hong kong, beijing and maybe shanghai
 

My husband and I are going to HK in August 4 days, Beijing 5-6 days and can't decide if we want to stop by shanghai for 2-3 days? Is that too much to do on one trip?

Nope. I would cut 2 days from Beijing and visit Shanghai. Both are wonderful.

Thanks. Since we are already there, might as well. 4 days in Hong Kong enough?

My wife and I did this trip in January. When planning the trip we were, like you, undecided about Shanghai, but decided to include it. We were glad we did. In fact, it may have been our favorite city. We spent 5 nights in Hong Kong (4 would have been enough); 4 in Beijing (just right) and 3 in Shanghai (just right)

If you are spending several days in Hong Kong it would be a waste to spend time in Shanghai, which has less to offer than either Hong Kong or Beijing. Beijing itself will easily keep you busy for five to six days, and if you are thinking of a third element you should consider something rural, not another big city. There are several possible day trips from Beijing which will give you some idea of the Chinese countryside, which is where the majority of the Chinese live, and the majority of Chinese life is agricultural. Some of these side trips from Beijing are to villages of considerable charm, others to sprawling tomb complexes now invaded by agriculture.

Peter N-H

Don't skip Shanghai, there's lots to see there!