Seeking ideas for trip covering provinces I've not yet visited

Re counting fingers and toes, then nose and ..., the number seems to be 34 (including Taiwan).
See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provinces_of_China

I've been to all 34 but it took me years and multiple visits. Guidebooks provide the highlights of each, many mentioned here. You'll need to do your own research to narrow down the choices you like and figure out an itinerary that is efficient yet flexible. IMO, six weeks may not be enough time to enjoy each area's flavor and that you'll be constantly on the move. Can you save something for another time?

I don't think six weeks is enough to pick up all these provinces which are all over the Chinese map. IMO, you'll need to be more selective. I'm also a female, travel solo, and an architect so it seems we share some of the same profile. If it was my six weeks in May/June, I would go for high contrast and do Fujian/Jiangxi (2 weeks) + Xinjiang (3 weeks) and possibly Ningxia at the end if you're heading back east. Might be able to squeeze in Chongqing as a pivot point between east and west, but I'm well-known for my hatred of that city so I wouldn't park for too long there.

That would leave Shandong, Jilin, Inner Mongolia for your next trip, and those three sort of hang together geographically and logistically. I think adding them to this trip means you need to add another 4 weeks to the six you already have.

Dear All - thank you / xiexie so much for all your fabulous suggestions! It looks like I'm working in Africa for a little longer than expected this year, so this trip might need to be postponed, which means I should be able to take on a lo of the advice received above and spend longer in China to cover all the places I'm "missing".

Thanks again, all -- Xiaoyan

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