Using trains to these places in China

Using trains to these places in China
Mar 5, 2009 09:56
AJW00 Points: Join Date: Mar 5, 2009 Status: offline	Hi Everyone! My girlfriend and i are planning a trip in China around Sept 2009. After leaving Japan we are getting a ferry to Shanghai. We have some destinations we want to go but would like some advice on possible routes and just in general any other advice Our itinerary would be something like Shanghai ---> Beijing --->Xian ----> Chengdu --->Guilin/Yangshuo ---> Hong Kong (apologies for any spelling mistakes) Looking at seat61 and lonely planet some train journeys look straight forward ie. the shanghai to Beijing ---> Beijing to Xian ---> Xian to Chengdu using (direct 'z' trains hard/soft sleepers) Then onwards from there trains don't seem to be direct, how would we get from Chengdu to Yangshuo? Then onwards to Hong Kong? This is obviously our first time around China and we don't speak Chinese and some people say its the hardest place to get a grips with, so our thoughts we whether to do an organized tour? Do you think this is a good idea or should traveling independently be fine? Thanks for any help and tips!

Mar 5, 2009 09:56

AJW00
Points:
Join Date: Mar 5, 2009
Status: offline

Hi Everyone!

My girlfriend and i are planning a trip in China around Sept 2009.

After leaving Japan we are getting a ferry to Shanghai. We have some destinations we want to go but would like some advice on possible routes and just in general any other advice

Our itinerary would be something like Shanghai ---> Beijing --->Xian ----> Chengdu --->Guilin/Yangshuo ---> Hong Kong (apologies for any spelling mistakes)

Looking at seat61 and lonely planet some train journeys look straight forward ie. the shanghai to Beijing ---> Beijing to Xian ---> Xian to Chengdu using (direct 'z' trains hard/soft sleepers)

Then onwards from there trains don't seem to be direct, how would we get from Chengdu to Yangshuo? Then onwards to Hong Kong?

This is obviously our first time around China and we don't speak Chinese and some people say its the hardest place to get a grips with, so our thoughts we whether to do an organized tour? Do you think this is a good idea or should traveling independently be fine?

Thanks for any help and tips!

Mar 5, 2009 11:03

ELLYSE
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Join Date: Oct 30, 2005
Status: Offline

Shanghai -- overnight train -- Beijing -- overnight train -- Xi'an -- flight/train (17+ hours) -- Chengdu -- flight -- Guilin/Yangshuo -- overnight train/bus -- Shenzhen -- walk across border -- Hong Kong.
No Z trains for Xi'an -- Chengdu. The trains are somewhat slow for this route, so fly if you can afford it.
I would recommend that you fly Chengdu -- Guilin if you don't want to literally spend half your trip on trains. :P
There're direct sleeper buses from Yangshuo to Shenzhen, from where you can walk across the Luohu/Lo Wu border and take the MTR to wherever you want to go in Hong Kong. If you backtrack to Guilin, there're also overnight trains for Guilin -- Shenzhen.
No need to go on an organised tour if you're a frequent DIY traveller and are prepared for the cultural and language differences. You have plenty of time to do preparation and plannng. Your destinations are well-touristed anyway.
If you've any more queries, email me at yahoo.com|ellyse99 and put "TravelChinaGuide" and your own username (eg AJW00) in the subject line.

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