trip suggestions - timing
 

My husband, 14 year old son and I are planning a trip to China in April 2008. We are going for two weeks, leaving on a Sunday and returning on a Sunday. I've booked our flights arriving and departing from Hong Kong. The reason for the trip is to visit our daughter who is teaching in Shenzhen for the year. She has visited Beijing (had a wonderful trip to the Great Wall via horseback)already and is not interested in doing Shanghai with us. She will only be able to join us from Friday - Monday so the trick is to spend some time traveling without her Tues - Thursday when we first arrive, have her join us,- and then have a little more travel time without her the next week. And to begin and end in Hong Kong.

My thoughts so far are to arrive in Hong Kong Monday evening, spend the night there. Tuesday evening take the plane to Guilin via Shenzhen and get a private vehicle to take us to Yangshou. Spend Tuesday - Saturday there (she would join us Friday, maybe Thursday night) and then travel to Xian Saturday again via plane. Visit Terracotta soldiers on Sunday, Monday she leaves for Shenzhen and we go to Beijing. We do the sleeper train to Beijing arrive Tuesday and stay there through Friday and then spend Friday night and Saturday night in Hong Kong.

Alternatively, I would love to go to Chengdu because it looks like a cool city and see the Panda's. I wondered if we could do that with her instead of Xian on Sunday and she could see Xian later on one of her breaks, perhaps in warmer weather. If we did that, would we (husband,son and I) be able to fit in Xian and Beijing Monday - Friday (including travel time) and then spend Saturday night in Hong Kong? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Any suggestions for this post? And, while I'm back again, when should I book hotel rooms? Most of the places I am considering now are small places like the Shihe hotel in Beijing.

Both proposals sound reasonable and doable to me.

Hi toobusytoday,

Your first proposal sounds like a great trip. The second one shortchanges Beijing as you combine it with Xi'an for only five days. So maybe (with travel) only 3 1/2 days in Beijing. A GW hike in April is excellent, for one day. Not much time left in the good weather season to see the rest. I would go with #1 or take #2 and skip Xi'an.

I just returned from my first trip to China. We tried to see as much as possible in 2 weeks - Shanghai, Nanjing (4 days visiting our son who is studying there), Xi'an and Beijing. Both of your possible itineraries sound doable.

We spent a short time in Xi'an - less than 2 days- arriving early in the morning by overnight train and leaving the following evening by train to Beijing, and really enjoyed every minute. The Muslim Quarter, shopping at the market by the Mosque,Terra Cotta Warriors. One more day would've been nice and we probably would have taken the time to ride bicycles around the top of the city walls. I highly recommend visiting Xi'an if at all possible.

Thanks for your comments. I think our family would enjoy Chengdu but I'd hate to be so busy traveling from place to place that we don't really enjoy ourselves and if we don't visit Xi'an I think we would regret it later.

Maybe my daughter will visit Chengdu and the Panda's and I'll enjoy it vicariously through her. So many wonderful places, so little time :(

Toobusytoday,

I love the pandas and spent a week with them at Wolong, but unless pandas are the purpose of your trip, I think your suggestions on your previous post on 10/27 strikes a good balance so you won't be too busy while in China.

I have lost a very long post twice and I give up! Your itinerary was mine in 2005 and I will give you all the tips and logistics I learned if you want to e-mail me at eg800 at msn.com.

Liz