ekscrunchy

I have about 6 days in Beijing, then plan to train to Shanghai for 4 full days. After reading a post about Xian, and seeing a recent History Channel program, I am becoming intrigued about the possibility of visiting on an overnight. Question is this: Will I be able to book a well-priced package once in Shanghai? (I wrote to Wild China and have not yet received a response).

I would prefer not to drag all of my luggage to Xian..are there baggage check options at Shanghai airport? I was thinking I would try for a package after my stay in Shanghai, this extending my stay in China by one night; then make the onward connection from Shanghai as follows: Shanghai-Xian-Shanghai -Seoul.

Would Xian be horribly crowded on a weekend? Anything else I should consider?

Thanks!

OJudy

I too would like to do a quick weekend trip to Xian. Mine will also have to be arranged once I'm in Shanghai. Thanks for any advice and suggestions.

easytraveler

Flights in China are plentiful and ever-changing.

The best thing is to purchase an airline ticket on your arrival in China. There are at least five flights a day from Shanghai to Xian.

You can either purchase the ticket yourself if you are at the airport or have your hotel arrange the purchase. Be aware that hotels will add on a surcharge.

I suspect that if you flying round trip, you should be able to store some luggage with the airline that you are flying. However, I'd check with the individual airline.

Lots of good hotels in Xian, especially Western chain hotels like Hyatt and Sheraton, they will be more than willing to store your luggage for you if you are planning at least one overnight stay in Xian.

Good luck and happy travels!

ekscrunchy

Thanks Easytraveler. Since I would probably be taking different airlines Shanghai-Xian-Shanghai, and Shanghai-Seoul, (my next destination), I wondered if there were luggage storage facilities at Shanghai airport....

easytraveler

ekscrunchy: you may or may not be aware that there are two airports in Shanghai.

The Pudong Airport is for international flights and has a couple of luggage storage locations.

The Hongqiao Airport is for mostly domestic flights. I am not aware of any storage facility there.

The two airports are about 40 km apart.

Check out the Shanghai Airport Authority website

shairport.com

for more uptodate information.

ekscrunchy

Good gracious..I was definitely not aware of this! Thank you very much for pointing it out to me..that certainly changes my idea of leaving the large bag at the airport!

easytraveler

I have a suggestion:

Why don't you take the overnight train from Beijing to Xian? Book the soft sleeper and you'll sleep quite well. Bring along some toilet paper for the primitive squat toilet even in the soft sleeper class.

Or if you don't want to brave the Chinese trains, then fly to Xian.

My recollection is that you leave Beijing (make sure you go to the correct railway station in Beijing!) around 6pm and arrive Xian around 8am.

Stay at least one night in Xian, then fly to Shanghai. Thence continue on to Seoul.

Again, flights are plentiful in China and ever changing, so make sure you ask your hotel or host to help you book a Xian flight the moment you arrive in Beijing.

Again, happy travels!

ekscrunchy

Easy, that is a good idea. Are the trains Beijing-Xian as good as the trains Beijing-Shanghai? I will get a berth in soft sleeper and will be traveling alone.

I have contacted Wild China after reading recommendations here. I will send them my dates and see if they come up with something not very expensive.

rkkwan

From the pictures and reports I've read elsewhere, the once-a-night "Z" train between Beijing and Xian does use the new train cars, like the Beijing-Shanghia ones.

ekscrunchy

Rkkwan: Thank you for your ever-useful information.

And now: Hotels in Xian with good location.

ANA?

Bell Tower?

Hyatt?

I would like to be able to wander around..walk through Muslim Quarter, etc. Is this possible and which hotel do you recommend?

thursdaysd

Wandering around is absolutely no problem. The Bell Tower is about as central as it gets - but there are lots of taxis, and I even used the buses some - the last time there I was staying south of the walls.

Marija

The Hyatt, though within the city walls, is just too far from the center. I believe there's a new Sofitel near the center.

ekscrunchy

Thanks! So forget the Hyatt!

Sofitel?

Ana?

Bell Tower?

ekscrunchy

Also, would the pottery village of Chen Lu be an interesting trip from Xian?

I would love to read a bit about this experience....

Ian

The ANA is right outside the south gate. Beside it is the Howard Johnson. Both would be an easy walk to Bell Tower etc. We stayed at the Hojo in Feb & liked it.

Ian

rkkwan

My parents stayed at the Sofitel. It's on the large Renmin Square just about city center. Very very nice hotel.

nagiffag

My parents stayed at the HoJo right outside the wall and they liked it. They met some people who stayed at the Bell Tower and wish they had stayed there instead. Their aquanitances had a room on a high floor (maybe the penthouse) that had a 360 degree view for 75% of what my parents paid.

I arranged their hotel separately, but they used Clarence Guo ([email protected]) for their guided tour. He has a website too and has been interviewed for a couple of international magazines.. National Geographic and another if I recall correctly. Picked up at airport, driven directly to Warriors, had lunch, visited cave dwellings and a taoist temple and delivered to hotel. Next day did his package City Tour. They said it was a good trip.

Ian

The Hojo is a deluxe 5 star hotel. Great staff, western/eastern restaurant with great views of the Xi'an wall (it's lit up at night). We were on the 15th floor. For pics (some out the hotel window) see http://members.rennlist.com/imcarthur/xian.htm

Ian

albaaust

Don't even think about it! The Bell Hotel is the place - there is something magical about looking out of the window at night and seeing the Bell Tower and it is central. Check out our pictures from the window http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/tp/18ab58/

ekscrunchy

Are these hotels very close to one another?