China Travel Forum

[johne]

Hey guys,
Advice needed please! I've travelled twice before in China and feel like I've done a lot of the tourist spots. I've done the South West circuit (Yunnan, Yangshou, Southern but not Northern Sichuan), Hong Kong, Beijing, Three Gorges, Xian, and Tibet and am now going back for a third trip.
I'm trying to come up with a 2-3 week trip starting and finishing in Beijing and taking in something different.
Ideas I've had so far are:
Xinjiang (possible with Inner Mongolia and Gansu)
Fujian
The North East
Tour of the historic/sacred sites 'near' Beijing (Kaifeng, Pingyao, Huangshan etc)
Can anyone give me any recommendations or experiences? Any advice would be really appreciated.
Forgot to say, going in a week and a half's time!
Cheers

[kammal]

It might help to know what you've liked most so far. The sites you mention around Beijing are worthwhile to tour, but kind of fall in the catagory of 'more of the same'. Pingyao is kind of a dusty less charming version of Lijiang, for example, but this would be a good tour if you really liked Beijing and Xi'an and are into Chinese history.
The North East could be a great tour but I htink it is the attraction is not really obvious. I've found places like Shenyang, Dandong, Harbin to have a lot to offer. Part of the appeal to me comes from the fact that it reminds me of China in the 1980s, the proximity to North Korea, the old Russian/Japanese colonial history, and the influence on the architecture and the food. Good for a taste of China away from the tourist crowds.
I think Xinjiang is the most exciting of these options.
I have no experience with Fujian, but you should already have some idea of the huge difference between north and south China--much greener, more lively temples etc.

[Guest]

Huang Shan mountain
ancient villages in that area
garden in Suzhou
water town in Zhejiang province
then shanghai..then go back to beijing.
this iternary will help you

[jhone]

Thanks for the quick response! I agree that Xinjiang sounds the most interesting but was thinking it might be a little difficult to get to - 60 hours by train from Beijing and I'm not sure if there are any obvious sites in between.
North East also sounds interesting, I have the impression that there are some good wildlife reserves there too?
I tend to like the fantastic scenery and more rustic China as opposed to the cities. The history is always fascinating but I've noticed is often linked to the larger cities...

[Richard]

On the way to Xinjiang, it would make sense to stop off in Dunhuang.
There is something like a national park in Jilin--I've never been.
Generally, I think the south is more scenic and rustic--or at least the rustic is more accessibl