2-3 weeks in China
Discussion
Having not done China yet we (my wife and I) are looking to go next year. Obviously it's a large country with lots to do and see. I loathe the idea of an organised tour but with such large distances to cover it seems 'easier' to take this option.
We are experienced travellers having taken 6 months off to see Thailand/NZ/Aus a couple of years back. However a less 'backpacker-y' approach appeals this time round.
I'd be interested in hearing experiences of people who've holidayed in China, what was good and bad, how you got about etc
Cheers
We are experienced travellers having taken 6 months off to see Thailand/NZ/Aus a couple of years back. However a less 'backpacker-y' approach appeals this time round.
I'd be interested in hearing experiences of people who've holidayed in China, what was good and bad, how you got about etc
Cheers
I'd agree on the tour route. It's a great theory to get out there and find your way around under your own steam, I did it last year but God it's difficult! There are tours aimed at the non-backpacker end of the market that can cover the huge distances required and get you to the key sights plus a flavour of traditional(ish) China.
Something like this: http://www.gapadventures.com/tour/acrg - is a good option if you've only got a short time and to be totally honest out of the places I visited these ones would be many of my prime recommendations for China. I'd also say Shaolin monastery and the area around there are worth a look too!
I literally turned up with a flight into Beijing at 6am and went from there. It was often difficult to organise/arrange transport unless you could find an English speaking tour guide/hotel staff around to help out. Most train stations and bus stations don't have English speaking staff outside the main cities or at least they don't want to use their English skills to help you out it seems!
It is possible to travel round independently, but honestly it was a lot tougher than I imagined it would be. Hong Kong is of course easier than anywhere else though. I regularly ended up travelling late at night or having to spend extra days in places due to not being able to get trains etc out. You can't get tickets without being in the place where you want to depart from either which adds to the fun.
If you want me to have a look at flight prices and on the tours too, just drop me an email and I'll have a look for you
Something like this: http://www.gapadventures.com/tour/acrg - is a good option if you've only got a short time and to be totally honest out of the places I visited these ones would be many of my prime recommendations for China. I'd also say Shaolin monastery and the area around there are worth a look too!
I literally turned up with a flight into Beijing at 6am and went from there. It was often difficult to organise/arrange transport unless you could find an English speaking tour guide/hotel staff around to help out. Most train stations and bus stations don't have English speaking staff outside the main cities or at least they don't want to use their English skills to help you out it seems!
It is possible to travel round independently, but honestly it was a lot tougher than I imagined it would be. Hong Kong is of course easier than anywhere else though. I regularly ended up travelling late at night or having to spend extra days in places due to not being able to get trains etc out. You can't get tickets without being in the place where you want to depart from either which adds to the fun.
If you want me to have a look at flight prices and on the tours too, just drop me an email and I'll have a look for you
I think to be on the safe side go with a tour operator... otherwise prepare yourself for some unusual food (snake, some huge rat type thing and whatever else they can keep in cages) but that is prob the China experience.. so just prepare yourself for that anyway.
Although.. food aside I think I would still go with a tour just for safety reasons but that really depends on what part of china you are going to.
In Hong Kong I am fine to go wonder around myself and speak to people if I needed to (only because I go back once every 3 years and I can speak Cantonese).But in China I would have no hope what so ever and prob end up somewhere I do not want to be.
Oh just so you are aware... the public toilets out there are filthy and er.. not a typical toilet you will be used to..
So take lots of tissue and those disinfectant liquid things and prepare to squat or hold until you get to your hotel!!
Although.. food aside I think I would still go with a tour just for safety reasons but that really depends on what part of china you are going to.
In Hong Kong I am fine to go wonder around myself and speak to people if I needed to (only because I go back once every 3 years and I can speak Cantonese).But in China I would have no hope what so ever and prob end up somewhere I do not want to be.
Oh just so you are aware... the public toilets out there are filthy and er.. not a typical toilet you will be used to..
So take lots of tissue and those disinfectant liquid things and prepare to squat or hold until you get to your hotel!!
I think an organised tour is the best way - Went on a tour with Cox & Kings a few years ago (All the tour companies do trips I think - we went with them for the balance we wanted - better hotels and the places and way it did things)
There were about 20 on our trip, mostly couples, we had a local guide in each place we visited and a tour manager from Hong Kong for the duration.
As I recall we went to (excuse any dodgy spelling!):
Beijing - the usual places - although we visited the Great Wall at somewhere further from the city than many tours - longer journey, but it was very quiet - our group were almost the only ones there.
Xian - Terra cotta army - weather here was awful for us (grey and misty/rain) - and the worst local guide of our stay. Other than that very good visit - apparently it is only recently they have let you take your own piccies in the hall with the army.
Yangzte river cruise - from Chongqing down to the dam - this was great, interesting to see their spin on it and what they were (or were not!) doing about the raising water level...
Shanghai - we were there a week after the GP so still a lot of stuff about it around. Visited Souzhu(sp?) by train and then went around canals there
Guilin - river trip down Li river - amazing scenery
finally
couple of days in Hong Kong (which was an extension)
all of which was about 2 1/2 weeks. Obviously you need to pick the tour that goes where you want and then the operator at the price etc level you want
Overall a great holiday and interesting to see how China was becoming comercialised - there was a lot of work going on at the time in Beijing in preparation for the Olympics - roads etc, but still the swarms of cyclists without lights!
There were about 20 on our trip, mostly couples, we had a local guide in each place we visited and a tour manager from Hong Kong for the duration.
As I recall we went to (excuse any dodgy spelling!):
Beijing - the usual places - although we visited the Great Wall at somewhere further from the city than many tours - longer journey, but it was very quiet - our group were almost the only ones there.
Xian - Terra cotta army - weather here was awful for us (grey and misty/rain) - and the worst local guide of our stay. Other than that very good visit - apparently it is only recently they have let you take your own piccies in the hall with the army.
Yangzte river cruise - from Chongqing down to the dam - this was great, interesting to see their spin on it and what they were (or were not!) doing about the raising water level...
Shanghai - we were there a week after the GP so still a lot of stuff about it around. Visited Souzhu(sp?) by train and then went around canals there
Guilin - river trip down Li river - amazing scenery
finally
couple of days in Hong Kong (which was an extension)
all of which was about 2 1/2 weeks. Obviously you need to pick the tour that goes where you want and then the operator at the price etc level you want
Overall a great holiday and interesting to see how China was becoming comercialised - there was a lot of work going on at the time in Beijing in preparation for the Olympics - roads etc, but still the swarms of cyclists without lights!
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