Help with China Itinerary
Feb 14th, 2012, 09:56 PM
#1
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Help with China Itinerary
Hi everyone,
I would be travelling to China at the end of this year (End of Nov to beginning of Jan) for approximately 5 weeks.
We will arriving in Kuala Lumpa and from there to China.
To be honest, I have no idea where to start!
Where should we fly first to from Kuala Lumpa?
We would like to do all of china if we could.. and if it's possible in 5 weeks.
We would like to definitely visit Hong kong, Shanghai, Xian and Beijing but have no idea where else to go and in what order and how long and what way (train, fly, drive), should we book any 10 days tours and what not.
im pretty much clueless
This is our first trip to China and we would very much appreciate it if anyone could help us out!
Thank you in advance
I would be travelling to China at the end of this year (End of Nov to beginning of Jan) for approximately 5 weeks.
We will arriving in Kuala Lumpa and from there to China.
To be honest, I have no idea where to start!
Where should we fly first to from Kuala Lumpa?
We would like to do all of china if we could.. and if it's possible in 5 weeks.
We would like to definitely visit Hong kong, Shanghai, Xian and Beijing but have no idea where else to go and in what order and how long and what way (train, fly, drive), should we book any 10 days tours and what not.
im pretty much clueless
This is our first trip to China and we would very much appreciate it if anyone could help us out!
Thank you in advance
Feb 15th, 2012, 01:07 AM
#2
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Air Asia is a discount airline that flies from KL to various cities in China. Check out their website.
For such a long trip you need to invest in buying a good book about tourism in China. That will help you focus. It is hard for me to make suggestions as I know nothing about you, your travel experience, your interests or your budget. At this point your question is too broad to find an answer here. You need to do some homework and return to check your plan and ask more specific questions.
Note that it will be winter. Cold and uncomfortable in most places.
For such a long trip you need to invest in buying a good book about tourism in China. That will help you focus. It is hard for me to make suggestions as I know nothing about you, your travel experience, your interests or your budget. At this point your question is too broad to find an answer here. You need to do some homework and return to check your plan and ask more specific questions.
Note that it will be winter. Cold and uncomfortable in most places.
Feb 15th, 2012, 05:03 AM
#4
Welcome to fodors. You need to help us to help you. Why have you chosen to go to China, and what do you hope to see there?
As JPDeM says, you really need a guidebook. Actually, you need to visit your local library and borrow all their "glossy" guidebooks to China - e.g. Insight, Fodors "See It", Eyewitness etc., or visit your local bookstore and settle in with a cup of coffee. Worry about logistics (Lonely Planet, Rough Guide) after you've mostly sorted your itinerary. China has excellent plane and train connections (see seat61.com for trains).
BUT. Have you checked the weather? It will be COLD in the north and in the mountains. They have an ice festival in Harbin, and in December in Beijing it will be below freezing at night and maybe not much warmer in the daytime.
As JPDeM says, you really need a guidebook. Actually, you need to visit your local library and borrow all their "glossy" guidebooks to China - e.g. Insight, Fodors "See It", Eyewitness etc., or visit your local bookstore and settle in with a cup of coffee. Worry about logistics (Lonely Planet, Rough Guide) after you've mostly sorted your itinerary. China has excellent plane and train connections (see seat61.com for trains).
BUT. Have you checked the weather? It will be COLD in the north and in the mountains. They have an ice festival in Harbin, and in December in Beijing it will be below freezing at night and maybe not much warmer in the daytime.
Feb 15th, 2012, 07:44 PM
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ditto the above! And to add a bit of a twist, my recommendation is to get LOTS of guidebooks that serve different purposes. Use them to whittle your ambitions step-by-step.
China is HUGE. I spent 4 weeks just in the north of China; I didn't make it to Hong Kong, Shanghai, or even many parts of northern China that some people consider their priority.
Good luck!
China is HUGE. I spent 4 weeks just in the north of China; I didn't make it to Hong Kong, Shanghai, or even many parts of northern China that some people consider their priority.
Good luck!
Feb 15th, 2012, 07:47 PM
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P.S. I fully understand that the initial stages of planning a trip to China can (and will!) seem overwhelming. But hang in there! It might take some time and study, but there's no reason why you shouldn't be able to find a trip that maximizes YOUR interests, goals, and preferences.
