Thorn Tree travel forum

1

Well, if it were me I would plan to drop the money to fly between at least some of the destinations in order to enjoy the time in each one. Also I would partly plan my trip around night sleeper trains. Go with soft sleepers, if available, since that extra margin of comfort might just make the difference between arriving rested and being just a little too tired to enjoy the daytime. If you are short, you can take night sleeper buses as well, but if you are as tall as I am (6 ft) then you will arrive crumpled up and not able to enjoy the following day as well.

As far as WHERE to go, well, I cannot say dince I do not know what you like. Have fun!

There are three kinds of people in the world: those who can count, and those who can't.

2

Beijing
Datong
Pingyao
Xi'an
(fly Xi'an-Guilin, get a bus to Yangshuo straght away)
Yangshuo
Hong Kong

"Hang your chemistry and electricity! If you want to make a pile of money, invent something that will enable those Europeans to cut each other's throats with greater facility."

3

You forgot to provide any information at all about your sightseeing interests and preferences, though you did about your sightseeing pace. Be more specific about that aspect and it would be helpful to those who would be answering you.
Cheers!

4

Hi,
I reccommond you to visit Beijing, Xi'an, Donhuang, Torpan, Kashgar, Tashkurgan. As my experience, these are the places you could learn a lot about China and its history culture and traditions. pety2008@gmail.com

pety2008@gmail.com

5

OP should also be warned that #4 is most probably a tour agent trying to advertise his/her own services.
Cheers!

6

As a first-timer you'll arrive in Beijing at the end of/just after the Summer Olympics.
It's probably best to arrive after the Closing Ceremony day to get a better tourist experience.
There are some must-sees in Beijing, and you may need 4-5 days (including the Great Wall).
I've been back to China again, and was glad I didn't have to revisit Beijing because I experienced it thoroughly the first time

: )

7

A few thoughts:

1. What is your budget?
2. Try to avoid Beijing within a month of the end of the Olympics. First, it will take a week to clear out the equipment. Many games-goers will stay a bit to see the sites. Then the businessmen return after being out of the city for well over a month. Beijing is a business city, after all, and many hotels live off of the business trade. Since it came to a dead stop, I suppose it might return with a vengeance. It might not be until after the former National Week, or whatever holiday will happen this year, until the city returns to a somewhat normal pace. Bad timing for Beijing. Who knows when and at what price you can make hotel reservations?
3. You want to see as much as you can, but you do not want to waste time. Sometimes, this is not consistent. Flying all around China will take a half day wasted each time for taxi ride from downtown, check-in one hour beforehand, flight, baggage wait, taxi to new hotel, check-in. Yes, overnight train is a good idea for certain routes.
4. Telling us your objectives will help. History, art, architecture, people, culture, food, geography, geology, ceremonies, costumes, modern China, Old China, modern urban areas, rural old traditional areas, and on and on and on. I usually suggest that a new visitor buy a DK Eyewitness Guide to China and then decide what you want to see, and set priorities to reduce a 6-week grand tour to 2 weeks. Good luck to you. Planning the trip can be half the fun, learning about what you will see.

Always looking for new adventures, new cultures, interesting geography.

8

Recently came back from China. Spent three weeks there, but one week only with friends in one town. It was my first trip to china. I made a trip similar to suggestion no.2. - Was a great journey. All places were very special! In stead of Pingyao I`ve been to Shanghai - 1 day and Suzhou - 2 days. Meeting people is a great thing.I have combined flights, trains and busses, so I had quick travelling on the one hand and contact to chinese people on the other hand - let it all depend on your preferences!

Have a nice trip!!