China Travel Forum

[Robert]

I'm going to be spending 3 months in China (April - June) teaching English in Yantai (Shandong Province). Before I start teaching I'm doing some traveling, from March 13 - 31, and I have a few questions:

(1) Itinerary - right now, my plan is Shanghai (where I fly into) -> Xi'an -> Beijing. I'm thinking of basing myself in each city, and then taking day trips out to nearby attractions after seeing the city itself. Any ideas on things to see outside the cities? For Shanghai it looks like Hangzhou/Suzhou/Zhouzhuang are good bets; for Xi'an, the many archaeological sites around the city; and for Beijing, the Great Wall (duh), Zhengding, and Chengde. I think this is enough for 18 days, as I have to leave time for traveling between cities (I'm going to be taking trains), and I don't want to be rushed. Does this itinerary sound okay?

(2) May holiday - I have a week off of teaching for the national holiday in May, and I've heard that the major tourist sites the Chinese like to see get insanely packed during this holiday. I was thinking about going out to Xinjiang Province, since I would assume not many Chinese go out there, but it takes an insane amount of time to get there by train (and I don't have the $ for a plane ticket, since it looks like almost $300). So, any ideas for trips to cool places that won't be packed with tourists? How about Inner Mongolia or the area near the North Korean border?

(3) Stuff to do in Shandong Province - on weekends I'd like to do sightseeing fairly locally, but I don't know what's out there besides the major stuff (Qingdao, Qufu, Tai Shan).

(4) Hostel recommendations - I've heard lots of good stuff about the Beijing Downtown Backpacker's Accomodation, so I think I'll stay there. In Shanghai, have any of you stayed at the Maggie International Youth Hostel? It seems a bit far removed from central Shanghai, but it's cheap, and they have availability (I'm booking online before I go). The only places I'm not sure about are Xi'an and Hong Kong (I'm going to Thailand after China, and will be departing from there), so if there are any good suggestions I'd love to hear them.

Thanks!

[Henry]

I'm a US student currently living in Beijing, and your itinerary sounds like alot of fun. Um I just visited ChengDe this weekend- and its REALLY cold here right now so the sights were not worth the freezing weather in my opinion. I think a better visit outside the city would be DaTong, there you can see the same amount of temples in ChengDe but also the Hanging Monasteries which are probably the coolest things I've seen since Ive been here. There's also a HUGE mountain right near the hanging monasteries that you can hike all the way up to the top and there's a Wushu training academy at the top with georgous temples and architecture all around. the view is absolutely georgous and you can see for miles. At ChengDe the Summer palace is alright- but if you go to the Summer Palace in Beijing they're pretty much the same idea. If you go to the great wall- its worth it to take the trip over to SiMaTai instead of going to BaDaLing... Badaling is VERY touristy and you will get harrassed by lots of people trying to sell you stuff. Simatai is georgous, not as crowded and the scenery is beautiful, also the wall is older and you can see some more preserved parts. If you're feeling adventurous take the zipline down to the parking lot, its lots of fun. Hope your trip goes well!

[tibet_tour]

By Pangolin budget travelling club in Chengdu 。

http://www.tourwest-cn.com(for more information )
Means for Enrollment ： Tel ： 028-68050730 / 13980818790
Fax ： 028-87033119
QQ ： 406058917
MSN: ： renwoyou2004@hotmail.com
email: pangolin2005@163.com

Dear friends:

i think a budget travel to tibet is a good choice to you.Our club offer many tour routes to tibet from March - October .You and your friends could enjoy a rural landscape of the west of china in our "crosscountry car".

Tibet lures people from all over this planet like a magnet. If you are one of them, the following information is valuable to you.

It is strongly recommended that you go to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, by train or bus so that you not only have enough time to acclimatize to the plateau-climate but also enjoy the beautiful sights on the way. If you take the Express No.75 running between Beijing and Xining, it takes you two days and one night. Then you change to the train to Golmud. This trip takes you a whole day. When you arrive at Golmud, you may go to Lhasa by a state coach, which takes you one day and a half. After a long fatiguing journey like this, you can relax at the Guest House of Ngari Local Tourism Bureau on Niangre Road.

Once refreshed, take a walk around Lhasa, especially Balang Street, the oldest in the city, which has become the shopping center. Vendors there, mostly Tibetans, sell many sorts of handicrafts.

If I were you, I would not just stay in Lhasa. Ngari is the place you shouldn’t miss. But to visit Ngari, you have to apply for a border visa from Lhasa Public Security Bureau. From Lhasa to Gartok (Shiquanhe), the capital of Ngari, the shortest route is 1600 kilometers. In view of that, you’d better rent a car with two other persons.

The best sights of Ngari are the petrified highland basin at Zanda, the ruins of the ancient Guge Kingdom, the Holy Hill and the Holy Lake at Purang. The petrified highland basin lies in Zanda County, 392 kilometers away from Gartok.

The ruins of othe ancient Guge Kingdom are on a hill 18 kilometers away from Zanda county seat. The ruins, covering 180,000 square meters, include many stupas, blockhouses, caves, tunnels and houses. The remaining murals and stone sculptures are of exceptionally high artistic value.

Holy Hill, Gangrenburuan in Tibetan, is 429 kilometers away from Gartok. It is 6,656 meters above sea level. The top pf the hill is shaped like a pyramid. In a Tibetan’s eye, it is also a step to heaven. It is believed that if a person walks around the hill for one whole circle, he or she can be absolved of all his or her sins in this lifetime. If you walk around the hill one hundred times, you will become a Buddha. Therefore, many followers of Sakyamuni from all over the world are circling there every day.

This Holy Lake located by the side of Holy Hill is said to be the most beautiful and biggest lake in Tibet.

Our club offer several tour routes to tibet,choose your favorite line,then contact us.

Tour Route1:

Chengdu-Jiuzhaigou(Starting from Chengdu ) < Elite Route >(11days)

Chengdu - Jiuzhaigou - Huanglong - Ruo'ergai - Namo - Hongyuan - Ma'erkham - Xiaojin - Rilong - Chengdu

Detail:http://www.tourwest-cn.com/mainsite/page/plan/ChengduJiuzhaigou.asp

Tour Route 2: Danba-Yading-Meili Snow Mountain-Lijiang (Starting From Chengdu )
< Elite Route >(12days)

Chengdu— 230km —Rilong— 145km —Danba— 145km —Xindu Bridge— 74km —Yajiang— 143km —Litang— 150km —Daocheng － 160km － Yading Villiage － 250km － Xiangcheng － Derong － Benzilan-Meili Snow Mountain-Zhongdian— 150km —Hutiao Canon— 80km － Lijiang

Detail:http://www.tourwest-cn.com/mainsite/page/plan/Lijiang.asp

Tour Route 3: The Sun Tribe Round Route (Starting From Chengdu )< Elite Route >(19days)

Chengdu—Danba—Xinduqiao—Daofu—Luhuo—Ganzi—Manigange——Axu Veldt——Shiqu——Yushu——Maduo——Gonghe——Qinghai Lake——Xining——Lanzhou——Linxia—Xiah--Hezuo--Maqu--Zoige--Hongyuan--Chuanzhusi--Jiuzhaigou--Wenchuan--Mt. Siguniang--Chengdu

Detail:http://www.tourwest-cn.com/mainsite/page/plan/SunTribe.asp

Tour Route 4: Lijiang-Lhasa (Starting From Lijiang) < Elite Route >(10days)

Lijiang — 180km —Zhongdian — 190km —Deqin — 136km —Yanjin — 88km —Mangkang — 158km — Zuogong — 107km — Bangda — 94km — Basu — 90km — Ranwu — 129km — Bomi — 89km — Tongmai — 127km — Linzhi — 19km — Bayi — 100km — Milin — 152km — Lang County — 164km — Zedang — 200km — Lhasa

Detail:http://www.tourwest-cn.com/mainsite/page/plan/ChengduLhasa.asp

Tour Route 5 : Sichuan-Tibet 318 Route( South Route ) (Starting From Chengdu )

< Elite Route >(10days)

Chengdu — 147km — Ya'an — 168km — Luding — 49km — Kangding — 75km — Xindu Bridge — 74km — Yajiang — 143km — Litang — 165km — Batang — 36km — Zhubalong — 71km — Mangkang — 158km — Zuogong — 107km — Bangda — 94km — Basu — 90km — Ranwu — 129km — Bomi — 89km — Tongmai — 127km — Linzhi — 19km — Bayi — 127km — Gongbujiangda — 206km — Mozhugongka — 68km — Lhasa

Detail:http://www.tourwest-cn.com/mainsite/page/plan/ChengduLhasa.asp


Bulletin for Recommended Routes: Those who have interests can contact our club directly, we will make special route for you according to your needs.

Attenders ： 1. Those who are eager to go to the west;
2. Cross-country tourism and traveling on foot lovers;
3. Photographing lovers.