Itinerary Guangxi & Yunnan June2017

I stand corrected. They haven't already started building the Kunming-Singapore link they're planning, have they???

I wouldn't say Kunming - Singapore since the trains in Thailand are so slow and the rail infrastructure is not on par. I didn't see any plans for upgrading, too there.

But yes, they have started the Kunming - Vientiane line. I think it goes to some small town south of Kunming for the moment but it could be finished in 2 or 3 years. Certainly the part from Kunming to Jinghong

I did see what they were doing between Shangri-la and Lijiang and it wasn't very impressive. They are building a lot of very expensive bridges, overflies and tunnels, sometimws where you can't really see the sense of the tunnel or bridge.

For example, there is a tunnel and bridge construction at the start of the Tiger Leaping Gorge. It's immense, but I don't get it. The river valley is right next to it (it's literally 5 km from Qiaotou), why don't they build it in the valley instead of making two very long tunnels and a bridge? I suspect that some officials profit from soaring costs.. but then again I'm not an engineer.

But it will take some time before this is finished.

That itinerary looks like it was written by a travel agent.

For example, there is a tunnel and bridge construction at the start of the Tiger Leaping Gorge. It's immense, but I don't get it. The river valley is right next to it (it's literally 5 km from Qiaotou), why don't they build it in the valley instead of making two very long tunnels and a bridge? I suspect that some officials profit from soaring costs.. but then again I'm not an engineer.

Poor soil conditions in the valley. They need to get the infrastructure supports down into stable rock, not mush and not that shale that likes to landslide down when it gets water under it.

Back to OP's itinerary: I also agree that it is too much Guilin region/Guangxi and not enough Yunnan. I would cut the entire Guilin region time to 4 days maximum in the Yangshuo-Xingping area, minimal Guilin (I dislike this city due to nasty natives) and forego the Longji Rice Terraces. There's no need to do two terrace areas and Yuanyang in Yunnan is superior. So, add to the Yuanyang Terraces loop so you have a couple of days there + a day in the Jianshui area. Yubeng probably needs another day at least to get the hiking accomplished. Even though the Songzanlin Monastery in Shangri-La has curtailed open access and increased pricing, I still think it is worthwhile to see as one of the premier monasteries outside of the Tibet Autonomous Region.

Particularly in Yunnan, you will need to stay flexible based on weather conditions you may encounter, given this time of year.

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