China in 11 days

Hello Alexandre 😊

I moved this to the Asia forum. Hopefully it will get more replies here.

Mel Reply to this

But this is the thing. I just have from 01/02/2009 till 11/02/2009 to see Beijing, Xi'an, Yangshuo and a little bit of Hong Kong. I just have these days anything more or less since my ticket is already booked. I just can change a few things but anything more, can cancel the trip to Macau or stay a day longer in Beijing. but the important is I'll need to be in Hong Kong on 11/02 to take my flight back.

I have made some adjusments as you proposed "greek gal". Thanks for all help.


01/02 16:09 Brussels – Paris – Beijing TGV + Air France
AF 7186 (01/02 16:09 - 17:46) + AF 126 (01/02 18:55 - 11:50)

02/02 11:50 Beijing
Arrive at 11:50 in Beijing airport. Free afternoon in Beijing to see the city center.

03/02 Beijing
On the way to the Great wall, you can visit the Olympic stadium.(not allow enter in so far.) Then excursion to the Great Wall – the landmark of China. It is one of the most amazing feats of manmade construction on earth visible from outer space. Then drive to the Ming Tombs.

04/02 Beijing

Tiananmen Square
Forbidden City // Mao-mausoleum
Summer Palace
Lama Temple
Temple of Heaven
Bell and Drum Towers
Big Bell Temple
Hutong
Liulichang
Panjiayuan Market
Tanzhe Temple
Xiushui Dongjie
Water Cube (National Aquatics Center))
Opera House

05/02 Beijing – Xi’an FLIGHT
Flight to Xi’an–the great ancient capital and the eastern end of the Silk Road.
Visit the Xian Old City Wall, the Bell Tower, the Stone Tablet Forest and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda which was built in 652 AD. It contains a large column of Buddhist scriptures which were obtained from India by the eminent monk Xuanzang. Next the Big Mosque.

06/02 Xi’an
If I go with group: Eastern Tour: (Terracota army, Tomb of Shi Huang, Banpo Neo Kithic Village, Huaqing Pool). A full day visit includes the unparalleled highlight of an excursion to the incredible Terra-Cotta Warriors and Horses. Added highlights are visits to the Huaqing Hot Spring – a former resort area especially for the emperor.
If I go alone: 914 and Tourist Bus 5 (306) at the East Square of Xian Railway Station (BIG GREEN BUS)

07/02 Xi”an  Guilin  Yangshuo FLIGHT
From terracota army to airport 80km
Terracota army is open from 8:00-18:00
Taxi to airport can cost 80-150RMB (18 €)
Boat trip starts every morning from Guilin to Yangshuo (dont use return) ask for the chinese trip is cheaper. Morning cruise down the winding Li River to Yangshou, viewing the spectacular scenery as it reflects in the crystal clear water. You can explore Yangshou a small town with many stalls selling traditional Chinese articles and hire a bike. Visit the Elephant Trunk Hill, the Fubo Hill, and the Reed Flute Cave and specially the rice fields

08/02 Yangshuo
Free day to explorer rice fields and hire a bike.

09/02 Yangshuo  Guilin  Shenzhen  Hong Kong FLIGHT 
By bus, ferry boat or metro
Free day and then take the bus back from Yangshuo to Guilin one hour bus then flight to Guilin-Shenzhen.

10/02 Hong Kong  Macau  Hong Kong
Take bus to Shenzhen train station, then by train to Hong Kong, it will save you a lot of money.
OR take a bus/train/metro/ferry to Hong Kong. The cheapest solution should be airport bus#330 (20RMB) to LuoHu train station. Then just cross the border and take the KCR .
There is a ferry from Hong Kong to Shenzhen, it is very fast a very easy. It beats the bus for sure and I think is probably much easier even than the train.
The skyline of Hong Kong is one of the best in the world. See the stunning Hong Kong Island skyline from Kowloon – one of the best view is from the Avenue of Stars at Tsim Sha Tsui. Guided Walk Hong Kong Tourism Board offers many free walking tours, including the Nature Kaleidoscope Walk and Architecture Walk. Victoria Peak Get a stunning view of Hong Kong Island on Victoria Peak with the giant, wok shaped Peak Tower

11/02 23:35 Hong Kong – Paris Flight at 23:35 back to Paris
Hong Kong Island: Spiegeltorens: Bank of China, Victoriapeak, Aberdeen, Stanley Market
Kowloon: Railway Clock Tower, Cultureel Centrum (N° 20), Historisch Museum, Hotel in Knight Garden, Wetenschapsmuseum, Nathan Road, Temple Street, Tempel van Tin Han (N°23), Ommuurde park van Kowloon City (N°26)

12/02 07:44 Paris – Brussels TGV from Paris to Brussels
AF 185 (11/02 23:35 – 05:55) (12/02) Hong Kong – Paris
AF 7181 ( 12/02 07:44 - 08:59) (12/02) Paris - Brussels
Reply to this

hi alexandre,
we just got back from china a month ago. we didnt run around too much- because we wanted to get the feel of each place. i would definetly suggest that in:
Beijing: you go to an art colony called 798. It is really a place where chinese artist can express themselves.i think its in the fourth ring.
everything is very far apart so make sure you have a map and even a chinese english small hand dictionary . we did and it helped.
We took a tour of the hutongs and we were taken into a house- it was a very special experience


XIan -we were there for 2 days: first day went to mount hua shan which is about 2 hours outside of xian but worth every second! - second day we went to the Terracota army. a great two days. we decided not to go to the tomb of the emporer who built the army because it is just a hill!

My husband went to work in Shenzhen and i stayed in shanghai , we were told that shenzen is great for shopping but nothing else. so i didnt go.

Macau - we took a hydro boat for a 4 hour stay of gambling - it was fun, we didnt see the city because it was night but we heard mixed reveiws some people loved the city others thought it was a waste of time. if you go to macau buy a round trip boat ticket because they sell out really quickly and you can get stuck. and have to buy boat tickets from scalpers

Also in general - the chinese dont speak english!! whenever you leave your hotel make sure you get the hotel card with its address in chinese make sure you have the addresses or names in chinese on a card it will help if you get lost. bring on each outing some toilet paper and hand liquid soap and of course bottled water.
i wrote a blog maybe it will help.
http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/brenda46/
enjoy ...it is an amazing place!!!
Reply to this

I'd like to say thanks, thanks, thanks to Laetitia, Tony Sun, Brenda, Inga Siden and Mell.
I have made a lot of cuts following your advice. It's indeed a short travel but as I wrote, I don't have more days to stay and my ticket is already booked. I'd love to stay more but itsn't possible since I need go back to work on 13/02/09. I'll be leaving to China on 01/02/09 and I'll fly back on 11/02/09 from Hong Kong to Paris.
I have changed a lot my program and after reading the comments, I'm thinking in cut Yangshuo/Guilin and stay only in Beijing, Xi'an and then go to Hong Kong for the last few days. I'd like to go to macau not to glamble but because I'm born in Brazil and it was colonized also by the portuguese and i'd like to see what they have done, which kind of influence they left behind in Asia.

This is not a problem for me if I'll do this a little bit fast, I just want to see somenthing. Unfortunatelly I'll not have too much time to enjoy but I just hope to see somenthing from Asia.
That's is all.

So here is the update version of my route, should I cute Guilin and Yangshuo ?

thanks a lot folks

Cheers

Alexandre


01/02 16:09 Brussels - Paris - Beijing TGV + Air France
AF 7186 (01/02 16:09 - 17:46) + AF 126 (01/02 18:55 - 11:50)

02/02 11:50 Beijing
Arrive at 11:50 in Beijing airport.  Free afternoon in Beijing to see the city center.

Try to see on 02/02 afternoon and on 05/02 hole day

I would replace Lama Temple with Confucius Temple, or see both. They are about two blocks away from each other. Confucius Temple is quieter, less touristed.

Summer Palace
The Summer Palace is located on the western edge of Beijing, between the fourth and fifth ring roads, close to the western hills, 12km from central Beijing. It is not expensive to get there by taxi and does not take long. Use a map to tell the driver you want to be taken to the north gate if you want to follow our suggested route through the park, or ask your hotel receptionist to add 'north gate' to 'Summer Palace' written in chinese script on a piece of paper to show the taxi driver.

Water Cube (National Aquatics Center)
Footbal stadium
The Beijing National Aquatics Center (simplified Chinese: 北京国家游泳中心; traditional Chinese: 北京國家游泳中心), also known as the National Aquatics Center (国家游泳中心), better known as the Water Cube (水立方), is an aquatics center that was built alongside Beijing National Stadium in the Olympic Green for the swimming competitions of the 2008 Summer Olympics. Despite its nickname, the building is a cuboid (rectangular box), not a cube.

Tanzhe Temple
The Tanzhe Temple (literally "Temple of Pool and Zhe Tree") is a Buddhist temple situated near China National Highway 108 in the Mentougou District, a mountainous area to the west of Beijing.

03/02 Beijing
On the way to the Great wall, you can visit the Olympic stadium.(not allow enter in so far.) Then excursion to the Great Wall - the landmark of China. It is one of the most amazing feats of manmade construction on earth visible from outer space. Then drive to the Ming Tombs.

04/02 Beijing
Walking distance:
Early morning .... Hutong - Chinese people wake up early (7AM at the latest) so this is perfect time to walk around hutong. you got nice one located behind Tiananmen
Walk by Opera House
and then through Tiananmen Square
9:00am Mao-mausoleum
10:00am Forbidden City
From there you would need to take a cab
Lama Temple
Bell and Drum Towers
Big Bell Temple
By the time you leave those sites, it would be easily 2 to 3PM in the afternoon so you should manage to arrive on time at the Temple of Heaven (at least 30mn drive from the bell and drum tower)
Keep the Panjiayuan Market for the last part of your day as it closes later and is not far from the temple of heaven...

05/02 Beijing - Xi’an
Try to see more things in the morning in Beijing (see details in the first day)

Flight to Xi’an-the great ancient capital and the eastern end of the Silk Road.
Visit the Xian Old City Wall, the Bell Tower, the Stone Tablet Forest and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda which was built in 652 AD. It contains a large column of Buddhist scriptures which were obtained from India by the eminent monk Xuanzang. Next the Big Mosque.

06/02 Xi’an From terracota army to airport 80km
Terracota army is open from 8:00-18:00

If I go with group: Eastern Tour: (Terracota army, Tomb of Shi Huang, Banpo Neo Kithic Village, Huaqing Pool). A full day visit includes the unparalleled highlight of an excursion to the incredible Terra-Cotta Warriors and Horses. Added highlights are visits to the Huaqing Hot Spring - a former resort area especially for the emperor.

If I go alone: 914 and Tourist Bus 5 (306) at the East Square of Xian Railway Station (BIG GREEN BUS)

Xi’an City Wall (Chengqiang)

07/02 Xi”an  Guilin
Boat trip starts every morning from Guilin to Yangshuo (dont use return) ask for the chinese trip is cheaper. Morning cruise down the winding Li River to Yangshou, viewing the spectacular scenery as it reflects in the crystal clear water. You can explore Yangshou a small town with many stalls selling traditional Chinese articles and hire a bike. Visit the Elephant Trunk Hill, the Fubo Hill, and the Reed Flute Cave and specially the rice fields

08/02 Guilin - Yangshuo
Free day to explorer rice fields and hire a bike.

09/02 Yangshuo  Guilin  Shenzhen  Hong Kong
By bus, ferry boat or metro

Free day and then take the bus back from Yangshuo to Guilin one hour bus then flight to Guilin-Shenzhen.
Take bus to Shenzhen train station, then by train to Hong Kong, it will save you a lot of money.
OR take a bus/train/metro/ferry to Hong Kong. The cheapest solution should be airport bus#330 (20RMB) to LuoHu train station. Then just cross the border and take the KCR .
 There is a ferry from Hong Kong to Shenzhen, it is very fast a very easy. It beats the bus for sure and I think is probably much easier even than the train.

10/02 Hong Kong  Macau  Hong Kong
The skyline of Hong Kong is one of the best in the world. See the stunning Hong Kong Island skyline from Kowloon - one of the best view is from the Avenue of Stars at Tsim Sha Tsui. Guided Walk Hong Kong Tourism Board offers many free walking tours, including the Nature Kaleidoscope Walk and Architecture Walk. Victoria Peak Get a stunning view of Hong Kong Island on Victoria Peak with the giant, wok shaped Peak Tower.

11/02 23:35 Hong Kong - Paris Flight at 23:35 back to Paris
Hong Kong Island: Spiegeltorens: Bank of China, Victoriapeak, Aberdeen, Stanley Market
Kowloon: Railway Clock Tower, Cultureel Centrum (N° 20), Historisch Museum, Hotel in Knight Garden, Wetenschapsmuseum, Nathan Road, Temple Street, Tempel van Tin Han (N°23), Ommuurde park van Kowloon City (N°26)

12/02 07:44 Paris - Brussels TGV from Paris to Brussels
AF 185 (11/02 23:35 - 05:55) (12/02) Hong Kong - Paris
AF 7181 ( 12/02 07:44 - 08:59) (12/02) Paris - Brussels






Reply to this

To be frank, I personally disagree to this original itinerary and the adjusted one by one blogger above. Indeed China is a huge country with splendid and uncountable cultural, historic and natural attractions. 4-day Beijing and one-day Xian are both stupid arrangements. Personally suggestion is that, to to most newcomers, Beijing surely is the core of whole travel, In beijing, more attractions are needed to be visited if you want to get more from Beijing. Beijing's ancient architectures, Beijing's custom, Beijing's life exploration and others are essential too much for your worthy tour. At least 5 days must be spent in Beijing. By the way, Beijing has the largest number of world cultural and historical heritages in the world. The forbbiden city if you want to learn thoroughly , two days are at least needed.

Xian is the most famous ancient capital of China, one day in Xian is really stupid arrangement , at least 4 days. and the other two days assigned like this, one day in Yangshuo and then directly transfer to Hongkong. actually Macau is not so good as Hongkong to some extent except its gambling industry.

Reply to this

Glad you are going to Macau, you will like it. We saw all that you plan on seeing in Hong Kong. Victoria Peak was extra-special at night. Also quite neat are the light show. They do reccommend you see it while taking a cruise, but we saw it from the Kowloon side. We think we got the best view ever. Quite by accident we went into a shopping mall just a few feet from the dock for the ferry. We decided to try California Pizza Kitchen. They are on the second floor. What we hadn't expected was the floor to ceiling windows facing the harbor. We sat by the window. The light show seemed to be just for us! food was pretty good too. You can easily do Hong Kong on your own. It is a very well organized city. Definitely British influenced. Loved Xi'an,...and the warriors, and also walked the City Wall. Another great place. I am totally in love with Beijing. You will love it too. I would reccomend Simatai as the part of the wall to go to, but too far for as much time as you have. A second best wall is at Mutianyu. I like traveling as much as possible independently, but I would recommend a guide in Beijing for at least part of your time there. They would know exact routes, times, and you name it that a local would know to have you make the best use of your time. I have the name of a very reliable smaller company in Beijing. I have used them in the past and know of others who have also used them. Having only recently joined this website, I don't know if I can give their name and website or not, but if you ask, I will do so......just think that it would be money well spent to have someone organize something for you persoanlly. Hey! you didn't say anything about eating while in China! Try the dim sum in Hong Kong! Hot pot, Beijing duck, and dumplings in Beijing are a must. Reply to this

It just came to me! You are going to be in China during the Chinese New Year! (Spring Festival) Lucky opportunity! Reply to this

Yes it's the Chinese New Year. I just hope that it will not be too cold :-( Reply to this

Tony!!! I'll for sure try the portuguese pie, in Portugal this is called "pastel de natal" or "pastel de belém".

Do you think that I should go to Guilin-Yangshuo even if this is for a short period ? Is worth ? I heard that the cruise that leaves in the morning from Guilin to Yangshuo is very nice, even if is cold there.

This is really exciting, I'm dreaming with htis trip even if I just have these few days there.

Thanks a lot for all your advice,

Cheers

Alex Reply to this

before your decision, You had better have a cautious selection, which will give you more convenience Reply to this