Guizhou, Yangshuo, or Lijiang???
 

My husband and I are planning a 2-week trip to China in Mar/Apr, and although I've been researching itineraries for quite some time, I'm still having trouble (mostly because I wish we could stay for much longer!) In particular, I'm unsure about the southwest part of the country, and where it would be best to stay as a home base, what sights we shouldn't miss vs. the ones that are just too touristy, etc.
Itinerary so far:

Day 1: arrive Beijing
Days 2 - 5: Beijing (and trip to Great Wall). Overnight train to Xian
Day 6 - Xian
Day 7 - travel day
Days 8 - 12 ????? Guizhou, Yangshou, or Lijiang?
Day 13 - travel day
Days 14-15 HK
Days 16 - depart from HK

From what I've read online, people rave about Yangshuo, but also about Lijiang. The Guizhou area sounds appealing too - fewer tourists, beautiful scenery, and I would enjoy seeing different villages and maybe even catching a local festival. But I don't want to spend too much time on trains, buses, taxis trying to see it all. Also, my husband has a bad knee, so we can't do strenuous hikes/treks. Am leaning towards staying in Yangshuo, with a trip to Longsheng and a small boat trip on the Li River. With 5 full days in the southwest part of the country, where would you go and stay and how would you structure those days in order to see some of the beautiful scenery, and experience some of the different cultures and traditions?

If it helps, our favorite travels in Asia have been Vietnam (loved it all, but particularly the tiny villages of the Mekong Delta, and Hoi An), and Malaysia (especially Penang and Melaka), but also enjoyed Thailand and Cambodia. This will be our first trip to China, and we'd greatly appreciate your suggestions. Thanks!

I stayed in Yangshou for three days and had a wonderful time. It is (was! in 1998) small and simple, although not very "authentic"-- it was the only place I saw in China that was a backpacker village, as you find in Thailand, or Jogjakarta, or the Sinai. Meaning mainly that you can have great smoothies and French toast breakfasts, if by then you are in the mood for that, but that is all avoidable. I spent my days on a rented bike, taking it on the boats on the river, then hopping off somewhere and cycling back through the countryside and rice fields. It was magic.

On your way south you might consider including Luoyang. The carved caves at Longmen Grottoes were one of the highlights of my trip.

This looks like your first visit to China. I applaud your decision to focus on a few places, rather than try to see 10 cities in 16 days!

First, let's eliminate Guizhou as not having enough tourist infrastructure. The province has very few independent western tourists. Maybe you should have a location fairly accustomed to western tourists, their tastes and habits for an initial China visit. (Tourist infrastructure includes such things as taxi drivers who know the best places to show western visitors, restaurants with picture menus at least, hotels with more than the squat toilets, etc. etc. I do not like going to a Disney-esque place, but likewise do not want to be a pioneer in trailblazing western tourism in remote places in rural China.)

Both Lijiang and Yangshuo involve some of walking, as the allure is incredible scenery and small villages. Both places have their unique stature as highpoints in China tourism. Thus, they are by nature touristy. But you can easily get away from the "tourist trail" created by the swarm of group tour buses. Lijiang will be dry and temps around 84-60F. Yangshuo will be 57-48F, and wetter, but it is not the rainy season yet. (These are averages which vary year to year, of course.)

Much of the allure of Yangshuo is floating on bamboo rafts in the rivers and other warm weather (short sleeve) activities outdoors. Sure, you can do it at these temperatures, but just not get as much out of it as say Sept-Nov. I will certainly return to Yangshuo, but not in cool weather.

The trip up to Longsheng/Longji Valley will involve some serious uphill climbing if you want to see the rice terraces from the best vantage points on top. There are some human carriers on the trail (seats with two handles in front and two in back), but like human rickshaws, it does not appear humane.

Lijiang will be perfect weather. You will want to stroll through the Old City (best before 9 a.m., another reason to stay in the old city), go up to the 14,700-foot level of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (buses and cable cars do the hard work) and see the glacier, travel to Baisha and other small villages, walk up to Black Dragon Pool Park (easy on paved surfaces)from the Old City, and take a bus or taxi up to see Tiger Leaping Gorge as well as the farms and scenery on the way. If you want to spend the time, take a day taxi through TLG and up to Zhongdian/ShangriLa for one of the most scenic drives I have ever had. You will not be bored!

I am not sure life in China was ever as idealized as it is today in Lijiang and Yangshuo, but both are very worthwhile. For weather and trekking reasons, I tilt toward Lijiang and vicinity.

we haven't been to lijiang (next trip), but we loved yangshuo. the hike from yangdi to xingping is long, but very easy, and you can hop on a bamboo raft if you get tired, but it was the most memorable day of our month in china.
here's another controversial idea... just our opinion... skip xi'an. everybody feels you must see the warriors, and they are a significant historic site, but... after 15 minutes we got bored. not worth the 2 days. buy the souvenir book. sorry.

rploehn -- "take a day taxi thru TLG and up to Zhongdian", do you mean roundtrip from Lijiang in a day?

For Guizhou, 4days is not enough, so you can consider Lijiang or yangshuo.

Thanks to everyone for your advice. I've decided we'll save Guizhou for our next trip to China (yes, I'm already thinking of the next trip!). I'm still torn b/t the Yangshuo and Lijiang areas, but you've given me some good info. Thanks again!

Here's a vote for Lijiang. I have been to both Yangshuo and Lijiang, and while both are certainly wonderful, I love, love, love Lijiang.

Wonderful climate, beautiful mountains, vibrant old town area, wonderful market.

If you click on my name you should find my trip report from when I visited both.