Traveling to China, would love real, local experience

Traveling to China, would love real, local experience
May 4, 2009 23:12
guest23187	Hi! I just booked my trip to China and would really appreciate meeting up with local people who interested in showing me around or perhaps just giving me some good tips. I really want to experience China on a more authentic level, not so touristy. Good food, nightlife, off-the-beaten-path trips, travel suggestions, some proper word pronunciations, maybe even just to meet new friends. I'm arriving in Beijing on the 20th of May until June 23, and will be traveling to Henan, Xian, Chengdu, Kunming/Dali/Lijiang, Guilin, Yangshuo, Chongqing, Shanghai, and Suzhou. Maybe Lhasa, not too sure yet. Thanks so much! my email is yahoo.com\|shayna840-ca

May 4, 2009 23:12

guest23187

Hi!

I just booked my trip to China and would really appreciate meeting up with local people who interested in showing me around or perhaps just giving me some good tips.

I really want to experience China on a more authentic level, not so touristy. Good food, nightlife, off-the-beaten-path trips, travel suggestions, some proper word pronunciations, maybe even just to meet new friends.

I'm arriving in Beijing on the 20th of May until June 23, and will be traveling to Henan, Xian, Chengdu, Kunming/Dali/Lijiang, Guilin, Yangshuo, Chongqing, Shanghai, and Suzhou. Maybe Lhasa, not too sure yet.

Thanks so much!

my email is yahoo.com|shayna840-ca

May 6, 2009 01:59

DAVEC
Points:
Join Date: Apr 14, 2007
Status: Offline

You will need to get away from the places you list if you want to miss the touristy bits. You have listed quite possibly the most popular areas in China.
Try to find local guide that can take you away from the main cities, dont need to go far but you can see rural areas. Its what I do.
For example, Lijiang, hire driver to take you out to La shi hai, a wonderful lake 20 mins away from town, he or she can also take you to Baisha, an old town with history and great food.
Dali, I took horse drawn cart out of the city to Erhai lake and then got on a boat with a fisherman to see the cormarants catching fish.

May 6, 2009 02:42

GUEST23187

Thanks Dave!

I actually am going to Erhai Lake (liking tge idea of thr horse-carriage!) as well as Baisha, though I didn't know they had great food there, thanks, I'm looking forward to it even more! These are places I did not find on any tours which is why I was asking around.

Your suggestion to La Shi Hai sounds very interesting and I will definitely check it out.

I only mentioned the main "hubs" that I will be traveling from for reference. It's my first China trip, so I figured I'd get in the touristy sites along with others, just enough to get myself familiar with it a bit and have something more to look forward to on my next visit. That's the main reason I am not booking with a tour company from here. I'm hoping to see more than that.

When I traveled in Europe, both western and eastern, I always started out in the main areas and then seemed to wonder and find little gems along the way, places I continue to visit and recommend years later. One of my favorite activities in Venice was getting lost! There's nothing like it, I found things I would have never known about otherwise. That's what I am hoping for China, but I figured it might be better to ask so I have some sort of plan, and be more spontaneous next time around.

Any and all suggestions you might have would be greatly appreciated!! :o)

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