Advice on China Sept 12 through Oct 5
Aug 28th, 2007, 08:39 AM
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Advice on China Sept 12 through Oct 5
Dear Fodorist
I will be arriving with my wife to Beijing next Sept 12. We are a healthy couple in our early 50s, traveling on our own, but planning to take site tours at each destination.
So far, we have made firm reservations for the following:
1. International flights – a)Newark /Beijing; arriving Sept 12 and b)Hong Kong/Newark; departing Oct.5
2. Beijing Renaissance hotel – Sept 12 thru Sept 16
3. Shanghai Sun Island International Club – Sept 16 thru Sept 21
4. Yangshou Li River Resort – Sept 27 thru Oct 1
5. Hong Kong JW Marriott – Oct 1 thru Oct 5
From Beijing to Shanghai, Sept 16, we planned on taking the D31 train. Is there a better option for the Beijing/Shanghai transfer?
From Yangshou/Guilin to Hong Kong, Oct 1, we plan to flight to Shenzhen or Guangzhou, and from there travel by train or ferry boat to Hong Kong. From your experience on ground, which is our better option? Should we purchase tickets online before departing to China? Or should we wait until arriving Beijing?
We have Sept 21 thru Sept 27 to visit other places at the PRC. The Terracotta Warriors at Xian are among the places we will like to visit. Your advice on how to make the best use of this period to see the PRC is greatly appreciated. Recommendations on hotels and transportation between places are all welcome. As mentioned above, Sept 21 will see us at Shanghai; and for Sept 27 we must be at Guilin/Yangshou.
Thank you all for your good advice.
I will be arriving with my wife to Beijing next Sept 12. We are a healthy couple in our early 50s, traveling on our own, but planning to take site tours at each destination.
So far, we have made firm reservations for the following:
1. International flights – a)Newark /Beijing; arriving Sept 12 and b)Hong Kong/Newark; departing Oct.5
2. Beijing Renaissance hotel – Sept 12 thru Sept 16
3. Shanghai Sun Island International Club – Sept 16 thru Sept 21
4. Yangshou Li River Resort – Sept 27 thru Oct 1
5. Hong Kong JW Marriott – Oct 1 thru Oct 5
From Beijing to Shanghai, Sept 16, we planned on taking the D31 train. Is there a better option for the Beijing/Shanghai transfer?
From Yangshou/Guilin to Hong Kong, Oct 1, we plan to flight to Shenzhen or Guangzhou, and from there travel by train or ferry boat to Hong Kong. From your experience on ground, which is our better option? Should we purchase tickets online before departing to China? Or should we wait until arriving Beijing?
We have Sept 21 thru Sept 27 to visit other places at the PRC. The Terracotta Warriors at Xian are among the places we will like to visit. Your advice on how to make the best use of this period to see the PRC is greatly appreciated. Recommendations on hotels and transportation between places are all welcome. As mentioned above, Sept 21 will see us at Shanghai; and for Sept 27 we must be at Guilin/Yangshou.
Thank you all for your good advice.
Aug 28th, 2007, 10:21 AM
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It's 10 hours on the day train D31, a long ride even though it's quite comfortable in 1st class. But do you really want to spend all day sitting up? 1st class train seat cost about 250RMB, while flying coach at 50% off will be about 500RMB. While double, it's only US$30 more.
October 1 is national holiday, and start of the "Golden Week" when it may seem like 1.3 billion people are traveling. You definitely need to firm up your travel from Guilin to Hong Kong. And because of the holiday, you really want to avoid the train stations in Guangzhou, or the land border crossing between China and Hong Kong. Therefore, either fly to Shenzhen (SZX) and use the Turbojet ferry to HK, or fly non-stop to HKG.
October 1 is national holiday, and start of the "Golden Week" when it may seem like 1.3 billion people are traveling. You definitely need to firm up your travel from Guilin to Hong Kong. And because of the holiday, you really want to avoid the train stations in Guangzhou, or the land border crossing between China and Hong Kong. Therefore, either fly to Shenzhen (SZX) and use the Turbojet ferry to HK, or fly non-stop to HKG.
Aug 28th, 2007, 10:40 AM
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rkkwan
Thank you for your prompt response and good advice. We will flight Beijing-Shanghai and Guilin-Shenzhen as recommended. What is a good site to purchase tickets online for domestic PRC flights?
Thank you for your prompt response and good advice. We will flight Beijing-Shanghai and Guilin-Shenzhen as recommended. What is a good site to purchase tickets online for domestic PRC flights?
Aug 28th, 2007, 10:52 AM
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I have not used any of these services, but you can try:
ctrip.com
elong.net
yoee.com
zuji.com (Asia arm of travelocity)
For you Beijing-Shanghai flight, you can wait until you're in Beijing to get it from a local agent. Plenty of flights and last minute discounts.
The Guilin-Shenzhen or Guilin-HKG flight you probably need to book now; or get it soon after you get to Beijing.
ctrip.com
elong.net
yoee.com
zuji.com (Asia arm of travelocity)
For you Beijing-Shanghai flight, you can wait until you're in Beijing to get it from a local agent. Plenty of flights and last minute discounts.
The Guilin-Shenzhen or Guilin-HKG flight you probably need to book now; or get it soon after you get to Beijing.
Aug 28th, 2007, 12:16 PM
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Dear Shanghainese
I booked the Sun Island thru an exchange week I had deposited in Intervalworld and was to be due next october. Was the only place available for exchange with dates that suit our travel plans. Any advice on places of interest close to this resort and best way to move between the resort and the city center and Bund?
I booked the Sun Island thru an exchange week I had deposited in Intervalworld and was to be due next october. Was the only place available for exchange with dates that suit our travel plans. Any advice on places of interest close to this resort and best way to move between the resort and the city center and Bund?
Aug 28th, 2007, 01:03 PM
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Dear rkkwan
Thank you for the information. I was looking into flight schedules online, and request Fodorist advice on the following travel plans for Sept 21 thru Sept 28:
1. Sept 21 - flight Shanghai/Xian departing 1255 and arriving 1525. Visit the Terra Cotta warriors and other places of interest at Xian.
2. Sept 23 - flight Xian/Chengdu departing 1410 and arriving 1520. Do the Panda reserve and the Buddha at Leshan or any other place worth visiting in the vicinity of Chengdu.
3. Sept 26 - flight Chengdu/Guilin departing 1140 and arriving 1305. Visit the Guilin attractions and the rice fields at Longji.
4. Sept 28 - Ground transportation Guilin/Yangshou and finally to the Li River Resort.
We highly appreciate all your comments and advice. For us, this is our first visit to the PRC. But we are confident that it is going to be a memorable and pleasant experience mainly because of all the information that you kindly are sharing with us.
Thank you for the information. I was looking into flight schedules online, and request Fodorist advice on the following travel plans for Sept 21 thru Sept 28:
1. Sept 21 - flight Shanghai/Xian departing 1255 and arriving 1525. Visit the Terra Cotta warriors and other places of interest at Xian.
2. Sept 23 - flight Xian/Chengdu departing 1410 and arriving 1520. Do the Panda reserve and the Buddha at Leshan or any other place worth visiting in the vicinity of Chengdu.
3. Sept 26 - flight Chengdu/Guilin departing 1140 and arriving 1305. Visit the Guilin attractions and the rice fields at Longji.
4. Sept 28 - Ground transportation Guilin/Yangshou and finally to the Li River Resort.
We highly appreciate all your comments and advice. For us, this is our first visit to the PRC. But we are confident that it is going to be a memorable and pleasant experience mainly because of all the information that you kindly are sharing with us.
