Help with itinerary for a 12-day trip in Southern China

Help with itinerary for a 12-day trip in Southern China
Oct 13, 2009 07:03
TURQUOISE Points: Join Date: Oct 13, 2009 Status: offline	Hello, We are planning to go to Southern China and HK at the end of December / early January, for 13-day trip. We would like to see these cities/regions: - HK - Guilin - Yangshuo - Kunming - Dali - Lijang - Xishuangbanna I realize we have VERY little time to do all this. What do you recommend visiting in priority? Also, I heard some regions are bleak and disappointing at that time of the year. Is December-January a bad season to visit these places? Should we consider doing our trip in Spring instead? Thanks for your help!

Oct 13, 2009 07:03

TURQUOISE
Points:
Join Date: Oct 13, 2009
Status: offline

Hello,

We are planning to go to Southern China and HK at the end of December / early January, for 13-day trip.

We would like to see these cities/regions:
- HK
- Guilin
- Yangshuo
- Kunming
- Dali
- Lijang
- Xishuangbanna

I realize we have VERY little time to do all this. What do you recommend visiting in priority?

Also, I heard some regions are bleak and disappointing at that time of the year. Is December-January a bad season to visit these places? Should we consider doing our trip in Spring instead?

Thanks for your help!

Oct 13, 2009 11:29

APAULT
Points:
Join Date: Mar 11, 2006
Status: Offline

You are considering travelling in mid winter. Temperatures will fall to freezing or below in most of those places. Maost buildings have NO heating in winter as all these places are south of the Yangtze... north of which heating is required. You would be well advised to come in late spring.

I am writing from Lijiang where the temperature rose to 21C today with clear blue skies. Nights are down to about 12C. On a cloudy day it will be cooler. And it is only mid October There will be few other tourists around and you would be able to get true bargain basement accommodation, but I think the Dali Old Town will be absolutely dead.... I have been told there is no winter season here.

When you do come, I recommend Dali and Lijiang, but there is little reason to stay in Kunming. I also think you will find Yangshuo town disappointing after Lijiang, but of course there is great scenery in that area, but if you take the bus/boat trip from Guilin to Yangshou, you usually get a couple of hours in Yangshuo before catching the bus back to Guilin. I have no knowledge of Xishuangbanna. HK should probably be included as it is quite different from the mainland.

Oct 15, 2009 22:17	#2
ELLYSE Points: Join Date: Oct 30, 2005 Status: Offline	What are your sightseeing interests and preferences? Any daily budget to keep to? Have you been to Hong Kong before? What are your points of entry and exit? I would skip Xishuangbanna if you've been to Thailand/Indo-China before, and/or if you're not interested in trekking.

Oct 17, 2009 02:13	#3
DAVEC Points: Join Date: Apr 14, 2007 Status: Offline	I have been to these places and would say leave Kunming in favour of Dali and Lijiang, plus leave Guilin in favour of Yangshuo and the countryside around. I prefered Dali as it was less touristy and not the same like Lijiang, where every street has same view and shops. Guilin is again too touristy and as you go to that area to see the scenery its best to head to the countryside

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