Is 2 days enough to see key attractions in Guilin? Pls advice on tours and hotels. Are airlines in China reliable? We are planning to fly from Beijing-Guilin, Guilin-Shanghai. Do you have an idea on cost?

We spent two days in Guilin, took the Li River cruise and saw the countryside on the way back. Our tourguide also took us to a university (art teachers' work for sale) and the reed flute cave (just another cave. If you can avoid the cave and these side trips (another couple told us they were taken to a hospital to hear a lecture about herbal remedies and offered them for sale) try to do so. The countryside is what you want to see. We arranged our tourguide in advance through Cameron Tours near DC--Stewart was our guide. We stayed at the Sheraton and the dim sum on the breakfast buffet was great.

Yes, 2 days is enough. In 2 days, we did the Li River cruise, saw cormorant fishing, Elephant trunk hill, another peak (Duxie Feng ??), Reed flute cave, and a Chinese minority folk dance at the Royal Garden Hotel. <BR>Skip the Reed flute cave, also cave of the 1000 Buddha. <BR>All our flights were pleasant and on time.

The flight from Beijing to Guilin cost RMB1430 (US$173), and Guilin to Shanghai cost RMB1040 (US$126). <BR> <BR>Try www.sinohotel.com to book discount but nice hotels. <BR> <BR>

Don't be taken in by university students, who speak good English,come up to you on bikes and offer to show you around. We went to the art studio and met them for dinner. Guess who paid. 2 days is plenty- Yangshuo at the end of the Li River cruise is a fun spot. Had good soup at the Cafe Paris and bought cheapest silk scarves in Y. Even have a paperback exchange store there. Sheraton is very well located. Shanghai has a wonderful cemetery devoted to the Unknown martyrs with a museum. It's not in most guidebooks but is down near the Shanghai stadium, bjust beyond the end of the subway. Lunch at the Park (not peace) hotel in Shanghai is more Chinese - try the red hot shrimp.