Help with itinerary

Dear fellow posters, Flights, dates are set and even some reservations have been made but I still would like your advice. I fly into Beijing and have 6 nights reserved at a hotel. I fly out of Shanghai and have 4 nights already reserved. That leaves a total of 5 nights ';to play with';. I was thinking of taking the sleeper train to Xian, thus 1 night, then staying in a hotel in Xian for 1 night, then taking a sleeper train elsewhere for a night, thus leaving 2 nights. Being my first time in China, should I simply ad 1 more night in Beijing and 1 more night in Shanghai and be done with it? I keep reading about the distances involved and wasting so much time in transit. What are your thoughts about those 2 extra days? Thanks for the advice ahead of time.

Help with itinerary

After Xian you could go to Hangzhou %26amp; spend the 2 extra nights there %26amp; then on to Shanghai.

Instead of another sleeper train fly as the cost won%26#39;t be too much extra.

Hangzhou is very pretty %26amp; is centered around the West Lake. Also well known for it%26#39;s tea.

From Hangzhou to Shanghai it is 1 %26amp; 1/2 hours on the fast modern D trains. Get your hotel to book a ticket for you when you arrive.

Or after Xian you could go to Suzhou which is famous for it%26#39;s gardens. Although Suzhou is usually done as a say trip from Shanghai.

Help with itinerary

It depends on the sort of thing you like to do.

You are doing 2 big cities so you may consider the countryside to see another aspect of China. That would involve replacing Xi%26#39;An with Yangshuo

http://www.yangers.com/