China Travel Forum

[Gerald]

We would like to travel through China for about four weeks departing the 20th of June.
We will arrive in HongKong then we would like to visit the following places
HongKong
Macau
Guilin
Lijang
Leshan
Dazu -Chongqing
Xi'an
Datong (hanging monastery)
Great Wall
Beijing
Any other places that we should not miss? How many days do you recommend to spend in any of those places? We were thinking of travelling by train, but we probably will have to spend too much time going from one place to the next. Where would you recommend to fly? How expensive and safe are internal flights? How is the weather like in June-July? I know it is not the best time to travel but unfortunately it is the only time in which we can go.

[Rick]

Hong Kong and Macau takes one day for each, ferry connect, but you need to take flight for Guilin, there is direct flight HK to Guilin, but if you want to save some money, suggest to take bus to Guangzhou or Shenzhen airport then fly. Guilin normally needs 3 days including the boat on Li river and yangshuo. I'm not sure if there is direct flight from Guilin --- Lijiang, or you can go from Kunming to Lijiang by bus.

You need to come to Chengdu, where you can easily take bus to Leshan for 2 hours, if you add Emei Mount as well, add 2 days, suggest to find one monastery to stay, it's an unique and wonderful experience, and it's not expensive as well. The you can take bus directly from Leshan or Emei to Chongqing, where bus connection to Dazu is easily to access. Chongqing --- Xian will be flight, 2 days will be OK for Xian and 4 days in Beijing is normal, but you know in China different cities have different sides to see, it more depends on your interest to determine the time you stay. Wish you a good time in China. The cities in your itinerary are all in the south, in June and July, it could be very hot and humid, wish you good luck!