China itinerary-29 days, help please
Sep 24th, 2007, 08:02 AM
#22
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Shanghainese,
can you comment on night train, train schedule from the man in seat61 is confusing, i think night train from Datong goes to Taiyuen and then onto Pingyao and from Pingyao, we have to train back (North east) to Taiyuen (sleeper)for night train to Xian (South west), is that correct.
I guess we can sort this all out once we get to Beijing and get in touch with the local CITS office.
Thank you.
Sam.
can you comment on night train, train schedule from the man in seat61 is confusing, i think night train from Datong goes to Taiyuen and then onto Pingyao and from Pingyao, we have to train back (North east) to Taiyuen (sleeper)for night train to Xian (South west), is that correct.
I guess we can sort this all out once we get to Beijing and get in touch with the local CITS office.
Thank you.
Sam.
Sep 24th, 2007, 02:54 PM
#24
samuell - you might want to try contacting CITS ahead of time for the trains as far as Xi'an, since this seems to be less common route. Generally you can only buy tickets in the town in which you are catching the train, and I think there may be limits on how many tickets are available at intermediate towns.
Sep 24th, 2007, 10:21 PM
#26
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Visa - For first time US applicants, they will only give 12-month. At least it's now unlimited entry.
Itinerary - I guess you are staying in Jiangmen for that long to visit family/friends? But why Nanjing for that long? In fact, why not just cut it altogether. Fly directly from Shenzhen to Shanghai to have more time there, and Suzhou. Perhaps all Hangzhou too.
Train Datong-Pingyao-Xian - This is not a main route, so not that many trains. From Datong to Pingyao, you can perhaps use buses instead. From Pingyao to Xian, problem is securing soft sleeper, as you're getting on at an intermediate stop. That's why <b>perhaps</b> it'll be easier if you backtrack to Taiyuan to get on the that train. Just theory - I have no 1st hand info.
As for budget, you can eat very cheaply in China. At the places you're going, hotel can be fairly expensive, especially Beijing and Hong Kong. Say US$80 per room per night. That's $40 per person. 30 days is about $1,200.
[Good news! The RMB still tracks the USD closely, so your C$ is worth more in China than before.]
Airfares depend on the discount you can get on some routes. But most should be 1,000RMB ($120) or less.
I think $8,000 is plenty for just the land portion.
Itinerary - I guess you are staying in Jiangmen for that long to visit family/friends? But why Nanjing for that long? In fact, why not just cut it altogether. Fly directly from Shenzhen to Shanghai to have more time there, and Suzhou. Perhaps all Hangzhou too.
Train Datong-Pingyao-Xian - This is not a main route, so not that many trains. From Datong to Pingyao, you can perhaps use buses instead. From Pingyao to Xian, problem is securing soft sleeper, as you're getting on at an intermediate stop. That's why <b>perhaps</b> it'll be easier if you backtrack to Taiyuan to get on the that train. Just theory - I have no 1st hand info.
As for budget, you can eat very cheaply in China. At the places you're going, hotel can be fairly expensive, especially Beijing and Hong Kong. Say US$80 per room per night. That's $40 per person. 30 days is about $1,200.
[Good news! The RMB still tracks the USD closely, so your C$ is worth more in China than before.]
Airfares depend on the discount you can get on some routes. But most should be 1,000RMB ($120) or less.
I think $8,000 is plenty for just the land portion.
Sep 25th, 2007, 08:08 AM
#27
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rkkwan,
Yes, we are visting family in Jiangmen, we may/can cut a day there.
Flying to Shanghai and day trip Suzhou does make a alot of sense.
Lonely planet did suggest that sleeper from Pingyao to Xian is problematic without stating any reason. You have now given the answer. May be Pingyao isn't worth the effort after all? Just fly to Xian from Beijing after back tracking from Datong?
Thank you very much, Bob.
Sam.
Yes, we are visting family in Jiangmen, we may/can cut a day there.
Flying to Shanghai and day trip Suzhou does make a alot of sense.
Lonely planet did suggest that sleeper from Pingyao to Xian is problematic without stating any reason. You have now given the answer. May be Pingyao isn't worth the effort after all? Just fly to Xian from Beijing after back tracking from Datong?
Thank you very much, Bob.
Sam.
Sep 25th, 2007, 08:39 AM
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Well, there are very interesting stuff to see at any of the places you're going; so you can delete any part.
In my opinion, if you're already visiting Shanxi Province in Datong, then you should also do Pingyao. This well-preserved town has already been "discovered" by the traveling public in China, and it's only to get less and less authentic as time goes on. So, it's better to go earlier than later.
In my opinion, if you're already visiting Shanxi Province in Datong, then you should also do Pingyao. This well-preserved town has already been "discovered" by the traveling public in China, and it's only to get less and less authentic as time goes on. So, it's better to go earlier than later.
Sep 25th, 2007, 09:11 AM
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I will be going to Xi'an, Pingyao, Taiyuan, Datong also in early November, but from Shanghai. I too thought about changing this leg of the trip after trying to work out the transportation logistics. However, for the reasons mentioned by rkkwan, I am going to stick with it.
I have decided to take the express (supposedly quite nice) buses between Datong and Taiyuan/Pingyao. As for the Xi'an to Taiyuan/Pingyao portion, I am still debating between a flight from Xi'an to Taiyuan, or the train. But the train arrives in Pingyao at around 5:45 am.... I am not so concerned with cost as I am with not getting enough sleep, and then not enjoying myself! I will have taken a sleeper train from Shanghai to Xi'an two nights prior....
I have decided to take the express (supposedly quite nice) buses between Datong and Taiyuan/Pingyao. As for the Xi'an to Taiyuan/Pingyao portion, I am still debating between a flight from Xi'an to Taiyuan, or the train. But the train arrives in Pingyao at around 5:45 am.... I am not so concerned with cost as I am with not getting enough sleep, and then not enjoying myself! I will have taken a sleeper train from Shanghai to Xi'an two nights prior....
Sep 26th, 2007, 08:57 AM
#31
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poutine,
there was a thread by "withkids" on this board in 2/07.
the train/bus question in the area was discussed in length, and withkids ended up not taking the train from Pingyao to Xian, it was unclear what she/he ended up doing. Trian from Pingyao to Xian has 16 stops and is painfully slow. I am now leaning towards training back to Taiyuen after Pingyao and fly to Xian instead.
Last thing we need is a over night train with no sleep.
What are your thoughts.
Sam.
there was a thread by "withkids" on this board in 2/07.
the train/bus question in the area was discussed in length, and withkids ended up not taking the train from Pingyao to Xian, it was unclear what she/he ended up doing. Trian from Pingyao to Xian has 16 stops and is painfully slow. I am now leaning towards training back to Taiyuen after Pingyao and fly to Xian instead.
Last thing we need is a over night train with no sleep.
What are your thoughts.
Sam.
