| china trip | |
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| Oct 13, 2008 16:26 |   |
 | First China Visit Hi All I have a difficult question. I have just retired at age 61 and am making my first of several trips to China in January. ( I am from Canada so the cold is no big deal). However, I am having difficulty deciding on an itinerary. I have almost 4 weeks. I can arrive and depart from any city. I like Chinese culture, art, people, landscapes, history and food. I have no interest in an organized tour but will likely hire local guides along the way or maybe for the wholwe trip. I am not into too much discomfort but I would really like to experience China as much as possible rather that just be a passive tourist observer, if that makes sense. I know it's a HUGE and diverse country and I will have a relatively short time but I would appreciate some advice the experts on this forum on what to see and where to go. Thanks in advance |
| Oct 14, 2008 00:40 | #1 |
| China is vast. Each region has interesting sights to see and food to eat. May I suggest that you make an attempt to define the sort of Chinese experience that suits your personality. For instance: Do you like cities; or do you prefer the country side? Would you have a richer experience by seeing people living in the older ways; or would you be satisfied with an experience in modern China? One of my best memories of China came when I wandered into the courtyard of a home where an old man was squatting to clean fresh water eel for dinner. He was surrounded by little children watching him clean the meal. It was quite a memorable scene. Seeing an old man buy eel for dinner in Walmart is not quite the same experience. IMO, you have to decide what aspects of China capture your imagination and then build your plan. |
| Oct 14, 2008 01:24 | #2 |
| Hello Slimjim, Yes, I agree with Griz. As China is such a huge place, you have to decided what kind of trip you want first. I have many experiece in different part of China, and the memories were totally different. In my viewpoint, I would say I like to travel to the old towns, because that looks quite "China". But to tell you the truth, today a lot of wellknowned old towns has changed much, the business man built a lot of bars and small hotels in those town----that is not a bad thing, at least you will have more comfortable and clean places to stay and more places to spend during the nightlife, but on the other hand, the tourists and the bars changed the feelings of those old town, they are not like what they were any more. So all in one word, I would say if now I want a lazy trip and relax myself from the hard work, I would like to go to some developed places; if I want to discover some special places and experience the local people's life, I would start a backpack trip towards some small villages with a long history. :-) Cheers Nancy |
| Oct 14, 2008 17:23 | #3 |
| Thanks for the advice. Well, I want it both ways-modern urban China and the countryside experience. I think my itinerary will be something like Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu Kunming (or Guilin, not decided yet-opinions?) and ending in HK for the new year. While in each city i intend to take day trips to see as much as I can. I don't intend to move too fast. So, what do you think? |
| Oct 14, 2008 20:39 | #4 |
| GUEST17118 | I am a Chinese young man, I know Chinese city and country. I would like to be your guide if I am free. MSN: hotmail.com|wangchjie |
| Oct 14, 2008 20:59 | #5 |
| Hmmm...that sound more like a lazy trip for me. Then i would say you can start from Beijing, stay in the morden city for some days to visit the Imperial Palace, the Summer Palace, the Great Wall and even the Hu-tongs. Then you fly to Xi'an, which was the capital city of the old dynasty, you can visit the Burial figures of warriors and horses, Huaqingchi hot-spring, Dayan tower in the city, and then you can spend a couple of days to Huangling(the tomb of a famous king) and Hukou warterfall, if you like to climb the moutains, you can try Moutain Hua. Then you go to Chengdu from Xi'an, around Chengdu, you can play with the monkeys in Emei mountain, see the Leshan Giant Buddha, if you have intereste, you can also watch the colorful water in Jiuzhaigou. Don't forget to taste the local food in Sichuan. And if you go to Kunming, don't forget to go to Lijiang, it is a developed old town with some nice bars, you can live there to spend some lazy days, I'm sure you will like it. :-P |
| Oct 19, 2008 07:20 | #6 |
| Thanks again for advice. Nancy, that's exactly the kind of trip I am wanting but it's not laxy, just slower paced to enhance the experience. But since my trip ends after spring Festival, where best for me to enjoy this experience; BJ, Shanghai or HK. |
| Oct 19, 2008 21:59 | #7 |
| You are welcome, Slimjim. To experience the Spring Festival, I would say Beijing is the most interesting place of that three. :-) |
| Oct 21, 2008 01:18 | #8 |
| Hangzhou is one of the most famous traveling city with beautiful natural scenary in China.It's about 1-2 hour away from Shanghai by train or bus.I'm living in Hangzhou.So if you have interest in traveling in Hangzhou.I could be your good guide.And i would show you some picture of the city if you have interest. Leon |
| Nov 20, 2008 13:46 | #9 |
| Hi again I am arriving in Beijing on January 5 and will stay in that area sightseeing for 7-8 days. I have decided to go south after that because the weather is warmer. I have learned that there is a train, non-stop I think, from Beijing to HK. I haven't been able to find any reviews of the trip but it looks an interesting way to see the country. I would go for the deluxe soft sleeper which looks great. Has anyone done this and if so, do you recommed it. After a few days in HK I plan to visit Xiamen, Fuzhou, Hangzhou and ending in Shanghai for the New Year (I considered your advice Nancy but this works better for me). I am travelling alone but will occasionally hire a guide or travel companion. I can't afford someone for the entire trip. |
| Nov 20, 2008 20:31 | #10 |
| i adcise you of some tips in china :1.historical places : Forbidden City in Beijing Terra cotta Warriors and Horses in Xi'an Gaochang Ruins in Xinjiang Jiaohe Ruins in Xinjiang; Ruin of st Paul Church in Macau; Great Wall of China Silk Road Banpo Village Remains in Xi'an Sanxingdui Ruins in Sichuan Mante Fortress in Macau Dujiangyan Irrigation Project 2.natural tips mountains : Yellow Mountain Huashan Mountain Mountain Everest Mountain Putuoshan in Zhejiang Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in Yunnan Meili Snow Mountain in Yunnan Huitengxile Grassland in Hohhot Longji Terrace Field in Longsheng Longsheng Hot Spring in Guilin Flaming Mountain in Xinjiang Mt. Laoshan in Shandong Thousand Buddha Mountain in Shandong Qilian Mountain Chengde Attraction Xilamurengrassland Qingxiu Mountain Jiuzhaigou scenic & historic area Huanglong Scenic & historic area 3.waterfall etc............ Yangtze River Li River Grand Canal Qinhuai River in Nanjing West Lake in Hangzhou Thousand Islets Lake in Hangzhou Heavenly Lake in Xinjiang Shouxi Lake in Jiangsu East Lake in Wuhan Thousand Buddha Mountain in Shandong Thousand Buddha Mountain in Shandong Erhai Lake in Yunnan Lugu Lake in Yunnan Dianchi Lake in Yunnan Karakuli Lake in Xinjiang Aiding Lake in Xinjiang Baotu Spring in Shandong Crescent-Moon Spring in Gansu Huaqing Hot Springs in Xi'an Hukou Waterfall 4.palace , mosque ,temple .................................. Potala Palace in Tibet Bird's Nest in Beijing Water Cube in Beijing Shanghai World Financial Center in Shanghai NorbuLingka in Tibet Summer Palace in Chengde National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing Yonghegong Lama Temple Temple of Heaven White Horse Temple South Putuo Temple Jade Buddha Temple Confucius Temple Hanshan Temple Lingyin Temple Kumbum Monastery(Ta'er Monastery) Idgar Mosque Putuozongcheng Temple Puning Temple Puji Buddhist Temple Five Pagoda Temple Confucius Temple Hanshan Temple Lingyin Temple Wuhou Memorial Temple Dreprung Monastery Ganden Monastery Jokhang Temple Sera Monastery Great Mosque Grand Dongguan Mosque Outer Eight Temples Bara Temple Lianfong Temple Dazhao Temple 5.tower ,building ............................ Bell Tower Drum Tower Big Wild Goose Pagoda Small Wild Goose Pagoda Sugong Ta (Emin Minaret) Jokhang Temple Sera Monastery Great Mosque White Pagoda Grand Dongguan Mosque Six Harmonies Pagoda Three Pagodas White Stupa Diping Wind and Rain Bridge Yellow Crane Tower Marco Polo Bridge(Lougu Bridge) First Bridge over the Yangtze River Macau Attractions Xian Ancient City Wall Yumen Pass Yangguan Pass Jiayuguan Pass The Suspended Great Wall Pingyao Ancient City Wall 6.museums............ Luoyang Museum; Museum of Ancient Tombs Hubei Provincial Museum Western Han Nanyue King Tomb Museum Oversea Chinese Museum The Great Wall Museum Macau Marine Museum Giant Panda Breeding and Research Base Shanghai Museum Suzhou Silk Museum Banpo Museum Forest of Stele Musum Shaanxi Provincial Museum Macau Wine Museum Macau Great Prix Museum |
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