I've just posted our latest web page - about our recent trip to China. Thanks again for all the help I got here in planning it. Hope I can help others with their planning.

Here's the URL:
http://www.travel.stv77.com/china/china.htm

And here's the URL of our home site:
http://www.travel.stv77.com/

Thanks so much for posting your report! I'm planning to go to China (now leaning towards May 2008), so your report is helpful.

Your dining experience in Guilin and where the 2 girls took you. Do you have the name of the place so I can avoid it? Also where is the place you dine the next evening that you paid 60 Yuan?

I had to chuckle at the women that followed you up those 800 steps to seel you drinks! I'm sure you weren't the first to decline.

Xian: What did you pay for the dumpling dinner at De Fa chang?

Luoyang: I would love to get a copy of the business card for the restaurant you dined in. Sounds fabulous!

Are reservations needed in China?

Beijing, Presidential Plaza Hotel: Considering location and taking a 25-minute taxi ride, would you recommend the hotel/area or would you have prefered being closer to the main sights?

I loved your description of Peking duck process.

Did you buy any foods to eat at the night food market? I've read mixed comments about eating street food.

Thanks!

Monica
mjpileggi@ comcast.net

PS: Could you please provide the link to the company you used to make your arrangements?

Thanks!

Monica

Haven't finished it, but very very nice. Very well presented and easy to read. Excellent pictures.

Superb travel blog site!

Thanks.

Monica:

I see I forgot to give the China-connection URL. Here it is:
http://www.china-tour.cn/
I've already corrected the web page.

Regarding the "local" retaurants, all the cards were only in Chinese. I could send you a scan if you really want them.
If that email address at the bottom of your post is accurate, I'll find something to send you.

The dumpling dinner cost about 70 Yuan for the two of us. Don't confuse it with a "dumpling banquet". It wasn't a banquet, just a simple meal with piles of dumplings.

We didn't eat anything too adventurous at the night food market. I ate more on the street in thailand!

Regarding the hotel location in Beijing, the taxis are cheap and the city is huge, so our hotel location was just fine. The longest taxi ride we took only cost about 20 Yuan.

Yes, that is my correct address.

Thanks for the web site. Will contact them soon.

Monica

I noticed that the Temple of Heaven is finally free of scaffoldings. It was under restoration for quite a while!

Anyways, very nice trip report. Thanks again for posting.

sssteve: Printed out your report to read on the way home, amazing details so well written and the presentation is arranged cleverly and artfully. Photos are terrific too. Thank you very much for sharing and I will read your other travel reports too!

Thank you Shanghainese...

RK: If I remember correctly, there was a small amount of scaffolding left, but it wasn't too prominent.

sssteve,

Great report -- very well organized with useful details without any irrelevant rambling. I enjoyed reading it and looking at the photos.

We're trying to fit an overnight train ride into our July trip but haven't figured out yet if/when it'll fit in.

CanadaKate

monica: You've found the best China TRs here.

I'm MelissaHI's friend, we ate and shopped in SF before Memorial Day.

Hi Shanghainese,

Yes, certainly know Melissa! We first met back in 2003 when I returned to Hawaii (grew up there).

I've gotten lots of information already on the Asia threads. I'm now looking to go to China in October 2008 when the Olympics are done.

"TRs" ?

Monica

TR = Trip Report

Monica, I've sent a scan via email. Please let me know if you get it.

steve---great report thanks...

MOnica, my almost 13 year old son ate whatever street food he could find in China, much to the chagrin of our guide, who thought the western stomach couldn't handle it. I had to throw myself between DS and the vendor selling fried scorpions on a stick.

The rest of our group of 18 friends and family members declined to try street food on this trip (2003) but when we returned in 2005 we ate from street vendors without hesitation. (carried immodium and cipro but do not recall anyone using it.)

My husband and I are planning a trip in November on the tail end of a work trip for him. Your trip report was SO helpful. I have been working with a tour company called Absolutely China to come up w/ an itinerary for us. Have you heard of them or know anyone who has used them?

Thanks for sharing your amazing trip. The restaurant suggestions and photos are great!

Great picture of the Great Wall!!!

Many thanks for a great TR, sssteve

With all those links to click for extra info, I've been happily lost in your webpage for hours and printed off a few for our trip in August.

Great pics, too.

Jackie

lp_camino

I checked out quite a few Chinese tour companies, but I did not run across "Absolutely China".