travel tips for Beijing, Xian, Shanghai

travel tips for Beijing, Xian, Shanghai
Jun 11, 2005 17:22
GAZZA Points: Join Date: Mar 29, 2005 Status: offline	I will be in China for 3 weeks from early August for 3 weeks, spending most of my time in Suzhou and Shanghai. I intend to travel to Beijing and Xi'an for brief visits. What is the best way to travel (fly/train), how many nights will I need to stay to see the major attractions and the best located accomodation in these cities. Any overnight information on Shanghai would be helpful as well. All travel advice received with thanks!

Jun 11, 2005 17:22

GAZZA
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Join Date: Mar 29, 2005
Status: offline

I will be in China for 3 weeks from early August for 3 weeks, spending most of my time in Suzhou and Shanghai. I intend to travel to Beijing and Xi'an for brief visits. What is the best way to travel (fly/train), how many nights will I need to stay to see the major attractions and the best located accomodation in these cities. Any overnight information on Shanghai would be helpful as well.

All travel advice received with thanks!

Jun 11, 2005 17:39	#1
RITA Points: Join Date: May 10, 2005 Status: Offline	1, The best way is fly. Best located hotels should be around the Bell Tower. 2, Xi'an two nights is enough, Beijing, at least three nights. The best located accommodations should be around the Tian'anmen Square.

Jun 12, 2005 01:12

GAZ07
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Join Date: Apr 27, 2005
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Nice name.

Anyways, personally i think Beijing deserves at LEAST 5 days. It's the heart of China obviously has huge history. Theres a lot of impressive stuff to see and do. I recommend you stay at Central International Youth Hostel (across from the railway station) Excellent location, clean, cheap bar and good atmosphere. dorm 60RMB/night (4 quid)

Shanghai is a great modern city. There aren't that many attractions as such but it looks great, good nightlife, good shopping. I got bored after about 4 days though. I stayed at the Pujiang Hotel for 70RMB/night for a dorm. It was perfectly fine, but i heard the Captains Hostel is better...

Suzhou is a nice city, but it's not exactly exciting. If you like gardens and small canals then it's ok i guess. I thought it was overrated though to be honest. 2/3 days was enough for me. If you do go, go to Tongli on the bus. It's the Venice of China (canal town).

I haven't been to Xian yet, but from what i've read it sounds good. 3/4 days probably. I heard the IYA hostel is a good place to stay too.

I don't know what your into but let me throw some ideas at you... *Pingyao* (between Beijing and Xi'an) - perfect example of an old traditional chinese town/city. *Hangzhou* (2 hrs from Shanghai) like suzhou, but i've heard it's better. *Huang Shan* (10 hrs from Shanghai) "the most beautiful mountain in China."

I've travelled by train everywhere, "soft seat" and usually overnight, which i think is fine. It's a third of the cost of a flight and saves a night accomodation (if you can sleep on a seat). Make sure it's a T or K train though, the normal ones are horrible!

Have a good trip mate.

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