3 - 3 1/2 weeks in China

My husband and I are planning a trip to China and would like to spend around 3 l/2 weeks there. I%26#39;ve played around with an itinerary and would really appreciate any input, suggestions or deletions. We are independent travelers in our early 60%26#39;s and are in good health. From everything I%26#39;ve read, I don%26#39;t think we%26#39;ll need guides for most places. We don%26#39;t mind hiring drivers or guides when needed, but really do enjoy discovering places and things ourselves. We love the adventure, but are always cautious. Also, we hate to keep moving from one place to another every day or two, so the ideal time at each place for us is around 3-4 days. But, we do understand that if there%26#39;s not much to see, then less days is an option.

I%26#39;ve listed the places and amount of time that we would like to spend at each location:

Arrive Beijing and spend 4 nights

2 nights Xian

4 nights Hong Kong

2-3 nights Guilin/Long Sheng

2 nights Yangshuo

1-2 nights Suzhou %26amp; Tongli

3-4 nights Shanghai %26amp; then home

We are open to all ideas and opinions and really do appreciate any advice. We%26#39;ve had wonderful experiences with Trip Advisor forums in the past and have done some wonderful trips because of all of you.

Thank you.

3 - 3 1/2 weeks in China

Not bad. You are already moving more often than you say you like. Most people aren%26#39;t going to want to spend 4 nights in Xi%26#39;an, but you sounds like the type who would enjoy exploring some of the places most people skip.

You have a few more days to use than you%26#39;ve planned, but you might consider dropping Hong Kong. It%26#39;s a nice city with lots to do, but not so much to see. Dropping Hong Kong would avoid the minor issue of needing a double-entry visa.

Otherwise, I would add a couple of nights to Beijing (or shift a night from Hong Kong if necessary). Four nights only gives you 3 days, and you need 4 days in Beijing just to see the main must-see things.

I%26#39;d also spend more time in Yangshuo than Guilin, and I would add a day or two here to relax if the weather is likely to be good and you have the time to spare.

3 - 3 1/2 weeks in China

Thanks Travellevret,

We are only thinking of staying in Xian for 2 nights (not 4). Do you think we should spend more time in Yangshuo and less in Guilin and why. Also, should we increase Beijin to 5 nights and less in Hong Kong or Shanghai.

Also, we are planning on going in September. How is the weather in these places?

Thank you for helping.

It can be hot in the beginning of September, but cools off. Of course it will be hotter in the south. This is a pretty good time to visit China.

Guilin is just a big city surrounded by impressive landscape--Yangshuo is a smaller town in the same landscape so is probably the better place to spend more time--though it lacks upscale hotels.

I%26#39;d put HKG last - and fly home from there to save the hassle of a double-entry visa and the time/cost of those ';international'; flights. So I recommend BJ-Xi%26#39;an by train, then fly to Shanghai (4 nights only necessary if you plan to visit Hangzhou or a water town - in fact I%26#39;d suggest 2 nights Shanghai/2 nights Hangzhou/2 nights Suzhou or Xitang) Then 2 nights Guilin (visit longsheng) and 3 nights Yangshuo and fly to Guangzhou or Shenzhen; train to Hong Kong.

Pepole go to Guilin-Yangshuo for the landscape, therefore it is better appreciated in Yangshuo than Guilin which is a city.

Whe I add you days it seems to me that you have 4-5 days left. you may consider going to Yunnan and cutting one day in Guilin and Suzhou to make that detour more enjoyable.

Thanks Travellevet, Zhuhai2007 %26amp; JP DeM,

I%26#39;m starting to get a bit overwhelmed!!!! I didn%26#39;t even think of going to the Yunnan Province, but it looks and sounds beautiful and so interesting. How far is it from Guilin and is it worth doing for 3-4 days? Can we fly there from Guilin?

Also, should we shorten Hong Kong? Another question too, it seems like we should drop Guilin and spend more time in Yangshuo. We%26#39;re really not interested in another city being that we will be in Beijing, Shanghai and HK.

My only concern is not backtracking and zigzagging across China. As I%26#39;ve said we have 3 1/2 weeks (which I know isn%26#39;t a lot for such a large country), but do want to see as much as we can without having to travel every 2 days. 3-4 nights at each place is our ideal situation.

I appreciate all of your help and understanding and know there are probably so many places we haven%26#39;t even thought of to visit. I know we have to see all the touristy sights, but we really love a lot of off the beaten path places where the locals enjoy.

Keep the ideas coming.

Thanks again.

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