEKING TRAVEL COMPANIONS OR TREK PARTNERS? Please post only on our Travel Companions branch not on this branch Any such topics posted on this branch will normally be moved by the moderators to the Travel Companions branch without notice. If you also have a travel question then please post it as a separate topic on the appropriate travel branch.

This thread is about travel to the Tibet Autonomous Region (T.A.R.). This thread does not include information about Tibetan areas outside of T.A.R. For questions, about non-TAR Tibetan areas please search the TT and/or start a new thread.

For travelers wishing to travel to the Tibet Autonomous Region a permit is required along with your normal Chinese visa. This permit is checked by officials when boarding any flights to ... more »

Qinghai Sichuan Emei Shan - How many days - walking???

I am planning on driving from Xining to Emei Shan over 20 days in the beginning of August through the Amdo and Kham regions of Qinghai and Sichuan, making stops for trekking (around Amnye Machin) and stopping to visit monestaries, nomadic regions, and trying to get off the main tourist trail. Roughly....Xining - Machin - 3 days trekking Amnye Machin - Shiqu - Xi Wu - Dege - Zongsar - Karze - Litang - Kangding - Emei Shan. Then I'm planning on spending 3 days walking around Emei Shan, followed by 1 day visiting Leshan and transiting to Chengdu. Then a day in Chengdu before flying home....

Questions:

1) This will be expensive, but do people thing this trip will be worth it? Will it be an amazing, interesting adventure and cultural experience, with interesting landscapes?

2) Is 3 days in Emei Shan enough/too much time? I want to explore the mountain on foot, stay in monestaries... more »

Yudanaka in Summer

Hi,

We are planning to spend one night in Yudanaka on a trip this August and just wonder if there are nice hiking trails around the area too? We aren't sure if it is worth to see the Snow Monkey Onsen at this time of year, but are so close in our travels to it, thought it would be a good idea.
Also, any idea for day hikes in Habuka? We are going to do a three day walk in Kamikochi and have a few days left in our travels. Not sure if we should go to Habuka as well, we would only have 1-2 days to spend there. We are going to Nagano, Matsumoto, hiking the Kiso Valley, and visiting Kanazawa in about 12 days of holiday.

thanks for the advice!

chinese or mandarin phrases book?

Hi!

do you think that with the mandarin audio and phrases book is enough for travel into 5 different regions? or is a most to have the chinese phrases book, even if this doesn`t come with audio??

(i never in my life speak chinese before)

mARBE

Looking for a reliable packaged tour to Tibet

Hi,

I plan to go (alone) to Tibet in Early Aug., and I'm looking for a reliable tour company. I'd like to go for about 7-8 days and see the highlights (Lhasa + Shoton Festival, holy lakes, Shigatse and Mt. Everest Base Camp).

So far I got an offer only from "Budget Tibet Tours" - I'd be grateful if anyone has any comments/experience with them. Any recommendations of other reliable companies?

By the way - is taking a hot shower considered such a luxury in Tibet that only few hotels will have them? Thanks.

Travel itineary for 3 weeks in China

Hello, can anyone take a look at my travel itineary and see if I should change something?
I am traveling this June and need to start and end in Beijing. I am not sure if I am trying to do too much, should I remove something? Apparently I need to plan and book everything now, so I can get a visa :(

2013.06.14 Arrive in Beijing
2013.06.15 Beijing
2013.06.16 Fly to Guilin, travel by bus to Yangshuo
2013.06.17 Yangshuo
2013.06.18 Yangshuo
2013.06.19 Travel by bus to Xingping village, stay overnight
2013.06.20 Travel back to Yangshuo, take bus to Dazhai
2013.06.21 Rice terraces
2013.06.22 Travel to Fenghuan by train
2013.06.23 Fenghuan
2013.06.24 Bus to Zhangjiajie
2013.06.25 Zhangjiajie
2013.06.26 Zhangjiajie
2013.06.27 Travel to Huangshan by plane
2013.06.28 Huangshan
2013.06.29 Huangshan
2013.06.30 Travel to Nanjing by train
2013.07.01 Nanjing
2013.07.02 Trave... more »

need

need some info related Himalaya climbing, hiking.

hi am looking forward to climb most spiritual point in Tibet, where to ?
i need not too harder route but adventured mount if there are available join to expedition in 2014?

Festivals in Xinjiang + Bayanbulak

Dear all,

Are there any interesting festivals going on in Xinjiang in August 2013? (Uyghur, Kazakh, Mongolian...)
I know that there will be Mongolian Naadam (horseracing) in Mongolia in July. How about the Mongolian areas of NW Xinjiang (Bayanbulak)? Some dates?

And about the grasslands of Bayanbulak- anyone been there in the last couple of months? Permits needed? Accommodation in yurts available? (not a Chinese concrete holiday park-style but the real thing...) What's the best way to get there?

Are there any areas in Xinjiang that are totally off limits for foreigners?

Thanks for your replies!

Edited by: Wojtek

Green Lake Park and best English Corner in Yunnan

Green Lake Park is located in Kunming, Yunnan Province District SCREW mountain, Yunnan University, opposite the main entrance. Although the area is not too great, but very unique. This was originally the Dianchi Lake in a bay, and later became a result of falling water Wangqing lake.

Starting from the Ming Dynasty Yunnan Administration officials have served here repair pavilion construction of buildings. As willows and clear water constitute the main characteristics of the sake of the century officially named Lake. Based on the "green embankment Chunxiao" and famous quartet. Known as the "city of a mosaic in Kunming emerald."

On the front of Green Lake Hotel there is the best English Corner in Yunnan.