Like Magster, I was sorry to miss Chuandixia, also sometimes spelled Cuan Di Xia or Cuandixia. It sounded like a nice, easily reached, small place. I'd urge a bit of research before you decide - I had the sense that it was beginning to become a bit of a tourist trap even a couple of years ago. I have NO idea whether that's true or not - just a feeling I was getting. (I didn't skip it because of that - I just ran out of time.)

As for the trains, I slept very well on the 2 overnight trains I took while in China. The only thing that comes to mind as especially worth noting is that I had trouble figuring out how to lock/unlock the door to the compartment; you might want to learn that before you need to use it!

Quandoxia sounded really interesting when I initially read up on it, but the reviews on trip advisor are not very good. Unless we have alot of extra time, which I don't think is going to happen, we will probably take a pass on this village.

"Quandoxia" ? Just checking to be sure you checked out the right place: Cuan Di Xia or Cuandixia,

Just a typo. Seems the auto correct on my iPhone thinks it knows how to spell better than I do.

Figured as much - but with so many places having similar names and any one place having different spellings (given the differences in alphabets), I thought it wouldn't hurt to check!

I think you and I are at similar points in our trip planning - snagged on a last difficult choice or two! I'm sure you will have an amazing trip no matter what, and I hope your plan to play it by ear takes some of the pressure off.

Cuandixia is an easy day rip from Beijing, about a 3-hour drive each way. While nice I did not find it so special. Visiting the temples in Chengde was more interesting but you need to sleep there one night as it is further away.
Many positive comments above about the Shanghai Museum. I would point out that the new National Museum in Beijing that recently reopened about US300millions+ renovations is similar and is even bigger.

Re: Shanghai. Make sure you include time for walking in the historical French Concession.
It has always felt more western than the rest of China due to it's location, but I still enjoyed our second visit there last fall. BEijing needs for more time for a firts time visitor due to it's sprawl, traffic and many worthwhile historical sites.

among several other interesting sights in Shanghai (I visited twice..1984, 2007) The old ghetto is quite fsacinating and the synagogue restoration should be completed by now.
Stu

June:

Here are some pix that I may have shared with you before. Gives you an idea of some of the interesting sights in Shanghai.
http://picasaweb.google.com/stuarttower/Shanghai200702#

stu

Thank you all for your comments and pictures.

Stu - I know I will enjoy the beautiful city of shanghai, but hope to also see some of old china. Hope it still exists! We will definitely visit the Jewish section of the city.

i can't wait for our 3 day stay there based on these pics