| Could somebody give me some travel advice? | |
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| Apr 5, 2008 16:32 |   |
 | Hello everybody, I'm planning to go to China from 18 july till 18 august. I will arrive 18 july in Beijing by train from Moscow. But then? I'm planning to backpack with my girlfriend. We want to travel only by train and bus. Is the following route a good idea? Beijing - Xi'An - .....(maybe Chengdu).... - Guilin - Honk Kong or Beijing - Zhengzhou - Shanghai - Fuzhou - Hong Kong I have no idea which route is better, and if the route is doable in 30 days. Also Which places are worth the trouble to stop by between Xi'An and Guilin? A lot of questions..... I hope somebody can help me with some answers. Also if you have a better route for 30 days please tell! Thanx! Marcel |
| Apr 5, 2008 17:13 | #1 |
| Marcel. 30 days is enough to walk both those routes! You can easily see all places you mentioned in both itineraries, as long as you don't want to spend too long in each place. Ellyse will give you lots of advice about Shanghai and other places to go around that area. She'll probably suggest Huangzhou. You won't need more than 3 days in HK, so don't rush your trip and arrive there too early. When you go to Guilin, stay in Yangshuo, as it has far more to do, and is cheaper. I would try to get trains wherever possible. In my opinion, it is the best way to travel in China. Opt for hard bed class. Buses are less safe, and less comfortable, but not much less expensive. |
| Apr 5, 2008 17:23 | #2 |
| Thanks for your fast reply! We don't want to rush our trip. So we're not going to do both routes ;) But it's good to know that one of our routes is doable in the 30 days. It's hard to estimate travel times with only a map and a lonely planet if you have never been in China! Thanks for all your tips! Marcel |
| Apr 5, 2008 22:27 | #3 |
| I recommend Xi'an as it has plenty of character and is touristy enough to have facilities, but not over the top. The opposite is true of Yangshuo that The Baron recommends - to me it has been totally spoilt by tourism. Accommodation is cheap but all the backpacker activities are extremely expensive (180 rmb is a common price) by Chinese standards. It's like going to the Spannish coastal resorts (tho smaller) - but then, I am an old man so tastes differ. However, relatively close to Guilin, a few hours onthe bus to the NW are some very interesting ethnic villages. If you go to Chengdu, allow a few days to get to the villages from there. I strongly recommend the youth hostels in Chengdu (except 1 which is just rooms in a hotel), Xi'an, Guilin and indeed most cities as you can find out info so much more easily there. Your first priority after finding your accommodation is to organise getting to your next destination! It is hard to get train tickets at short notice as they sell out quickly, buses are easier in this respect, but there are usually multiple bus stations and nowhere to get info except by visiting each one. The biggest mistake, I feel is to try to do too much. Either of your routes is fine, and give you enough time to vary your plans and for delays. Do consult Lonely Planet. |
| Apr 6, 2008 03:11 | #4 |
| Apault - I totally understand what you say about Yangshuo, but maybe when you went there you never ventured further than West Street? If you rent a bicycle for a day, there are so many places you can go where you will not see another tourist. The list of things to do there is longer than most other Chinese locations. Sure, if you join tours and organised activities, then you will be surrounded by hundreds of other backpackers, which is really not my idea of fun at all. The food in Yangshuo has to be the worst food in China, but at least the menus are friendly towards non Chinese speaking people. For foreigners having been travelling in other Chinese cities for a while, Yangshuo seems very easy going and relaxed, which is a welcome break. I have met many people who have been there and didn't like it, but when you ask what they did, it becomes obvious why. They take the boat on the Li river, pay to watch the bird fishing in large groups, and watch the light show on the mountian. Basically, they never venture out of the town, and never do anything on their own. The area around Yangshuo has to hold some of the most beautiful scenery in the world, and anyone who makes the effort to go off on their own through the rice fields and tiny villages always has an amazing experience. I remember cycling through a tiny faming village (about 1.30hrs out of Yangshuo) and was invited in to a family home for lunch. I ate like a king, and they refused to accept any money. You won't get these experiences if you stick with the tour groups. I think maybe I was the first foreigner they had seen in years! I will always recommend Yangshuo to anyone, as long as they are willing to break from the masses. It is one of China's real treasures. I often tell people to throw away their Lonely Planets, and Rough Guides, as all they do is point you in the same direction as everyone else. Anyone using one of those guides is bound to end up on a Li river cruise, thinking "My God, look how touristy this place is". |
| Apr 6, 2008 12:16 | #5 |
| Thank you both for all your advice. You helped me lots! I'm glad that you both confirm that my plan is acceptable. I'm so excited after reading your replies! Can't wait to go.... I've got another small question; My visa for china is valid from 18 july till 17 august. Is it possible to enter Hong Kong august 17 and fly back to europe august 20? Thanks again! |
| Apr 6, 2008 16:12 | #6 |
| As long as you exit Mainland China before 17th August, then you will have no problems. You will be able to stay in HK for longer. |
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