In late June, I am taking a three-week trip to Xinjiang (with stops along the way at Simatai, Xian, Hotan, and Kashgar). After the trip, I will have 7-8 full days left in China. What should I do with this time? I am intrigued by Pingyao and Datong (and possibly Wutai Shan). But since I will have already seen the grottoes at Dunhuang, should I go for something completely different and visit Chengde instead? Where would you want to go for a change of scenery after three weeks on the Silk Road?

A little background: This is my first trip to China, and I'll be solo. I can’t read Mandarin, but I can speak it fairly well.

I haven't been to Chengde. I found the caves at Datong unimpressive after Dunhuang, although I enjoyed the hanging monastery and the town is not touristy (but well-supplied with coal dust). Are you asking for places near Beijing or Kashgar? If it's your first trip you could consider the Shanghai area - Hangzhou, Suzhou, Putuoshan island - and the Shanghai art museum, of course. If you want to spend more time at the Kashgar end you could head up the Karakorum Highway (just gorgeous), or go over to Urumqi and up to Heavenly Lake.

Congratulations on speaking Mandarin - I'm jealous! - but be aware that the spoken language changes considerably depending on where you are (the TV has Mandarin sub-titles because of this).

skip Pinyao

If this is your first trip to China, will you have seen Beijing before the trip to the Silk Road? If not, I'd suggest spending some time in Beijing. Chengde is very interesting as an imperial city of the Ching.

If you don't want to spend time on the imperial sights in and around Beijing, then Shanghai is a good alternative suggestion - along with side trips to Hangzhou and Suzhou.

Have a safe trip and write a trip report when you come back! I'm certain Fodorites will be interested in that part of the world!

I'm actually very interested in the Karakorum Highway but with recent developments in Pakistan, I'm a bit nervous about heading in that direction.

My three-week Silk Road trip begins in Beijing and ends in Kashgar. From there I can fly anywhere in China. For the next 7-8 days, I'll be solo.

It sounds like I should skip Datong and Pingyao...I'm now torn between Beijing and Shanghai. Is there enough around Beijing to occupy me for a week? (I will have already spent three days there before the Silk Road trip.)

I'm also toying with the idea of visiting Xiamen and Gulanyu since my great grandparents are from there. Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance!

Hi -what an amazing trip you are off on!!

In an ideal world I'd say arrive in Beijing a few days early and spend 2-3 days there exploring before your trip starts. That would leave you with 4-5 days later.

But if that's not poss - then well, I've not travelled exactly the road you will be travelling, although I have been to Xian. And I have travelled up the Karakoram from the Pakistan side.

If you are adventurous I would say go by road from Kashgar to Islamabad along the Karakoram (you don't say where you are flying out of, or need to get back to). Stop in the Hunza valley - what a wonderful place (though my visit was 10 years ago). That would be an adventure and a half.

Alternatively, may I suggest flying to Guilin and checking out Yangshaou - fabulous landscape, easy environment - sort of R&R. Then if you have the full 7-8 days you could follow the route I did.

Overnight bus from Yangshaou to Guangzhou, arrives c. 5.00 am. Out as quickly as possible heading up the coast. A 2-3 day trip to Xiamen - there are interesting places to stay along the way. I liked Xiamen a lot, and from there took the overnight boat to HK. I have no idea if this still runs. But if it does, and if you like the idea of arriving by sea, and HK appeals - then I would go for that. Not too many opportunities these days to take a real ship ANYWHERE - and it is (was?) a real ship with cabins and restaurant, etc, etc. Not a cruise ship - a real working get you from a to b option.

My passion for travelling by sea probably comes across. HK is also an amazing destination and you can go pretty much anywhere from there.

You could do just the Chinese part of the Karakorum - up to Tashkurgan. Or go as far as the Hunza valley and then turn back. I was on the Karakorum (in a group, not solo) right after 9-11, and the Hunza valley felt very safe, not so much further down.

Alternatively, this would be a good time to do the Three Gorges cruise, before the water rises any further. You could fly to Chengdu and check out the pandas, maybe fit in Emei Shan, and go on to Chongqing to pick up a boat. Don't miss Dazu if you do this. Or fly to Chonqing and add Shanghai to the end of the cruise. Speaking Mandarin, you could more easily take the local boats instead of the tourist cruise ships. Have a great trip!

Hi Lil1210:

If your ancestors came from Xiamen then why not head there for a few days. I lived in the city last year and while there are not the historic highlights within the city that you will see during your time on the Silk Route nonetheless it has it's beauty spots. Gulanyu is a lovely short ferry ride away and has great shopping. The prices for things are sooo much cheaper than the bigger more touristy cities and outside of Xiamen there are excellent villages and towns to get an idea of a different part of China.
Some places of interest for a day trip outside of Xiamen could include Chongwu, Fuzhou, Quanzhou, Chaouzhou , Shi Shi, Wuyi Shan or De hua etc. You can see the Hakka roundhouses in Fujian province as well.
Or for something completely different if seeing your ancestral city isn't necessary you could head to Yunnan province to see fascinating spots such as Tiger Leaping Gorge, Dali, Kunming and Lijiang. And while in the area take a few days and travel up to Lake Lugu to visit the hypnotic and culturally fantastic Mosu people.
Have a great trip. You will love your ancestral homeland I am sure.
regards,

Thanks to everyone for all these fantastic suggestions. I will definitely try to add a few more days in Beijing to the beginning of my trip. I haven't bought my plane tickets yet, so I could conceivably fly out of Beijing, Shanghai, or Hong Kong (back to San Francisco).


A few questions...

thursdaysd and fuzzylogic: How did you arrange transport and lodging for your trips to the Hunza Valley? (From what I've read, it seems to be mostly homestays.) Any tips would be hugely appreciated.

keldar: How difficult is it to visit the Hakka roundhouses? Are there buses from Xiamen? Can I make this a daytrip or would I have to stay overnight near the roundhouses?

Much thanks!

As I mentioned, I did the Karakorum on a tour - from www.intrepidtravel.com. If I was doing it again I'd probably arrange transport in Kashgar. There is good info on traveling the Karakorum over at http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com.

Hi Lil:

The roundhouses south of Xiamen are perhaps a 2 hour drive away so very easy to visit in a day. Because you have command of the language you can probably hire a car and driver for a day to do the trip. Buses to the area would probably be hard to find as it's in a pretty isolated area.

If you choose to visit the Hakka houses at Longyuan this would probably need at least an overnight because of the distance and there is so much more to see in the area.
Check out these websites for photos and info.
http://taiwan.8m.net/fujian/main.html

http://www.amoymagic.com/babushka/babushka.htm

Wherever you decide to travel in China, know that you can't see everything but what you do see will be fascinating and... you can always go back.
If I can be of any help if you decide to go to Xiamen, please let me know.
regards,

I don't know if you have finalized your plans yet but we just returned from Xinjiang Province. We spent a day driving up the Karakorum Highway to Karakul Lake & felt very safe. Don't eliminate this trip because of a fear of safety. We felt this was definitely one of the highlights of our trip. The scenery is MAGNIFICENT!!! We hired a guide & private driver through a travel agency (don't remember the name)located in the former Russian Consulate in Kashgar, which is where we stayed. Will you be in Kashgar for the Sunday Market? It was MINDBOGGLING! I also recommend Heaven Lake & Turpan, if you can fit it in.

You will have a fabulous vacation!!! Xinjiang Province is unlike anything I have ever seen!