First, I would like to thank all the regulars along with the newcomers who post and respond to people on this site. As a person who loves to travel and explore, the stories and information are not only invaluable as a travel resource but also provide amazing colour and texture of the diverse countries and cultures of the world we live in. After reading these posts, I get excited to plan my own next adventure....to my question..

I have a couple weeks in mid-November for a quick trip to Asia. I am trying to decide which place is best to visit at this time of year.(given some good air deals from the US west coast)

1. Japan
2. China (Bejing or Shanghai)
3. Suggestions

I have been to HK,Thailand,Cambodia, Indonesia,Bali so those are off.

I have heard/read the temparture can dip in Novmember. So wasn't sure of the temperature impact to feel and flavor of the cities and people. I tend to prefer more active trips seeing & exploring new places(ruins or cities) and the culture,people who live there.

Thanks for any thoughts or suggestions.

Why not Vietnam? The south will be nice, although Hanoi in the north will be a bit chilly.

VN is a good suggestion. When I was in VN in November, the days were pleasantly warm (in the 70s F). WHile that is considered "cooler" in this part of Asia, if you are from the US, you'll likely find it very nice weather.

I'd also suggest Malaysia... so much to choose from! You could spend your time in peninsular Malaysia, perhaps traveling between Singapore and Bangkok or you could be more adventuresome and head to Malaysian Borneo (take a look at Kathie's Borneo Trip report if this interests you).

Most of China and Japan will be rather cool to cold at this time of the year, so it depends on what kind of weather you want. Souther China will have warmer weather.

Yunnan in China has spring-like weather all year round. My favourite place in China is Lijiang. This province has many ethnic tribes and beautiful scenery. I was there last Christmas and jopr to visit again.
If you want an unusual destination with fantastic scenery and culture, then I would recommend Bhutan. It is the most amazing country I've visited. The locals are very honest, they charge tourists the same price as they would a local for a bottle of mineral water. People are happy even though they do not have much in the way of material goods. Most speak English. It is quite similar to Tibet and you won't feel bad for the locals. It's a place where first-worlders can visit without feeling guilty unlike in India. They seem to be happier than us!

About Japan, if you visit in November you would catch the autumn leaves. Check out the "koyo" front from the www.japan-guide.com website. If you are in Kyoto and the leaves have changed colour, then I would go to Japan. I have only visited during cherry-blossom time. I love Japan as the locals are so very honest but I find language is a big problem. This is one country in Asia where I have no guilt feelings. The locals are richer than us!

Mid-November is a very good time to go to Japan. Temps in the 60s F and I experienced sunny skies for the most part (had a bit of rain in Tokyo but not like the rain in April, and it was sunny from Kyoto to Fukuoka). Peak color for the autumn leaves in Kyoto would be about November 18. The November grand sumo tournament is in Fukuoka and you.

I went to Beijing the last couple of days in November and it was ok in the city but the day out at the wall in Mutianyu was freezing.

I meant to add that in Fukuoka you can get up close to the wrestlers as they enter the arena (unlike Tokyo).

If you are thinking of Malaysia, just beware of monsoon patterns in NOvember in places like Borneo, they get a lot of rain then, take a look at weatherbase.com. The coastal areas of Vietnam also can be rainy in November, esp around Hue, look at rainfall stats. Much of SE Asia can be tricky then due to the monsoon patterns, just bear this in mind.

If you don't mind cooler temps, other parts are fine, I think Japan would be very good in November provided you have the right clothes for it.

My only common on the PRC generally is that currently in Beijing a good bit of the tourist sites are under scaffolding or curtains being cleaned-up for the Olympics, and there is a lot of construction going on. It is not as bad as I think it is going to be in 2007 and 2008, but you might be better off waiting until the Olympics or afterwards to do a China trip when everything is spruced up. Agree on Lijiang, a very interesting place; also watch the weather there as well.

You might consider India as you have already done what sounds like a good bit of travel in Asia. November is a very pleasant month in most parts, you would need to avoid the southeast coast around Chennai due to rain there, but the northern parts around Delhi and Rajasthan are in very good weather then.