I have a year to plan this trip. I would like to be in Hong Kong for the 2007 Chinese New Year. Also include a side trip to Xian and the Great Wall. 12-14 days. Any advice will be welcomed.

C J

please be more specific about what types of advice you would want....gives us budget data so that we can better make suggestions....food likes, and what you wish to see, i.e. your interests...

get your self a good guide book like fodors or frommers to start

ditto. one thing I can say now is don't be tempted to be anywhere else but HK for chinese new year and do the mainland AFTER chinese new year.

The reason is that the mainland is much more risky leading up to the festival period for anyone but especially for foreigners.

I;ve done great wall and xi'an twice so be specific and happy to help

Better to make reservation as soon as you can...seats get filled up quickly when there's no holiday, imagine Chinese New Year.

Beijing to Xi'an is 12-14 hours by land and flights from HK to Beijing aren't very cheap.

There are 3 sections to the Great Wall, furthest one being 2 hours away and the least touristy. Beijing is also under major rennovations for the 2008 Olympics.

I hiked from Jinshanling to Simatai along the great wall which was a lot less crowded than other touristy areas like Badaling.

You can find more info about it in the China section of my site as well as my Beijing restaurants.

http://lostmyguidebook.com/category/china/

Do you mind the cold? It'll be pleasant in HK tho freezing at the Great Wall outside Beijing.