CandaceL

Below is a potential itinerary for which we would greatly appreciate your feedback. In particular, please comment on: 1) whether the lengths of time in each city are appropriate, and 2) if there are any inconsistencies between our proposed
method of travel and what is truly possible. Any other experiences you can share would be extremely valuable.

Since grandparents (85-yrs old) will be along, we will pre-book our flights and hotels by phone, elong.com or through the Chinese version of ctrip.com, but sightsee on our own.

Sep 6 Arrive in Shanghai
Sep 7 Shanghai - business
Sep 8 Shanghai/Nanjing - business, train to Nanjing
Sep 9 Nanjing - tour
Sep 10 Nanjing/Shanghai - tour, train to Shanghai
Sep 11 Shanghai - tour, rest of party arrives

Sep 12 Shanghai/Hangzhou - 3-hr train to Hangzhou
Sep 13 Hangzhou - tour West Lake
Sep 14 Hangzhou - tour
Sep 15 Hangzhou/Suzhou - train to Suzhou
Sep 16 Suzhou - tour gardens
Sep 17 Suzhou/Beijing - tour, 1-hr train to Shanghai, then plane to Beijing

Sep 18 Beijing - Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City
Sep 19 Beijing - Great Wall
Sep 20 Beijing - Summer Palace
Sep 21 Beijing - tour
Sep 22 Beijing/Xian - plane to Xian

Sep 23 Xian - Terra Cotta Warriors
Sep 24 Xian - Muslim section
Sep 25 Xian/Luoyang - train or car to Luoyang (Dragon Gate Grotto)
Sep 26 Xian/Shanghai- plane to Shanghai

Sep 27 Shanghai - tour
Sep 28 Shanghai - tour
Sep 29 tour, return to USA

Andrea_expat

It really depends on what you're most interested in seeing/doing.

My first impression is that it's a lot of time in Hangzhou compared to Beijing (which is where I would recommend adding days).

That said, Hangzhou is one of the places where you can spend your time walking around the lake, exploring the small islands or hillsides, compared to the other destinations which are all cities. (Suzhou, too, can be a bit relaxing if you're there to see the gardens).

Other than that, it looks good. Lots of moving around, but there is SO much to see and do in China that it's hard to resist! And you have almost a month, so if you keep your days paced well, it shouldn't be too difficult an itinerary.

Good luck!

glorialf

I think spending the amount of time in Hangzhou is great.

I would skip Nanjing unlesss you have to be there for business. Otherwise I'd say it's good.

robertwyne

you should stay one more day in shangi.
then you can explore the city. one day is not enough and i am agree with andrea.

rkkwan

They already have 2 full-days in Shanghai at the end.

But I agree not to do Nanjing. Maybe use those days for some watertowns near Shanghai.

Also, after the rest of the party arrives, you're now doing Shanghai-Hangzhou-Suzhou-Shanghai before flying to Beijing. Why not Shanghai-Suzhou-Hangzhou and then fly from Hangzhou to Beijing?

Bus is probably better and faster between Hangzhou and Suzhou. Training through Shanghai is a big detour.

CandaceL

Thanks to all for the helpful replies. rkkwan, we incorporated your very good advice and have modified our plans.

Does anyone have recommendations for Western- or Chinese-run hotels in these cities: Shanghai, Nanjing, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Beijing and Xian?