Advice, please, for 2nd trip to China
Aug 6th, 2004, 11:25 AM
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Advice, please, for 2nd trip to China
We would like to ask for suggestions on planning a trip to China in the fall of 2005, probably in October, just after the national holiday. I know that is a long time from now, so I will probably be asking again late this year after you fall China travelers have returned!
This will be our second trip there. We thoroughly enjoyed our first in 1997, when we ended up being the only two people in our group, so had our own guide, car, and driver. We visited Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Beijing, Xian, Kunming, Guilin -- including a Li River cruise and a day trip to the Longsheng rice terraces -- and, finally, Hong Kong. We have also visited northern Thailand, so would probably not be as interested in Xishuangbanna as we otherwise might be. Nor would we be interested in a Yangtze cruise, or at least that is our thinking at present.
We plan on spending about three weeks in China this trip. We will probably fly into Shanghai, and would like to spend the first day or two taking it fairly easy recovering from jet lag. We think we would like to see at least one of the water towns, and would like suggestions and comments on these. When we visited Suzhou last time, we did not get to take a boat ride through the canals, although we did take a boat on the Grand Canal part of the way to Hangzhou.
We definitely want to visit Lijiang and Dali, and perhaps Chengdu, but are trying to plan the rest of our itinerary. Tibet? Silk Road? Trips out of Beijing? See more of rural China? We do like rural areas, and also like markets -- authentic ones, that is. But we are seriously undecided, so far. We are poring over the Fodors discussions and guidebooks, especially your latest, Peter! We would truly appreciate suggestions!
We are both in our 60s, and in good health. However, while a 5-mile walk or a 300-step climb is no problem, a 3000-step climb would be! In other words, while we don?t mind an active schedule, we don?t want one that is too physically taxing.
Thanks in advance,
Carol
This will be our second trip there. We thoroughly enjoyed our first in 1997, when we ended up being the only two people in our group, so had our own guide, car, and driver. We visited Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Beijing, Xian, Kunming, Guilin -- including a Li River cruise and a day trip to the Longsheng rice terraces -- and, finally, Hong Kong. We have also visited northern Thailand, so would probably not be as interested in Xishuangbanna as we otherwise might be. Nor would we be interested in a Yangtze cruise, or at least that is our thinking at present.
We plan on spending about three weeks in China this trip. We will probably fly into Shanghai, and would like to spend the first day or two taking it fairly easy recovering from jet lag. We think we would like to see at least one of the water towns, and would like suggestions and comments on these. When we visited Suzhou last time, we did not get to take a boat ride through the canals, although we did take a boat on the Grand Canal part of the way to Hangzhou.
We definitely want to visit Lijiang and Dali, and perhaps Chengdu, but are trying to plan the rest of our itinerary. Tibet? Silk Road? Trips out of Beijing? See more of rural China? We do like rural areas, and also like markets -- authentic ones, that is. But we are seriously undecided, so far. We are poring over the Fodors discussions and guidebooks, especially your latest, Peter! We would truly appreciate suggestions!
We are both in our 60s, and in good health. However, while a 5-mile walk or a 300-step climb is no problem, a 3000-step climb would be! In other words, while we don?t mind an active schedule, we don?t want one that is too physically taxing.
Thanks in advance,
Carol
Aug 6th, 2004, 02:04 PM
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For watertowns near Shanghai and Suzhou, please read this 2nd hand report I posted here earlier:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34504115
Since Suzhou is nearby, you may want to revisit it, unless you've seen all the gardens last time already:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34505772
The Silk Road is a natural choice for you. Tibet as well. Or the Juizhaigou and Huanglong national parks north of Chengdu in the Szechuan province. The Ermei mountain near Chengdu is another place worth a visit. You'll most likely stop in Chengdu anyways, for most trips into Tibet.
Closer to Beijing, Chengde is very interesting, just a few hours by train to the Northeast of the capital. Or Wutaishan to the west of Beijing in the Shanxi province. Many important temples and monasteries there.
Or visit Louyang and Kaifeng in the middle of the country. Again, lots of historical sites in that area, including the Longmen grottos near Louyang. The Shaoling Temple is also not far from there. I went there like 15 years ago, and it was very interesting. Don't know if it's got too commercial or not.
There are still more famous mountains to visit in China. Huangshan is in the east, not too far from Hangzhou. Wuyishan in Fujian Province in the SE. Wutangshan in Hubei Province in the middle, Taishang in Shangdong, etc...
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34504115
Since Suzhou is nearby, you may want to revisit it, unless you've seen all the gardens last time already:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34505772
The Silk Road is a natural choice for you. Tibet as well. Or the Juizhaigou and Huanglong national parks north of Chengdu in the Szechuan province. The Ermei mountain near Chengdu is another place worth a visit. You'll most likely stop in Chengdu anyways, for most trips into Tibet.
Closer to Beijing, Chengde is very interesting, just a few hours by train to the Northeast of the capital. Or Wutaishan to the west of Beijing in the Shanxi province. Many important temples and monasteries there.
Or visit Louyang and Kaifeng in the middle of the country. Again, lots of historical sites in that area, including the Longmen grottos near Louyang. The Shaoling Temple is also not far from there. I went there like 15 years ago, and it was very interesting. Don't know if it's got too commercial or not.
There are still more famous mountains to visit in China. Huangshan is in the east, not too far from Hangzhou. Wuyishan in Fujian Province in the SE. Wutangshan in Hubei Province in the middle, Taishang in Shangdong, etc...
Aug 10th, 2004, 06:11 AM
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Thanks, rkkwan,
Your post contained a wealth of information and suggestions! I did read your previous posts on the water towns and Suzhou, also.
We are considering Juizhaigou. Do you know if it is possible to reach the area by air now?
It's a good thing our trip is so far in the future; it will take us that long to decide on where we want to go!
Thanks again,
Carol
Your post contained a wealth of information and suggestions! I did read your previous posts on the water towns and Suzhou, also.
We are considering Juizhaigou. Do you know if it is possible to reach the area by air now?
It's a good thing our trip is so far in the future; it will take us that long to decide on where we want to go!
Thanks again,
Carol
Aug 10th, 2004, 06:19 AM
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I would also suggest the silk road and make sure you don't miss the Kashgar market. It's really incredible -- at least it was 12 years ago! The silk road is completely different from your other trip to China. You'll feel like you're in a completely different country for much of it.
Gloria
Gloria
Aug 10th, 2004, 08:47 AM
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GandCT - Yes, there's an airport "at" Juizhaigou/Huanglong. I use the quotations because it's still 100km+ from the parks. However, at least now you can get there on the same day from Chengdu, without having to spend a night enroute when travelling by road.
My parents will be going there next month. They have been to Juizhaigou before, but by road. This time they'll fly (at least for one of the legs), and they'll visit Huanglong. I will have 2nd hand reports later this year after their return and editing their videos.
My parents will be going there next month. They have been to Juizhaigou before, but by road. This time they'll fly (at least for one of the legs), and they'll visit Huanglong. I will have 2nd hand reports later this year after their return and editing their videos.
Aug 10th, 2004, 10:35 AM
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If you're searching for flights to Jiuzhaigou/Huanglong, the airport code is JZH. There were at least 4-5 daily flights from Chengdu last month. The flight takes about 45 minutes. The airport is located at an elevation of 3500 meters and much of Huanglong park is also at that elevation. Jiuzhaigou is at a lower elevation. I think it's about 1900 meters where the Sheraton hotel is located. My parents and my sister were there a month ago. We wanted to go but couldn't fit it into our schedule. They said they much preferred Jiuzhaigou over another park they visited in Hunan province (Zhangjiajie) on the same trip.
If you'll be traveling through Chengdu, it would be easy to add Tibet. Chengdu has the most daily nonstop flights to Lhasa taking about an hour and 40 minutes. We were in Lhasa last month and found it fascinating. I posted some of our photos from the trip on ofoto if you're interested in seeing them:
http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c=jy877nh...0&y=oj1mkp
If you'll be traveling through Chengdu, it would be easy to add Tibet. Chengdu has the most daily nonstop flights to Lhasa taking about an hour and 40 minutes. We were in Lhasa last month and found it fascinating. I posted some of our photos from the trip on ofoto if you're interested in seeing them:
http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c=jy877nh...0&y=oj1mkp
Aug 30th, 2004, 04:09 AM
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There is a national park on the Chengdu - Xi'an railway which has just opened for eco-tourism. It has a retreat which is inexpensive and comfortable and spectular but easy walks along the bottoms of canyons.
The English website on the park can be found at: http://members.optusnet.com.au/xbrouwer/santan.
You can also visit Xia He which is the largest Tibetan monastery town outside of Tibet.
The English website on the park can be found at: http://members.optusnet.com.au/xbrouwer/santan.
You can also visit Xia He which is the largest Tibetan monastery town outside of Tibet.
Sep 3rd, 2004, 03:32 PM
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You will thoroughly enjoy Dali (boat trip on the lake was fascinating!!)and a stiff walk into the mountains above the 3 Pagodas (via a chair lift) is not to be missed. AND Lijiang - don't miss the old traditional orchestra there - a really lovely old traditional village with a stream running through the centre. I continued up to Zhongdean (a Tibetan village - although in China).
a trip not to be missed. Nov/Dec.
I returned via Kunming, and motored (car and driver ) to Hekou on the Vietnam border - a wonderful drive with terraced rice fields, and water buffalo, etc. Then had a Vietnamese car and driver for a week's tour through the mountains to Hanoi. Spectacular scenery.
Have a good trip.
Pat
a trip not to be missed. Nov/Dec.
I returned via Kunming, and motored (car and driver ) to Hekou on the Vietnam border - a wonderful drive with terraced rice fields, and water buffalo, etc. Then had a Vietnamese car and driver for a week's tour through the mountains to Hanoi. Spectacular scenery.
Have a good trip.
Pat
