Kids in Sichuan- family trip

Replies: 7 - Last Post: 22-Nov-2007 17:50 Last Post By: phbriggs

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familytrippers

22-Nov-2007 04:44
Posts: 80

Kids in Sichuan- family trip

Hi all

Next September, as part of our family year round the world trip (kids will be 8 & 10), we will spend 5 weeks in China, arriving in Hong Kong at the start of the month, and aiming to leave Beijing on 2nd October (ie. directly after National Day). We anticipate spending 3-4 days in HK, and up to a week in Beijing. That leaves 3.5-4 weeks which we are thinking about spending in the Sichuan Province. Our general approach to the rtw trip is to find nice and interesting places (not large cities on the whole) to use as a travel hub to explore an area, rather than continually road tripping from A2B2C.... We will probably use internal flights to get around quite a bit (eg Shenzhen to Chengdu or Chongqing)

We have chosen Sichuan really because of Pandas (just like Borneo for orangutans, Madagscar for lemurs etc!). My question (one of many) is what ideas do folk have on an itinerary? We will certainly take in the Chengdu Pandas, Emei Shan, my son is v keen to a Yangtze River Cruise, and we fancy seeing some of western Sichuan (without knowing where to go though?) It's early days still so all advice is really welcome. I should also add that due to the age of the kids we'll be trying to take it fairly easy so need to build some chill days in

Thanks guys

Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards....If no one out there understands, start your own revolution and cut out the middle man... http://web.me.com/familytrippers

ellyse

22-Nov-2007 05:24
Posts: 8,932

The 3 Gorges cruise isn't in Sichuan. The most usual stretch is Chongqing -- Yichang.
Danba, Litang, Daocheng/Yading are all popular in west Sichuan.
Zigong has a very interesting Dinosaur Museum as well as a Salt Museum.
Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong are unmissable. Songpan has horse trekking.
Cheers!

ApolloChina

22-Nov-2007 06:50
Posts: 10

hi, welcome to my mother province, sichuan.
it seems that u planned very well.
i'd like to add one thing: Yibin, my hometown, the city where Changjiang River begin. u may take ship to chongqing and 3 gorges. and also Shunan Bamboo forest is near to Yibin city. u have any question, ask me.

sewage

22-Nov-2007 08:49
Posts: 394

Where else in the world are you taking your kids?

familytrippers

22-Nov-2007 08:55
Posts: 80

Hi

Our plan for our year rtw trip with our 8 and 10 year old kids is to do what I am calling Cape Town to Rio the long way. The plan keeps shifting, although now we've bought the rtw ticket things are much clearer

Starting 1st July 08 we will do

5 weeks south Africa- Baz bus CT to Joburg via Swaziland

3 weeks Mauritius and Madagascar

5 weeks China (Hong Kong, Sichuan province and Beijing)

2 weeks Japan Tokyo and Kyoto

5-6 weeks Borneo

5- weeks Southern Thailand

This takes us to mid Jan 09. Then

8 weeks Oz (Perth, Cairns, Sydney)

2 weeks NZ (North Island)

4 weeks Ecuador (incl 1 week Galapagos)

4 weeks Peru

1 week Chile

2 weeks Rio & Iguazu Falls

The kids are quite excited!!!! I am lost in planning!!

Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards....If no one out there understands, start your own revolution and cut out the middle man... http://web.me.com/familytrippers

ChrisWilliams

22-Nov-2007 11:37
Posts: 710

We can attest there is life-after-planning, doing our 12-month rtw when kids were 6 & 8 (7&9 by the time we finished, with birthdays thrown in).

Sichuan is a frontier-style city, with lots of travellers heading westward to Tibet. It's compact, and not difficult to get around - if you master the locations of the 5-10 major bus stations. Besides the pandas & Emeishan (both experiences of a lifetime to treasure), I'd recommend the Sichuan Opera. It's not opera as you'd know it, but a night of excitement with 7 or 8 acts by great entertainers.

September means summertime and Chengdu can get hot. Throw the bathers/trunks/swimmers/togs/trunks in because I hear that Chengdu's public swimming pool is spacious and high-standard. Emeishan is a great place to escape the heat, but take your time to enjoy this World Heritage-listed site.

Beijing is great for kids, too, particularly if they're into kite-flying. For National Day itself, we were strongly advised to exit the city, so headed for the Great Wall instead.

You'll have a great time

: )

meczko

22-Nov-2007 12:57
Posts: 800

you can check my blog at meczko.blog.onet.pl for practical info on Emei Shan and Western Sichuan.

phbriggs

22-Nov-2007 17:50
Posts: 572

I was also going to recommend Jiuzhaigou, Huanglong and Songpan.

Also suggest Tibet for at least 7 days to see Lhasa, a few of the nearby lakes and other bits and pieces. Tibet can easily be arranged when in Chengdu.

General info in Sichuan can be found here.

If there is no food, isn't that food for thought?
And if you are bored and want to know more about our Chinese teaching experience, there is our website to read.

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