China Travel Forum

[Paul]

we are planning a hiking-tour at the Graet Wall during our stay in China in October. We were thinking about 3 days. Afterwards we are planning to go to Guilin Region for another 3 days of hiking or a boat-trip. Therefor I've got the following questions:
1. Does anyone know a good starting point for a 3-days hiking tour at the Great Wall and how to get there from Beijing?
2. What would be the best way of going directly from the Great Wall to Guilin Region?
2. Does anyone know a good provider/agency for a hiking/boats tour in Guilin Region?

[Bob]

If you like hiking do not visit the greatwall by badalin.....and you can hike endlessly in the most desserted places of the great wall.........
from beijing to Guilin (and I suggest Yangshuo and even beter small places around Yangshuo near the river)you have to options:
* directly by train or plane to Guilin (a very longtrip by train)
* a stop at Pingyao and/or Xian by train from Beijing and from Xian by plane to Guilin (instead of 33 hours by train take the plane 2 hours and it cost us 100 euros per person)....
About the boattrips be sure you get on a small( not bamboO) boot. Because the government has regulated that after some incidents of drowning ,every body should go on a very large boat.......but it is much more beautiful to do the trip with a small (not bamboo) boot...in Yangshuo are enough small travel agencies who can help you.......And in the Guilin area you can organise your own hiking trips you do not nead a guide because this area is used to receive foreign visiters and you can rent a bike almost every where and there are good maps availible............
there has the direct train from Beijing to Guilin, why to Xi'am as the transfer point? You can take T5 at the Beijing West Station, which only takes about 22 hours. If you mind the train is slow, you also can take flight.
About Guilin, I think taking boat to Yangshuo is the must-do, and the natural scenery of the both river sides is the must-see.
Yangshuo is China's most popular backpacker destination. In fact, Yangshuo has become legendary as a place to get away from China. The village is set amongst limestone and karst peaks, and is filled with quaint alleys, shops and restaurants that serve many kinds of western foods. The surrounding land is flat and perfect for bicycle riding and with your choice of peaks to climb and local villages to visit, Yangshuo has plenty to do!