rkkwan

http://www.chinalink.hk/co_service_routes17.html

Counter A08 or B04 at the arrivals of the two terminals at SZX respectively. Private waiting area. Buses go directly to the Elements Mall in Kowloon with extra drop off points elsewhere in the city. Let me know where you're staying and I can tell you best way to get there.

Do you really mean safety in HK? It is one of the safest big cities in the world with no concern, except for those guesthouses in Chungking Mansion. Use common sense and be aware of your surroundings - like fire exits - if you really decide to stay there.

TravelJoyously

Sandeep_Menon,
Thanks for your encouragement. I'm very excited about Lijiang.

Do you have suggestions about hostels/hotels in Lijiang, Kunming, Guilin, adn Yangshuo? ?

How did you travel from Lijiang to Kunming?

Thanks

MmePerdu

If you haven't booked yet in Hong Kong the Salisbury YMCA does, in fact, have hostel rooms if you're lucky enough to find availability:
http://www.ymcahk.org.hk/sales/html/e_DR.htm

I travelled several years ago by bus from Kunming to Dali and on to Lijiang. Then flew back to Kunming enroute to Jinghong in the south. Ask about the bus to Dali at your accommodation in Kunming. I dislike buses but found the trip not bad at all.

thursdaysd

I flew from Kunming to Lijiang, took the bus to Dali and the train back to Kunming.

Note 1: I visited three interesting towns south of Kunming, by bus, that had hardly any western tourists. See http://wilhelmswords.com/rtw2004/

Note 2: There are loads of places to stay in Lijiang, you don't have to stay in a pricey hotel, just consult a guidebook like Lonely Planet. Having slept in a VERY basic place in Dazu at the far end of TLG, I stayed here in Lijiang: http://www.sinohotel.com/english/hot...l_lijiang.html Very comfortable but you can easily sleep for less.

Note 3: If you insist on traveling over the October holiday you MUST book ahead. Remember that there are over a billion people who live in China. The train stations and airports will be PACKED.

Shanghainese

MmePerdu -- Did you find Jinghong as interesting as Lijiang and Dali? Thanks.

MmePerdu

Jinghong is very different from Dali & Lijiang and equally interesting to me as I like tropical places and also the proximity to tea growing and a minority area & market without many tourists. Also access to boats to travel to Laos and Thailand which we did. And Jinghong didn't feel mobbed with tourists as the other 2 can be which was pleasant. However, there were several large hotels under construction so that aspect may have changed by now.

TravelJoyously

MMePerdu and Sandeep_Menon,
Thanks for the tips about Lijiang.

Shanghainese

MmePerdu -- Thank you for the response.