China Itinerary (share with future travelers)

Hi milesdenman of http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1686605&tstart=15 (Italized by travelinglife)
From usausak@hotmail.com (drop me a note on updates, or guide to your site)
I’m writing most of the info based on summer memory.
Been to most of the places you want to go, but may not know one or two places.
Winter is low season, and I recommend 1st class tickets for overnight (soft bed, and generally 4 to a room; but with double decker, you could ask for upper deck and it’s 2 to a room), special waiting room with no crowds.
Train tickets - Hostels are a treasure trove of information. They know where the closest have a contact too. Cheap domestic tickets are sold at discount, generally 30-50% off the ticket booth to get train tickets without going to the train station (which is usually crowded), and you pay a minimum handling fee.
Airline tickets – hostel probably regular price, but I got my Beijing to Xian at 80% - almost unheard of.
Hostel – easy to find. In Xian, go to the Xiangzimen Hostel http://www.yhaxian.com/xiangzi/english/sheshi.asp
Jiaozi on Friday night- learn to make dumplings and eat them! Xiangzimen - Love it, very authentic, owner spent in access of U$1M to remodel a 400 year old estate. (skip Bell Tower hostel – dark and dingy, but centrally located, and great to pick up the Terra Cotta tour, cheaper as more people join)

Arrive 26th November in the morning to Beijing. 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 = Beijing & Great Wall
NOTICE: Self-tours in Beijing is very easy for you. But you had better join tour group if you want to hike Mutianyu or Simatai or Jingshanling Great Wall. You can take by the fast train to Badaling Great Wall in one day.

K: Great wall – take a tour from hostel. Badaling or Simatai locations.
Most sights are within city and self guided. Olympics sights – water cube, and bird nest. Must see Forbidden Palace & TianAnMen , Heaven ?, Summer Palace, Beihai lake;
Shopping Waffujing, Sanlitun (got Polo shirts, etc – 2 blocks from worker’s stadium)
Food Beijing duck. Skip Beijing Acrobats but go to Shanghai’s – better skilled and variety.
Stay at Backpackers – interesting street, close to most to hutong (must go to old town within Beijing http://www.hostels.com/availability.php/HostelNumber.7893

Leave on the 1st December in the morning for Datong by train. 1, 2 Dec = Datong. There are many trains from Beijing to Datong (374km) daily. But the train Number K615 (14:57—20:50) lasting about close to 6 hours is the best one. Depart Datong evening of the 2nd to travel to Ping Yao by sleeper train.NOTICE: there is NO train starting from Datong to Pingyao (463km). The train Number 2462/2463 (22:56—07:19) last about 8 hours 23 minutes from Datong to Pingyao starting from Baotou City. But buying this train ticket (sleeper is impossible) is very difficult. So suggest you take by the train Number N265 (14:25--1944) from Datong to Taiyuan (355km) lasting about 5 hours 19 minutes and then take by the bus from Taiyuan to Pingyao (108km) lasting about 1.5 hours.Or suggest you take by bus from Datong to Taiyuan and then to Pingyao.
K: Not sure about this location. If there is no reason for this stop but to catch a train, I’d pay the money and fly to Taiyuan and rail to PingYao – flight should cost than U$100 but saves you a couple of days for the back end (like Shenzhen). Then take the bus, many companies to choose from and runs regularly. 3, 4 Ping Yao

Depart 4th in the evening to Xian by sleeper train.
NOTICE：There is NO train starting from Pingyao to Xian. The train to Xian pass by Pingyao starting from Taiyuan. So buying the train ticket will be difficult. so suggest you had better transfer by bus from Pingyao to Taiyuan and then take by the train Number L 27 (21:30—07:24) from Taiyuan to Xian (651km) lasting about close to 10 hours.No suggestion here. I flew from Xian to Beijing, skipping PingYao (ran out of time)
5, 6, 7, 8 = Xian 2 days is plenty, 3 max
K:. Stay at Xiangzimen – no regrets (see above). Terra Cotta Warriors (skip Banpo Museum), Big Wild Goose Pagoda, and night water show (walk around seeing kids and locals), moslem area near bell tower, Xian City Wall and bike along the wall (there is a tour, I was told) (fit river cruise and Panda in here – worth it, especially the Pandas)

Not familiar with this section of the itinerary from Nanjing to Hangzhou.
Depart on the 8th and fly from Xian to Nanjing if possible.
There are many flights daily from Xian to Nanjing. You can buy the flights RMB 430+200 NOW after discount. The price RMB 430 for soft-sleeper on the train from Xian to Nanjing (1208km) lasting about 12 hours to 18 hours. Just reference to you. 8, 9, 10 = Nanjing
(Ancient capital but I’ve not been there.) Depart 10th to Tunxi
There are many trains from Nanjing to Huangshan (371km) lasing about 5—8 hours.
10, 11, 12, 13, 14 = Tunxi (as a base for Huang Shan, also for day trips to Yixian Xidi and Hongcun, Shexian. There is NOT enough time for day trips to Yianxian Xidi and Hongcun. Depart 14th from Tunxi to Hangzhou. There is NO train from Huangshan to Hangzhou (230km) but taking by shuttle bus lasting about 2 hours is very easy.
14, 15, 16 = Hangzhou, Anchang, WuzhenDepart 17th for Shanghai. There are many trains from Hangzhou to Shanghai (167km) daily lasting about 1-2 hours. You can also take by shuttle bus from Hangzhou to Shanghai.

Other than Shanghai, not familiar with the other places. I do recommend Suzhou overnight for bridges and big ancient administrator’s home
17, 18, 19 = Shanghai (Putuoshan if time) Two days trip to Putuoshan will be better.Putuoshan Island is located in Zhoushan City of Zhejiang Province: Buddhist realm between sea and skybuy the ticket to Wusong Dock (吴淞码头) and Luchaogang Dock (芦潮港码头). In Nanpu Bridge at 08:00 you can take shuttle bus to Luchaogang Dock and the fast ferry will start at 09:30. In Shanghai City taking yacht to Zhoushan Island (136 sea-mile) is from RMB 255/person lasting about 3 hours.

Depart 20th for Guilin 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 Guilin and Yangshuo
*There are five trains daily from Shanghai to Guilin (1631km) lasting abour 21—24 hours. *Depart from Guilin 24th by express bus to Shenzhen to arrive morning of the 25th.Taking by the train number T40 (21:48--10:23) from Guiliin to Shenzhen (1040km) lasting about 12 hours 35 minutes would be BETTER.
Shenzhen – stay a day or two.
Stay at least a day to visit Folk Culture Village (ethnic cultural village – raving reviews)
Splendid China in miniature http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Splendid_China (miniature China)
Dep from Shenzhen 25th on first available train for Hong Kong. There are many trains from Shenzhen to Hong Kong daily. so DO NOT worry about it.
25th 1 night in Hong Kong26, 27 = Macau 28, 29, 30, 31, 01 = Hong Kong
2-3 days would be good. Very large city, very efficient and competent compared to most of China.
Easy for stopover any other time enroute to Bali, or Thailand, etc while the rest of China requires more planning and time.Depart Hong Kong on the 2nd.
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With patience, you can shift a lot of details in my housekeeping blog http://placesisee.blogspot.com/
Great site for reference : http://www.funforlesstours.com/china051609.html
If possible add Shenzhen, Dazu,
Chongqing or Chengdu for Pandas – must see – they are so playful and fun to watch!

Happy planning, and good luck. Bring lots of patience and humor and enjoy. Love to be added to your mailing list / blog.
Thanks, K