Starting to plan

Replies: 5 - Last Post: 12-Mar-2007 16:56 Last Post By: Harry_Mudd

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TheDans

11-Mar-2007 23:38
Posts: 74

Starting to plan

I am just starting to plan my trip to China and need a bit of help.

1. In one month from mid December 07 - mid January 08 on a limited budget (80- 100 AUD or approx 15,000 yuan) would it be possible to travel from Beijing - Xian - Shanghai - Nanjing and probably a few other stops inbetween without rushing too much. I would like to spend approx 3-4 days in major citys and maybe 1 -2 days in the smaller towns?
We will be backpacking and dont need flashy hotels, just clean and tidy hostels. Will want to go to major attractions and do a bit of sightseeing (great wall, forbidden city, terricotta warriors etc), and have a few beers at night.

2. What should i expect to pay in regard to hostels? are they typically similar in price or do they get a lot more expensive in the citys?

3. Is it easy to book transport between the towns when I am there? And can you do much of this over the internet?

4. Are there any reputable airlines that have cheap flights between these towns? or can Is it easierjust to get a sleeper train?

Thanks in advance

TheDans

11-Mar-2007 23:40
Posts: 74

I forgot to add we will be returning to Beijing to fly out again.

ellyse

12-Mar-2007 00:03
Posts: 8,932

1) Budget should be fine. Assuming 15000 RMB for 30 days, that's 500 RMB/day, quite a mid-range budget. You could probably do quite a few more destinations other than those.
2) Since you said "we", I assume there's at least 2 of you. If you could afford around 150 RMB/night on average you could probably get yourselves decent twin rooms in budget hotels (eg 2-star or similar standard), so not necessarily hostel life.
3) Not over the Internet, but that's not a peak travel period so you should be fine making arrangements on the ground.
4) Overnight sleeper train would be the most time-efficient and financially economical option. Fly for long legs eg Xi'an -- Guilin or the like which don't have good train connections.
If you could give more details about your sightseeing preferences, I'll give you some itinerary suggestions.
Cheers!

kereru

12-Mar-2007 02:57
Posts: 1,177

There is something seriously wrong with your budget unless for the Aussie $ you meant to say $80-$100 PER DAY or 15,000 RMB total for the month?? How many people is this to cover?

I did a similar trip for weeks 18 months ago for 200 RMB per day, not counting my airfare to Beijing to start the trip. I took 2 budget flights- which you can book through hostels along the way (often no more than soft sleeper - and a lot quicker!) and several hard sleepers; sleeper buses, day trains, buses etc. Most nights I paid around 50 RMB for a dorm or even a single room. Most expensive night was 180 (for 2) in BJ, and cheapest was 15 in the guesthouses on TLG.

You are doing mainly cities which are a bit more expensive. Hiker Hostel in Shanghai for example is about 60pp iirc.

Why are you going to Nanjing? I'd add Hangzhou before Nanjing any day.

"If you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman." Margaret Thatcher

westwood

12-Mar-2007 12:03
Posts: 10,544

We, meaning more than 1, worked on US$250/week, rather than NZ$'s. That was easiest for us as China was only part of a 6 month trip to SEA and we needed US$'s anyway.

We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public.

Harry_Mudd

12-Mar-2007 16:56
Posts: 4,084

CNY¥15,000 is approx AUD$2465

whilst AUD$100 per day, 30 days = CNY¥18,253

which equals CNY¥608 per day.

see above

"A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs. It's jolted by every pebble on the road" - Henry Ward Beecher

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