Help with Huangshan China Trip
 

Heard from several of you as to the phone number and fax number for Xihai Hotel. Having trouble contacting them. They do not seem to answer fax or email.
Also having trouble getting there. Planning on going on the 18th of September from Beijing or the 20th from Shanghai. From Beijing the flight gets into Tunxi at 17:45. Is it possible to get from Tunxi up the mountain that late?
What time does the sun set? What time does the sun rise?
How do you get from the airport to the top of the mountain? Thanks, Michael

I think it was mentioned in the earlier discussion that a fax booking likely wouldn't work, and email is no different. This isn't unique to this hotel, its common in ordinary Chinese hotels. In general, individual travellers don't book, and of those that do, a very high proportion are 'no shows'. And if you followed your earlier thread through to the end, you'll have seen that using an agent is no guarantee that you'll have a room either. You could try getting a Mandarin speaker to call for you from Beijing, but there's no guarantee that that would secure you a room either.

Pick whichever of those dates is not a weekend, and hope for the best. There's always room somewhere.

Peter N-H

Thanks Peter - you are a big help.

Peter,
We will give up on the idea on going to Huangshan. It just sounds too difficult. We are going to Beijing, Xian and Shanghai. Do you have any advice on anything else we should not miss.
Do you have advice on what to do in Shanghai?
Thanks again.

Is that sarcasm in the second message? I'll work on the theory that it's not.

Huang Shan is easy. It has lots of transportation and is well geared-up for tourism. Don't give up on this just because China doesn't work in quite the way you want it to. Most travel in China is done without booking, and that's just how things are. It's no big deal. Like 99% of independent travellers in China, I never attempt to book ahead, and it just doesn't matter (except that it's almost always cheaper to travel that way).

Note that if you stay in Tunxi (which you'd probably have to do if you arrive that late) you can go up the mountain early the following morning, although seeing the sunrise is unlikely to be quite the tremendous experience you may hope--it's just one of those famous things to do in China, and nearly all of those are famous through long tradition rather than the personal experience of the person giving the recommendation, and more based on handy Mandarin jingles learned at school, or on the observation of an emperor centuries ago.

If you do stay in Tunxi you can also have the additional (superior in my view) pleasure of visiting the well-preserved ancient towns of Shexian, Xidi, and Hongcun, with their beautiful clusters of Huizhou-style architecture. If you happened to see the regrettable 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' you'll have seen some views of these towns, particularly the scene where there's a flying pursuit over a pond in front of some white houses.

For the other more general questions, which would take thousands of words to answer, I'd recommend doing a bit of reading--Beijing could keep you busy for weeks, although the greatest hits are fairly well-known; Xi'an's sights are a short but essential list; and Shanghai's main attractions are its museum and colonial architecture. Beyond that it's hopeless really to try and make recommendations to someone whose mobility, interests, level of expenditure, tolerance for bus journeys, total available time at each town, etc. is unknown. I'm sure if you post some more details of your interests there'll be lots of readers willing to volunteer their favourite experiences in each city. But each of your destinations you'll find fascinating in itself, far beyond a shopping list of major attractions, and I'm sure you'll have a memorable trip. However, if you are rejecting Huang Shan you should try to find some other rural trip instead. 70% of Chinese still live in the countryside, and rural life is far more representative of China than the shiny towers of Beijing or Shanghai (although the government would like you to think the opposite). Stick to the Huang Shan plan, don't worry about missing the sunrise, see the preserved towns instead.

Peter N-H
http://members.axion.net/~pnh/China.html

Dear Peter,
Thanks for your reply. I was not being sarcastic. I just am having a hard time figuring out how to visit Huangshan. If we fly from Shanghai we get to the Tunxi airport at 21:30 and that is a little late at night to figure out where to spend the night.
I am unable to find listings of hotels in Tangkou which sounds as if that is where you should stay. I can't seem to find out information on the hours that the cable cars run or how far they are from Tangkou. Do not know how far the airport is from the town or if the town that is closest to the cable up the mountain.
As far as Shanghai I have read all the information about the cities. I just thought that you might know of a special day trip or place that is not on the normal lists. We are going to Suzhou for a day trip. Thanks for all of your help.

Is anyone able to give information about July weather at Huangshan? Is it likely to be so rainy that there will be no views? Or is it worth visiting even in the rain. I have seen the standard weather forecast sites, but they do not indicate at what altitude the temperature they cite is to be expected. Many thanks, Colum