Itinerary advice Shanghai-Hunan-Guanxi Areas
Replies: 3 - Last Post: Nov 13, 2012 1:00 AM Last Post By: cetmonica
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Itinerary advice Shanghai-Hunan-Guanxi Areas
Hi!I would really appreciate advice about timing of my upcoming trip. Considering the vast distances to travel (and I am traveling on my own, with little mandarin), I would like to know, if you think I may have enough time to visit all these places in 3 and a half weeks, Here is where I wanted to visit:
Huang Shan
Hunan province (Fengshuang, Dehang, Zhangjiejie)
Guanxi province (Chengyang, Dragons backbone rice terraces, the areas of Guillin and Yangshao)
Hong Kong
Do you think that 3 and half weeks, is enough to see all these places? Or is this rushing too much? I am really wanting to spend most time in villages and beautiful landscapes. Do you think Huang Shang and Zhangjiejie are very similar? If so, should I skip Huang Shan and just go to Zhangjiejie? Then I am guessing, I would have more time to see villages in the Hunan and Guanxi areas. Would Zhangjiejie be less crowded than Huang Shan in December? Or, is Huang Shan so amazing, that I better not skip it?
Thanks so much for your advice!
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1
Not been to Huangshan or Chenyang, so can give advice about them but, I reckon, 3 weeks would be an ample amount of time to do this in.I assume you mean Fenghuang and Zhangjiajie? Both, along with Dehang, are pretty close together as are all the Guangxi location you mention. I suppose it depends on how much you like looking at rocks. Zhangjiajie has rocks. Dehang has rocks. It's safe to assume that Huangshan has rocks, too. If you want to go to Fenghuang or Dehang you have to, first, go to Jishou. Zhangjiajie is only about 2 hours from there as well.
In Guangxi, Yangshuo is only and hour and a bit from Guilin (If they've finally fixed the road. 2 if they haven't). The Dragon's Backbone isn't that much further away on the other side of Guilin.
How much time did you plan on spending in each location? 2 days in Fenghuang would be enough. Perhaps after 3 days Yangshuo would start to lose it's appeal. How much time do you want to spend in National Parks and on Huangshan?
2
3.5 weeks is plenty to see all of this comfortably, have time to get from place to place, and also have some upfront time in the greater Shanghai/Suzhou/Hangzhou area before heading to Huangshan and beyond. No place will be that crowded in December, but due to accessibility being tougher and more expensive for Chinese weekenders, ZJJ should be less crowded. Note that this time of year, any of these natural sights with mountains may have fog. If snow occurs, hiking may be hazardous on those rocks. It's always good to have a backup plan that you can implement on short notice if the weather turns against you. Since December is not busy for travel in China, I'd suggest you make as few advance arrangements as possible, and do things week by week.The right way to play the international is flying into Shanghai or Hangzhou, and out of Hong Kong.
3
3 and half week is farenough for the locations you mendtioned.December is low season in China ,not crowded at all.Special shoes will be provided if you climb Huang Shan in winter.if you are more interested on minority villages, you can skip Huang Shan and go to Zhangjiajie directly .rice terraces are barren in December in at Longsheng, Guilin. but If you are lucky, snowscape in Longji is very fantastic. Best time to visit is half a month after Apr.15 of lunar calendar or Aug.15 of lunar calendar.
