Our son is teaching in Woohan and we are thinking of visiting him and seeing a little bit of China. Beijing, Xian, and Shanghai come to mind. We have done indepentdent travel in Europe but never in Asia or other more challenging places. I would like some start out suggestions on what highlights to look into and any other hints on traveling independially in China. We are not particularly energetic tourist like some on this fourm and are in our sixties. We've never been on any guided tours like Odyssey or Ritz etc. All information appreciated. I was able to plan many great tours of Europe with help from the Fodorites on the European fourm. Thanks.

harvey, first can I suggest that you use the search box above to turn up previous threads that will give you some useful insights. Secondly, pick up a guidebook - this will provide handy background even if you decide on a guided tour.

Our two daughters have been teaching in Dalian for 2-3 years, and two of our three weeks in China was spent in their company - this helped us over the language barrier for a start. However, we first spent a week in Beijing on our own and any difficulties we encountered were very minor. We'd briefly thought about booking that week as a tour, but once we were there we were very pleased that we hadn't - we felt sorry for the tour groups being led around like sheep.

We also had a few days by ourselves in Shanghai towards the end. We're not especially energetic or adventurous travellers either, but found both cities easy to get around on foot and by cab (taxis are efficient and very cheap).

Nor do you need to stay in an overpriced (by Chinese standards, grossly overpriced) 5-star palace to find hotel staff with whom you can communicate and who can book you on a day tour.

Relatively few Chinese speak any English, but if you plan properly you'll find that this poses few difficulties. Many have taken English lessons in school, but as the quality of teaching is variable they're justifiably apprehensive about putting their knowledge to the test. In some cases you can make it easier on them by writing down your question in English.

It's possible to learn a few Mandarin words and phrases - either for politeness' sake (eg 'xie xie' for thanks) or to decipher maps and signs (eg 'zhong' for central, 'jie' or 'lu' for street) - preferably with the help of an audio guide. However, the Chinese phrasebooks found in guides like Lonely Planet should not lead casual visitors to expect that they'll be able to establish much in the way of meaningful communication in Mandarin. Even if you get the syllables in a simple phrase right, you stand a good chance of being completely unintelligible because you used the wrong tones.

It's a fascinating country - enjoy your visit.

Here are my list of priorities if you are near Wuhan: They are a must see
1. Shanghai (walk around by yourself, you will have a good time)
2. Huangshan (any peak, any time of the day)
3. Suzhou (any garden, all the gardens)
4. Beijing (especially Temple of Heaven)

I would also recommend Yunan and Tibet. I have never been there, but they look interesting.

The best way to travel in China is by train using CTS and just go East to West or South to North (like Shanghai to Tibet or Hong Kong to Beijing). How easy can that be! You can't get lost!

what guidebooks do you recommend?

1. John King Fairbank's History of China
2. David Morgan's The Mongols
3. The Rough Guide to China (good highlights, not detailed enough)
4. Movies and websites
5. Wei Hui's Shanghai Baby, a novel (I think it is a good guide for Shanghai)

We used Lonely Planet and found it useful for our purposes, but of course others would swear by Fodors, Frommers, Rough Guide and no doubt others.

I wish I'd read more on Chinese history and culture before we went - especially, to help interpret shrines and temples, religion. (I've since read that the old scholar/administrator class saw religions involving supernatural beings and/or an afterlife as harmless diversions suitable only for the uneducated masses.)

I am Chinese and I lived in Shanghai for 10 years before moving to the U.S. permanently. When I listed those resources I have to say they touched my heart. I highly recommemd them.

Thank you all for your great replies. I am narrowing down our iteniary to Beijing, Xian, Wuhan (we can make the kids show us around the sites that they have never been too because the actually live in the town), and Shanghi. We will hit some main sights but want at least half for wandering and serendipity. I have changed from the thought of getting a tour etc. I think and instead want to have a list like i use in Europe. Like: walk down the Bund or view it from a ferry that leaves from x at 10,11, and 12. Than sort of thing. Get lost in the area bordered by street a and b.
Our point is not to see all on the list but to get a feel for an area. Any list suggestions of this sort much appreciated.

I also have questions about train travel. My feeling is that a night train goes in the dark and you miss most of the trip. Once went through the mountains of Switzerland in the dark because the train in Italy was delayed. So i want to ride a train in the light

And another question about where to book hotels. I don't really like to arrive at a place and have to serch for a hotel. Again I want to thank evreyone for their past and future helpful and useful comments.

I have never been to Xian or Wuhan, but I have stayed in hotels in Shanghai and Beijing. Try to pick a hotel in a good location, because that allow you to live in the middle of movie set for a while. In Beijing, I would recommend hotels near the forbidden city. In Shanghai, I would recommed hotels either next to the French Quarter (I can't remember the name of the hotel right now, but it was good) or the Peace Hotel. I know my next visit to Shanghai will be the Peace Hotel and I plan to go to the top floor and listen to the String Quartet. The Peace Hotel has a colorful history, it is waterfront and I would book early and ask for a room with a view.