barefootbeach

Hi,
In beginning phase of planning first time trip to China mid-October and would prefer to not visit Xian....but it's on most itineraries. I've heard a lecture about the first emperor, seen slides about the terra cotta warriors and their site, and it just doesn't really appeal to us. Am I missing something? Is seeing them in person and visiting the rest of Xian important to get a better picture of China? Right now, I'm thinking of booking Wild China tours for our trip. I really don't want to do China on our own, despite our history of only independent travel.
I'm planning to see Beijing, Yunnan, Guilin, Shanghai (& Hangzhou), and Hong Kong.
Thanks for your help!

thursdaysd

I think Xi'an is worthwhile, but not just for the warriors (although I've seen them twice, I confess I wasn't overwhelmed). Aside from the town wall, and the Muslim quarter (which I suspect is much cleaned up since I last saw it), there is an atmospheric mosque, an atmospheric Taoist temple (of the Eight Great Immortals), two pagodas (Big and Little Goose) and a good museum. I have no idea what "better picture of China" you would get, however.

I would also urge you to reconsider the tour - do some searches here and you will find several people who have made successful solo trips, plus what to look out for if you insist on a tour. You aren't planning to go anywhere that is off the tourist trail.

barefootbeach

Thanks thursdaysd, I just have read a lot about time wasted trying to get into the major sites, the vagaries of plane travel, and guides that aren't quite worth their salt. I think that a reputable tour company knows some of the tricks to avoid the crowds, can deal quickly with travel mishaps, and employs local guide who know their stuff. The big downside, of course, is cost...and I haven't nailed down yet how much more this is going to cost. Wild China offers private tours with local guides so we don't have to deal with a small group's needs. I'm hoping the end result won't be too expensive.

rhkkmk

we are including xian for a couple of days... K insists, although i have my doubts

thursdaysd

"employs local guide who know their stuff" - a knowledgeable former poster would say there is no such thing, and you're better off with a good guidebook. However, with a private tour you can presumably avoid the shopping ops and the dumbed-down food, provided you are crystal clear up-front (so that the missing kick-backs can be factored into the price...)

rkkwan

I personally think Xian has a lot to offer. Including, but not limited to the warriors. But it's one's decision what interest him or her. One thing you may consider, however, is to find and pay for your local guide at specific site, instead of using the tour group's. When my parents travel in China in tour groups (from Hong Kong), they often get their own private guides at the sites, who should know the place inside out. But of course, those who speak English may not be readily available. (My parents can understand and speak Putonghua).

kja

I found a great deal to enjoy in Xi'an, including - but not limited to - the things thrusdaysd mentioned. I spent 4 days there and did not see everything I would have liked to see. For more information, you can check my very, very long trip report - just click on my name, and then search for the part on Xi'an (which starts about 1/3 of the way through).

Enjoy!

HappyTrvlr

We only had two nights in Xi'an did not do everything we wanted to do..The Terra Cotta Army excavation is an incredible site, 200BC, every soldier is the dress of his rank, each with a different face.
Xi'an is the only city in China with intact city walls; Mao destroyed the others. And there are excellent museums such as Shaanxi and The Forest of Stele. The Wild Goose Pagoda is worthwhile too. If you have a chance to visit Xi'an I would
highly recommend you include it on your Chinese itinerary.

rkkwan

I guess the answer to the OP is that no, you shouldn't just skip Xian. But you should look at tours that don't just go to the warriors, but with visits to other sites in the city.

kja

> I guess the answer to the OP is that no, you shouldn't just skip Xian. But you should look at tours that don't just go to the warriors, but with visits to other sites in the city.

Or, as thursdaysd suggested, travel independently. Just a thought!

kja

Oh, and BTW, I don't think that Xi'an is the ONLY city in China with intact city walls - though it is one of very few such cities. For example, Pingyao are has intact city walls.

kja

for "are has" please read "also has" - sorry!

rkkwan

Xian is a much bigger and significant city than Pingyao, of course.

barefootbeach

Thanks everyone...I will take another look at Xian.

JPDeM

Personally I am not a big fan of the Warriors. I did not go there until my 4th trip to China.
About guides. The guides of tour companies are not any better than independent guides. Actually the best one with go on their own and leave tour companies. FYI, a licensed guide is a university graduate in tourism and to keep their license need to pass the exam every year. It includes presentations in english. The reason that good guides, once they have a good reputation, prefer to go on their own is that working for tour companies is not easy. For one thing they get no salary. They totally depend on tips and commissions on the compulsory shopping stops that you will have to endure. Actually, they sometimes have to bid, pay money, for the privilege of guiding some groups. How much they are willing to pay depends on the nationality as some tip better (Americans) while others shop a lot (Chinese). Tour companies have no special tricks to avoid crowds. It is all about the guide.

thursdaysd

"is a university graduate in tourism and to keep their license need to pass the exam every year" - meaning they are taught the party line. And with internet censorship there's not a lot of opportunity to learn anything else.

barefootbeach

So, JPDeM, are you advocating going with an independent licensed guide? If so, how do I find a good one?

kmkrnn

Good question barefoot...we would be interested also.

amyb

On the subject of guides, I had four different guides on my tour in China. One was with us the whole time, then we also had local guides in Xi'an, Chengdu and Shanghai. I got to know three of them pretty well and had some interesting discussions with them that led me to believe that they're not just "fed the party line" and were much more knowledgeable about us in the US and how we differ than I might have thought. I continue to email one regularly and plan to connect with him again when I return in 2013. Suffice to say if you're considering NOT using a guide because you believe they're stifled by the government and its required training, I'd strongly suggest you reconsider. I can also confirm that all four did not depend solely on tips, they made that clear from the outset as they were uncomfortable with us dumping our purses out on them at day's end.

barefootbeach

amyb, I just looked up your trip report and it is truly excellent! I'm not so concerned about being fed the party line...it is what it is...but more concerned with maximizing my time there and having guides certainly saves time figuring out how to do everything...especially if all of a sudden a road is closed, etc. I'm glad you had a good experience with the others in your group also. I'm still debating between a private tour and a small group...it maybe would be fun to tour with a few others, but all it takes is one obnoxious person to ruin a trip. I think I'd prefer more control over what we do each day and the pace that we do it in. I'd like some "savoring" time as well.