Great report. Details and narrative made for very interesting reading. Thanks for sharing your adventure.

Thanks for such an informative report! One quick question - how much did you pay for your day with "Go for it Johnny!" to the Great Wall? And how far in advance did you book? We will be there in two weeks, so I'm wondering if I need to book now?

Hi CleoB -- We paid 700 yuan (about $100) for our day with "Go for it Johnny." The day also included a stop for lunch at a restaurant near The Wall (cost not included - the chestnut dish was superb)and a driveby of the Olympic Villlage (skippable IMO).

I actually booked way in advance so I would contact him right away. If he is booked, he may refer you to a friend.

Thanks - I've just been in touch with him - you are right, he was booked the day we wanted but had another one open. His price was 800 yuan for the very end of May. I appreciate the referral!

Thank you so much, Magster, for sharing your experiences! I've taken lots of notes that I'm sure will help me make the most of my upcoming trip.

Great report and I like your traveling style. I go to China almost annually, 1 week in Shanghai and the other on sidetrips.

I'm helping a couple put together a trip similiar to yours, and I have a question which is more personal. Excluding international airfare and shopping, how much did the 2 of you spend for internal air/train/bus fare, hotels, food, guides, entrance fees, shows, etc. Thanks for your help.

Hi Shanghainese,

A pretty good estimate would be $5000 for the 30 days. We spent between $500-600 on our three internal flights, $3000 in cash (food, guides, entertainment, some hotels etc.), and $1500 on credit cards (mostly for hotels, some restaurants & tours). We usually average at least $6,000 a month when we travel, so China was a real bargain. Hope your friends have a great trip!

Just found your report it is very well written. Am so glad you enjoyed Pingyao. I loved following you along and reliving some of the memories.

Of all the Asian countries I think I liked China the best. True I don't know Thailand, Bangkok doesn't count, and Japan was 45 years ago.

LvL
Li Jiang is wonderful I very much enjoyed it. Partially because I spent some time with Shanghainese and her husband and we took some side trips together, but also because it was so nice.

Nywoman,

Pingyao was a real highlight for us, and I never would have gone there if not for your suggestion. That's why I love this forum. Thanks so much!

Magster: thanks vey much for the info, they have a slightly higher budget with some spending $$ for shopping.

NYwoman: DH and I still talk about Li Jiang and you, especially how you got the honeymoon room with the big heartshaped bed and we slept on 2 cots at the old town guesthouse!

Thanks for posting this Magster, very useful information especially as there isn't much posted on SW China.

Magster - just re-read your report. Thanks again for all the useful info. How would you compare this Asia trip to others and where else have you been? I am having a bit of trouble convincing my DH to do a third Asia trip as we did Thailand/Cambodia two years ago and Vietnam this year. And it is not that he does not want to go, but he feels that China will be very similar to what we have already seen. Your thoughts?

Hi dgunbug,

Our Asia trips have included Thailand, Cambodia, Bali, Japan, and Saipan (but not Vietnam -- yet). I would definitely encourage him to go. For one thing, China has the once-in-a-lifetime experiences of seeing The Great Wall and the Terracotta Warriors. And the culture, though similar in some ways to other Asian countries, is pure Chinese. I enjoyed the architecture, the music and dance. Plus, I found China totally fascinating as a country -- their history (particularly under Mao) and the unbelievably rapid change that is occuring there now. It is a country like no other.

Thanks for your reply. My DH does want to go to China, but wants to take a year off. My problem is that I am not as excited by the prospect of another European vacation or a vacation here in the USA. I know it sounds like I'm spoiled, but now I have the Asia bug!

dgunbug -- I understand how you feel. When it comes to travel, I am "spoiled" too. One more thing to consider is that our trip to China was actually a lot cheaper than our last trip to Europe (even with the airfare costs). If your DH is like mine, that factor might help your cause LOL!

Magster - you got him pegged right. And we will use FF miles to fly.

dgunbug -- You are too funny! Good luck with your mission!!!

ttt