N -- You'll be taking cabs (cheap), and it's the high tourism season, so it comes down to 1) Budget: Safe, clean & comfortable or deluxe? Please give us a $$ range 2) Location: Near the river? Adjacent to shopping malls? In the center of action including clubs? Or somewhat quiet? 3) Do you need a pool? 4) Check out the TRs, some of them have detailed descriptions of hotel stays. I have no personal experience.

Have you included a train trip in your itinerary? Most hotels can arrange for acrobatic performances, music & dance shows for you in the evenings. What are your sightseeing plans in Shanghai?

I will come to your hotel to see you, perhaps we can do a GTG with other Fodorites.

nagiffag -- Are you back to work full-time? Can you GTG on weeknights, or only on weekends? Breakfast or dinner? Lunch will breakup most travelers sightseeing plans.

I've got my eye on a couple of hotels from the TRs and other sources -I'm looking to spend $150/night max for a single. I'm hoping I can get something rather comfortable at a discounted rate. It's just a matter of deciding on the most convenient location - I do plan to go back to the room several times a day, mainly because I'll have my tripod and gear in the early morning and after dark, and being alone I'd like someplace rather busy as opposed to remote. My main goal in Shanghai is photography... and eating... and shopping!

p.s. Don't think the train fits in with my itinerary. Oh well, next time!

N -- Since it's August already, I assume you have your Depart USA and Return flights booked? Don't worry too much of inter-city flights, you can do it after you arrive, I usually like to have my first leg in China booked.

If you post what hotels you are eyeing in what cities, people can offer their comments. You should also have an idea of how/where you'll spend each day taking photos, eating and shopping.

For me, I'd like to know your plans for Shanghai. Happy Planning!

N -- I was thinking about your tripod and photography gear, just a gentle reminder that flights within China only allow one checked bag for free.

Hi S, thanks for the reminder! I do plan to travel light (light for me, anyway) - a carry-on size suitcase with wheels that I'll be checking, and a carry-on size shoulder bag that I'll be carrying on. Hopefully that will be okay for the internal flights?

Oh yes, your checked bag can be larger than a 22" carry-on size wheeler if you choose, and in addition to the carry-on size shoulder bag, you can bring a small purse.

Since your last stop is Shanghai, you can buy a large bag/suitcase and stuff all your shopping goodies in it as the 2nd checked piece on the international flight.

Are you up for a GTG?

Yes, most definitely looking forward to our GTG! I'm losing my mind planning the middle week of my China itinerary (it changes by the day), but the Beijing and Shanghai days are cast in stone. So I shall be there with my PFB on

N --

For Shanghai: which hotel? Plans for the 3 days? Which watertown and which day are you going?

Lil1210 -- What month were you in Xizhou? We're thinking of going next year. Btw, my middle name (my DF's surname) is the same as yours, perhaps we are from the same ancestors? We just found out our new neighbor stayed at my aunt's when she was an exchange student in Toyko.

N -- Sorry to hijack your thread.

I'm finding that I'm still a few weeks early to book a hotel on some of the booking websites. I do want to take a day trip to a water village, just not sure which one! Right now what's causing me obsession is a debate over a Yunnan vs Sichuan itinerary...

p.s. No worries about hijacking, this thread belongs to all

Ok, I definitely can meet you for breakfast or dinner one of those days, and depending on which day/which watertown, may I tag along?

Haven't heard from nagiffag, should we invite others to the GTG? I can post a different thread early October when I come back from the Big Sur.

Yunan is the must, when did Sichuan slip in? And where does that leave Yangshou/Longshen/Guilin? Sorry to cause you more obsession ......

Sure, the more the merrier!

Re my continually changing itinerary: (and this may sound strange) In trying to decide where to go in China, I've had in the back of my head this question of "Where in China might I find an experience not dissimilar to what I love about Italy?" Not that I expect China to be anything like Italy, but I was hoping to find real life, nice scenery and and somewhat easygoing mentality. So I decided to google the phrase "the Tuscany of China" and guess what, Sichuan came up! Knowing nothing about Sichuan, I've started reading up and found I can visit villages, Buddhist sites, great scenery, etc, and it sounds really interesting. Plus, I just watched Anthony Bourdain's program and he visited Chengdu I still want to visit Lijiang though. About Yangshou et al, I'm torn between wanting to see the beautiful scenery vs what I keep reading about backpacker cafes selling banana pancakes on every corner LOL. Anyway, my plans change by the minute, so I probably won't know where I'm going until I'm there!

I haven't been to Tuscany so I can't compare Sichuan to it altho it sounds like it's a frenchman's comment? What do italians think?

You have 3 choices, stay longer, drop one place or like escorted tours, "admire the flowers while trotting by on a horse" (chinese saying) until you are exhausted.

I'll offer a choice 3 by nights assuming you fly between the locations.

1-4 Bejing
5-7 Sichuan
8-11 Yunan
12-14 Yangshou/Longshen/Guilin
15-17 Shanghai

Can others please comment?

Does this look like Tuscany?

rkkwan.zenfolio.com/p432771071/?photo=87246548

Taken in SW Yunnan Province last fall. Check out other photos in those albums of mine.

rkkwan -- Lovely! so Tuscany is in Yunan, not Sichuan, right? What about the compressed itinerary, do-able?

Btw, do you visit SF? We often do GTGs ...

Hey Shanghainese, we were in Xizhou in mid-July. Gorgeous blue skies during that time.

Hi Nutella:

Shanghainese's itinerary above looks very doable and I'm happy to see she included three days in Guilin/Longshen/Yangshuo area...we absolutely loved it this past April. It was my second visit,and the "awe factor" was still there!

Here are some photos to whet the appetite..your camera will be on full time!

Stu T.

http://picasaweb.google.com/stuartto...linAndVicinity

go to "slide show" for best views

Belatedly catching up on this thread... thanks for all the recommendations!! And I really enjoyed your photo links Rkkwan and Stu! I don't have any new itinerary breakthroughs to report, but I just want to acknowledge everyone's helpful posts

Shanghainese, I'm confirmed at a hotel in the French Concession area for three nights, so I'm definitely RSVPing in the affirmative for the GTG

In itinerary news, Sichuan is out, Yangshou et al is out... Anhui province is IN!!!

I'm staying with relatives in the French Concession too so it'll be easy to GTG, could you tell which hotel? I'll post the GTG thread next week instead of waiting till Oct.

Is Yunan out too? How many days are you spending in Anhui?