After reading some of the posts and after careful deliberation I was forced to recognise that I am not 20 any more. As appealing as some of the really remote villages sounded, my Mandarin consists of 3 words and I don't need to break new ground.

I will be going to some very touristy places, but I am a tourist, and will surely enjoy myself regardless.

Oct 17 Arrive Beijing 12.40 pm
Oct 18 Beijing
Oct 19 Beijing
Oct 20 Beijing
Oct 21 Beijing
Oct 22 night train to Shanghai dep 8.02 pm
Oct 23 arrive Shanghai 7.35
Oct 24 Shanghai
Oct 25 Shanghai leave for Jiashang bus to Xitang
Oct 26 Xitang and Wuzhu leave for Suzhou
Oct 27 Suzhou boat to Hangzhou
Oct 28 Hangzhou
Oct 29 Hangzhou
Oct 30 Hangzhou fly to Xian HU7862 11.20 am arr 1.30 pm
Oct 31 Xian to Guilin dep. 18.00 arr 7.40 pm
Transfer to Yangshou
Nov.1 Yangshou
Nov 2 Yangshou
Nov.3 Yangshou
Nov 4 Guilin to Kunming night train dep. 4.53 pm. K393
Nov 5 arr.11.20 am Kunming
Nov 6 Kunming dep 10.35 arr Dali 11.10 China Southern CZ3481
Nov 6 Dali
Nov 7 bus to Lijiang
Nov 8 Lijiang
Nov 9 Lijiang
Nov 10 Lijiang China Southern CZ3492 to Kunming dep. 1 pm arr 1.40 Kunming
Nov 10 Night bus to Vietnam

Any and all thoughts are as usual most appreciated.

Absolutely agree with you, as travelers, are we supposed to bypass all the touristy places on our first visit to a country? How many tourists omit Paris when going to France? I am sure the numerous groups of chinese tourists arriving in the US since 7/1 are not avoiding NY City, LA, SF.

I like your revised itinerary, in 3 weeks you are covering the major cities and Suzhou, Hangzhou, watertowns, Guilin/Yangshou plus Yunan province, and not too rushed. We will try to catch up with you in Kunming or Lijiang after we finalize our schedule.

Are you spending the night in Xitang?

Thanks Shanghainese,
Yes I was planning to spend the night in Xitang. Have no idea where as yet. Also think that as the trip evolves places to stay will be found.
My e-mail is [email protected]
and I would love to catch up with you wherever our paths cross.

Looks like a good trip! I'm already looking forward to the trip report, lol.

Xitang is tiny, I believe there is only one hotel (Holiday Hotel or Inn?). There are locals that rent rooms out and the touts will try to grab your arm and drag you there.