We are planning a China trip next fall, probably with Pacific Delight Tours. I have a "moderate" case of emphysema which is aggravated by exertion at high altitudes. I pretty much know what I can and can not do and I realize there are a lot of stairs to climb, etcetera, in China. It would help me to plan which tour to take if I had the altitudes of the different cities/areas we would be visiting. I've tried to research this on the internet with no success. Can someone let us know about altitudes in Beijing, Great Wall area, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Wuxi, Shanghai, Wuhan, Yichang, Chongqing, Xian, Guilin, Guangzhou and Hong Kong. I would appreciate this information VERY much!!! I want to plan sensibly for our dream trip. Thank-you in advance for your help!!!

Coastal cities such as Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Shanghai is close to sea level.

Hi Brenda, I was in Beijing about 5 years ago, remember it as flat and easy walking tho the Great Wall (a bit out of town) climb can be strenuous IF you want to do the entire hike (not necessary). Enjoy!

P.S. Just saw an altitude chart that says the altitude of Beijing is 167 feet. Not bad!

Chongqing is at 630ft and that's probably the highest altitude out of all the cities you mentioned, but the air pollution in Chongqing is very bad (due to the heavy industries around the area) and so may cause some respiratory problems.<BR><BR>

Thank-you all..........you're a great help. I don't know why I pictured these areas as being in high altitudes. Needless to say, we don't plan to visit Tibet. Would if we could though.

What might bother your emphysema in Beijing is the terrible air pollution. I've never seen anything like it. I can't imagine how the athletes will compete there in the 2008 olympics.<BR><BR>Most posts on this forum will tell you that Beijing is the city to go to if you could only go to one.<BR><BR>Don't try to push yourself too hard at the great wall; it can be strenuous.<BR><BR>Pacific Delight Tours was great.

Brenda,<BR>We were in China last October, and despite all the cautions about the pollution in Beijing, it has improved SIGNIFICANTLY since we were last there (in 1995), and I imagine it will continue to do so (at least until the Olympics, and probably beyond). In fact, we didn't experience bad smog in any of the cities we went to on this trip (I can't speak for Chongqing, since we didn't go there this time). There is a significant attempt by the government to regulate vehicle emissions, and, slow as it may be, the effects are noticeable.<BR>Also, the Great Wall, at least in the vicinity of Beijing, where you'll most likely see it, is strenuous only by virtue of the hilly terrain, not because of the altitude. You can set your own pace - if you don't feel like hiking, then don't. The wall is magnificent even if you jut stand there and soak in the view.

i'd agree with les. pollution -- at least in beijing and shanghai -- is MUCH better than it used to be. the government is actively taking measures to combat air pollution. all new buses are now LNG powered, for instance.

Thank-you all for your replies. Since I posted this question, we have made reservations with Ritz Tours for Oct. 2002. Our tour will also include Bangkok, which we understand is pretty bad (pollution-wise). I'm glad to hear that improvements are being made in China.

I was just there in late August (2001). Maybe the smog is worse in the heat. If this was better, it must have been horrible before.