Trip to China (14 days), please help...
Aug 3rd, 2004, 11:23 AM
#1
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Trip to China (14 days), please help...
- 3 days in Shanghai leaving by train to Shouzou.
- 1 day in Shouzou train to Nanjing
- 2 day in Nanjing train or fly to Xi'an
- 2 days in Xi'an train or fly to Beijing
- 5 days in Beijing
Some questions:
- are we moving too much? Too many places...
- how long are the train trips Shangai / Shouzou and Shouzou / Najing?
- Najing /Xi'an and Xi'an Beijing is it better by train or plane (considering the time available etc...)
Any info /advice on Shouzou and Naijing?
Grazie, arrivederci.
Gianni (Milan - Italy)
- 1 day in Shouzou train to Nanjing
- 2 day in Nanjing train or fly to Xi'an
- 2 days in Xi'an train or fly to Beijing
- 5 days in Beijing
Some questions:
- are we moving too much? Too many places...
- how long are the train trips Shangai / Shouzou and Shouzou / Najing?
- Najing /Xi'an and Xi'an Beijing is it better by train or plane (considering the time available etc...)
Any info /advice on Shouzou and Naijing?
Grazie, arrivederci.
Gianni (Milan - Italy)
Aug 3rd, 2004, 12:31 PM
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Buon Giorno, Gianni!
By train:
Shanghai to Suzhou - about an hour
Suzhou to Nanjing - about 3 hours
Nanjing to Xian - at least 14-15 hours
Xian to Beijing - at least 14-15 hours
If you can fly on the longer routes, that will save you some time. However, the train rides, especially overnight on the soft sleepers are not bad. You have to sleep somewhere anyhow and so why not spend the time sleepiing on the train and getting to your next destination? For example, I took the evening train from Xian to Beijing, we left around 6pm and got to Beijing in the morning around 8am.
No, you are not moving around too much, especially if you travel by night train. That way you arrive in the morning and have an entire day in the new city. If you fly, you lose at least 1/2 day flying from one city to another.
One day in Suzhou is not very much time. You should see at least these two gardens: Zhuozheng yuan (Humble Administrator) and Wang shi Yuan (Master of the Nets).
I'd do Zhuozheng, then Shi zi Lin (Forest of Stone Lions), then Wang Shi. If you have the time, you could fit in one more garden. Not more than four gardens in one day. You will be overwhelmed - seeing too much.
Have a good trip! Buon viaggio!
By train:
Shanghai to Suzhou - about an hour
Suzhou to Nanjing - about 3 hours
Nanjing to Xian - at least 14-15 hours
Xian to Beijing - at least 14-15 hours
If you can fly on the longer routes, that will save you some time. However, the train rides, especially overnight on the soft sleepers are not bad. You have to sleep somewhere anyhow and so why not spend the time sleepiing on the train and getting to your next destination? For example, I took the evening train from Xian to Beijing, we left around 6pm and got to Beijing in the morning around 8am.
No, you are not moving around too much, especially if you travel by night train. That way you arrive in the morning and have an entire day in the new city. If you fly, you lose at least 1/2 day flying from one city to another.
One day in Suzhou is not very much time. You should see at least these two gardens: Zhuozheng yuan (Humble Administrator) and Wang shi Yuan (Master of the Nets).
I'd do Zhuozheng, then Shi zi Lin (Forest of Stone Lions), then Wang Shi. If you have the time, you could fit in one more garden. Not more than four gardens in one day. You will be overwhelmed - seeing too much.
Have a good trip! Buon viaggio!
Aug 4th, 2004, 03:14 AM
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Hi
My wife and I went to China in March last year and we had a great time. We did Beijing, Xi'an and Hong Kong and we used both train and plane to get around. I have posted a trip report and pictures on my personal homepage gardkarlsen.com. Maybe you can find some useful information there
Get in touch if you have questions or comments.
Regards
Gard
Stavanger, Norway
My wife and I went to China in March last year and we had a great time. We did Beijing, Xi'an and Hong Kong and we used both train and plane to get around. I have posted a trip report and pictures on my personal homepage gardkarlsen.com. Maybe you can find some useful information there
Get in touch if you have questions or comments.Regards
Gard
Stavanger, Norway
Aug 4th, 2004, 01:11 PM
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You should cut a day in Shanghai or Nanjing for Suzhou. Suzhou is a pretty nice city with lots of classic Chinese gardens, and is worth staying for more than a day there.
Also search on this forum on "Suzhou". I have started two threads in June about Suzhou and the surrounding watertowns. One's titled "2nd Hand info about Hangzhou & Watertowns", the other "Classic Gardens of Suzhou". Read them carefully when planning your visit. A much better watertown near Suzhou to visit is Tongli. Don't bother with Zhouzhang. And in Suzhou, go to one of the less popular or smaller gardens, and skip Shizhilin (Lion Forest).
Also search on this forum on "Suzhou". I have started two threads in June about Suzhou and the surrounding watertowns. One's titled "2nd Hand info about Hangzhou & Watertowns", the other "Classic Gardens of Suzhou". Read them carefully when planning your visit. A much better watertown near Suzhou to visit is Tongli. Don't bother with Zhouzhang. And in Suzhou, go to one of the less popular or smaller gardens, and skip Shizhilin (Lion Forest).
