China Travel Forum

[jibran]

Hello, 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?Thank you for any advise or hint...

[aynor]

Sorry, can I ask you a question?Is it your fist time to Beijing or Great Wall?If so, I strongly suggest that you spend about 2 days for visiting Beijing city inside, and one day additional for Badaling Great Wall. Because there is no travel agency who mainly majors only in the Great Wall travel. All Beijing trip or itinerary they offer just take Great Wall as one part. And most Great Wall hikig tour are all self-organised by some Great Wall lovers and fans, and most of them are Chinese. So why not take Great Wall as one of your Beijing trip? Just my opinion, for your reference

[Aynur]

Greatwall. If you like hiking do not visit the Greatwall by Badalin........you should go (see lonely planet ) to less famous parts of the Greatwall.......and you can hike endlessly in the most desserted places of the great wall..........we hiked 1 day and only met 3 persones...........one women whose backyard we started in ............one guy up at the Great Wall from Canada and an old Chinese guy ............the Great Wall is here very original in comparrison with the comercial Badalin................from Beijing to Guilin (and I suggest Yangshuo and even beter small places around Yangsuo 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 boat trips: 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 Yangsuo there are enough small travel agencies who can help you.......And in 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............if you have more questions or need more details .....let me know regards,Martin

[jamsin]

There has the direct train from Beijing to Guilin, why choose 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!