Hello! We (two 29-yr-olds) will be traveling to China for 2 months starting this October. We know we want to spend a good chunk of time in Beijing, Shanghai, and perhaps Hong Kong, as we have friends there. Question #1: Is it best simply to buy tickets between, say, Beijing and Shanghai or HK once we're there? What are the best ways to do that? Is it easy to find cheap flights just a week before you travel within the country? We'd also like to either do the train ride to Tibet (though after some more research we're wondering if we should even support that and whether it's worth the trip). So... Question #2: What, other than the big cities and their respective side trips (such as Great Wall sites from Beijing) are must-sees for adventurous explorers who've never been to China? The terra-cotta soldiers? Or western China? We'd love to do a 2-week (ish) trek but have no clue where to begin. Ideas for locations, or where to start our research, would be great. Is a guide absolutely needed? We're hoping to be traveling modestly, but don't need for it to be budget-budget. Absolutely any ideas and "must-see" lists would be very much appreciated. Peace!

Hey,as usual rule,it will be cheaper one week before 0r couple days before for flight,but at peak season,it is will be high.the best way is let your guide book for you.they can tell the ticket agnecy apply special tickets for you.Must see in Beijing are Forbidden City,T-Square,Temple of Heaven,Lama Temple, Summer Palace,Hutong,Great Wall.Culture Street.if you stay at weekend,don`t miss Weekend Market.good shopping place are pearl market,Silk Alley.
Have a good trip.

Look into a trip to Xinjiang. This is by far my favorite part of China, but it takes a little more time and planning to get around. But with 2 months, you have the time to be able to really enjoy a trip out there.

There are also treks along the Tibetan plateau available in Western Yunnan or Sichuan. Along with Qinghai and southern Xinjiang, you can experience authentic Tibetan culture without ever crossing into Tibet. Historically, there was less cultural pressure in these places, as they have long been a recognized part of the China territory, rather than the semi-autonomous region of Tibet.

Book your domestic flights once you arrive through ctrip.com or elong.com. They have english interfaces on their sites and deliver the tickets for free in the big cities COD.

Everyone has their own tastes which determine what they want to see. I suggest buying Fodors, of course, but for planning the itinerary, buy the DK Eyewitness Travel Guide to China (and if you want to splurge, also buy the separate Beijing & Shanghai Guide, as it is far more in depth.) Also, Fodors has a new edition of its Exploring China, a picture book similar to the DK Guide.

Then flip through this DK Guide and you will see all of China layed out through graphics, such as photography, illustrations, 3-D maps for walking tours, surface maps, cutaways, all in full color on each page.

The point is, of course, to make your own value judgments along with help on the internet message boards. Once you determine where you want to go, then you can sketch out the itinerary which makes sense.


Also it usually helpful for you to use the "search" function on the message boards here and elsewhere on particular questions. You will fine far more responses to the similar questions already asked than you will get to your single inquiry.

Good luck planning. It can be a lot of fun. Also read postings on National Week, the first week in October, which is a vacation week for 100s of millions of Chinese.

If you want to go to Tibet, you may want to do it early. It can get cold by November.