nancydarst

We decided to visit China for the first time with a planned tour in Oct. (our first). Not looking forward to the limitations and traveling with strangers, but don't have time to put a trip together, on our own, so thought we would give it a try (and the price was right). My question is: we have a choice of visiting Xi'an for 2 days(Warriors, Big Wild Geese, Huaqing Hot Spring Park,) or going to Hangzhou (Economic Development Zone, Liyin temple, West Lake boat cruise). Which would you choose?

Marija

I would choose Xi'an, no doubt about it. We enjoyed Hangzhou (which is not the same as Suzhou in your title) but when all is said it's just another beautiful lake. The Warriors are unique. I know you didn't ask, but it's easy to put together an independent trip and you still have time. Poke around the forum for suggestions...

rhkkmk

xian

wanderer_tmptlt

xian, no doubt about that.

shelleyk

Another vote for Xian.

LeighTravelClub

Which is it?
Suzhou or Hangzhou ?

You can do both in one day.

If it's between Xian and the above two, then, even allowing for the fact that the warriors are truly awesome, I would go for either or both of the other two.

Apart from the warriors, Xian doesn't really have anything special to offer. Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Huaqing Hot Spring Park, Bell Tower, Drum Tower, Green Dragon Temple, etc. etc.

Unless you have a great desire to see the warriors, I would miss Xian.

LeighTravelClub

Maybe you could consider Suzhou, and Wuzi.

travelaw

Xian, absolutely.

Nywoman

I was in Suzhou and Xian. Unfortunately only in Xian for 1 night. It was a city that I felt had so much to offer apart from the tour to see the warriors. The Moslem night market was fantastic and I would have loved to stay on to experience more of the city.

Suzhou was lovely and I enjoyed all the gardens, but from your desciption that is not where you have a choice to go.

Xian wins in every which way.

Kwoo

I vote for Xian,too. I've been to Xian, Suzhou and Hangshou. They are both lovely cities but Xian has more to offer and is more interesting. The Warriors are a must see, & everything else is very interesting from the Wild Goose Pagoda, Muslim night markets, Bell tower & Drum Tower, Shaanxi Museum, etc. I've also heard since we were last there that you can ride bikes along the wall that surrounds the city.

nancydarst

The tour will be visiting Suzhou and Hangshou. Now, it looks as if there are not enough interested for the side to trip to Xian (need at least 10), but now I am wondering if my husband and I should break away from the tour and visit Xian on our own. I talked with a friend who loved Suzhou and hangshou and said we should not miss that part of the tour.

BeachGirl247

nancy, I've been going back and forth as well on our trip and which side trip to include. It came down to which one I would regret not visiting while there and for us it is Xian. I've added a few days on to our trip so we may spend more than a day visit there.
I'll post about it when we return in September!