I'll be spending 2 weeks in May in Beijing & the immediate surrounding areas and am trying to plan an additional 8 day trip following my Beijing stay.
My tentative plan is as follows:
Xi'an & surrounding area - 4 days
Guilin/Yangshou - 4 days
Is it possible or necessary to get a guide when I am there? How easy is it to find a guide once I arrive?
Is it better to fly, train or bus from Beijing to Xi'an & then on to Guilin? Are flights & trains generally available if I only book 1 or 2 days in advance?
Are the travel distances/times too ambitious for such a short stay?
Thanks for you help!
elsiebee
1
astroboy
It's not really necessary to get a guide for either of those areas - however, if you really want one, there will be a million people knocking on your doorstep (especially in Yangshuo). I highly recommend Xi'an to everyone, but I am not sure 4 days is really necessary on a short time frame, I'd probably move a day to the Yangshuo portion of the trip, myself.
Beijing to Xi'an is best down by overnight train - and then you could fly Xi'an to Guilin. Trains and flights are usually pretty easy to pick up provided you're not traveling during a peak period (say like the FIRST WEEK OF MAY).
I think you have the perfect itinerary.
2
purpletreefrog
Agree with #1. Take a day out of Xi'an. Also take the train to Xi'an from Beijing and then fly. For some reason trains to Xi'an have been really busy of late so try to book a couple of days in advance.
3
john33
Four days in both cities is fine and the other suggestions are good for the travel. Xi'an has such a different variety of great foods that aren't easily found in other parts of China. So take the time to explore early in the mornings through the various small alleys and then again at night. You will also find that the city has many great places to explore. Enjoy. If you are really into climbing and spelunking, then cut the Xi'an time by a day and enjoy Yangshuo's nature.
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