China Itinerary Suggestion (City Sequence)
 

We're going to China (and Hong Kong) this summer (our first trip to China), and I was wondering which sequence of cities do you think would be best/most fun?

Hong Kong -> Beijing -> Guilin -> Shanghai
or
Hong Kong -> Guilin -> Beijing -> Shanghai

Our trip has to start in HK and end in Shanghai, so it's just Guilin and Beijing I can switch around. It probably doesn't really matter, just wondering what you would do :).

I noticed it's about $100 cheaper to fly from Shenzhen (right outside Hong Kong)-Guilin instead of Shenzhen-Beijing (we don't want to take overnight trains/buses), so going to Guilin first would be cheaper, but then again I thought maybe Beijing would be a better "introduction" to China. What do you think?

HK-Guilin-Beijing-Shanghai

Beijing is the place you will want ot buy most things since it is generally cheaper. By putting it later in your itinerary you won't have to carry it around with you.

In general it does not matter a whole lot. I agree with the comment of the person who posted earlier -- it may make sense for you to visit Beijing second so you don't have to carry your purchases around....

Also Beijing has tons of places to see -- if you like to see historic sites, temples etc. there are many of those in the city as well as on the outskirts -- I would recommend you try venturing outside of the city too - you can check out my blog at http://travel.chinafinds.com
and see information on areas in and around Beijing
Have a good trip

I like option number 1. I personally would go insane, or at least be chomping at the bit ;) being in China for the first time but having to wait for the rest of my trip to pass before seing the Great Wall, Forbidden City, etc. You can then relax a bit, mentally at least, and enjoy Guilin and Shanghai. My itinerary was sorta like that and it worked out great.

I am currently planning pretty much the same trip (flying into Hong Kong and coming home from Shanghai).

We are doing Hong Kong - Yangshuo - Xi'an - Beijing - Shanghai.

Yangshuo is very close to Guilin and we have decided to stay there rather than in Guilin for three nights based on advice I have got.

I chose this itinerary because it seemed to work best with flights, overnight trains etc.