Zigong or Datong - stops between Beijing and Xian?
 

I shall be taking the train from Beijing and over the course of 6 nights which places should I concentrate on and in which order? This will be next May.

What interests you?

I am interested in culture - scenery and unusual sights. As this cluster of my trip takes me from Beijing to Xian - with stops along the way - I was thinking of visitinig Datong, Pingyao, Zigong and Xian before flying to Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve for 3 nights. I then fly from there to Chengdu for the next sector of my trip.

Hope this helps to clarify my thinking.

I just posted some potentially relevant information on a different thread:

http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...hree-weeks.cfm

I can highly recommend Pingyao -- good transportation links and a most enjoyable smaller city. The old city is very walkable (be sure to walk the 14th c. walls too), full of atmosphere, and offers many interesting museums and temples. We bought a Pingyao City ticket that covered 18 sites including the walls.

Two of the best museums are the Rishengchang Financial House Museum and the First Armed Escort Agency. Shuanglin Temple is an easy side trip to see the extremely colorful Buddhist sculptures.

Be sure to stay in one of the old guesthouses; you will feel as if you are on a movie set. We loved the Yide Guesthouse: http://www.yide-hotel.com

Try the mountain noodles at De Ju Yuan on the main shopping street: http://www.pydjy.net Great shopping in Pingyao also!