Hello!
A friend and I are visiting China for the first time in the summer.
We have decided to go with an organised tour provided by
.
We have narrowed it down to either the Tour but here comes our dilemma...
The tours only give us the option of experiencing either Guilin/Li River/Yanshuo OR the Yangtze Cruise.
So...
Which would people recommend and why?
I look forward to reading your replies!
Elaine
PS If anyone has done either of the aforementioned tours - I'd love to hear about them! Reply to this Hello Elaine 😊
Please send the tour names to those interested via the private messaging system. I snipped them, to discourage spammers from promoting tours on the forums. Sorry to inconveninece you like this.
Mel
Reply to this No problem! It is the spammers who are to blame, not you. 😊
Reply to this My wife and I did both trips on our own and would definately recommend the Li River option. We were disappointed in the Yangzee River cruise as most of the river route has been demolished to make way for the rising water level. The river and surroundings are dirty and unattractive except for the last day in the gorges.
Guilin has many sights and is an interesting city if you are allowed a few days to enjoy it. The Li River is very scenic. Yangshuo is a comparitively small city most of which remains unspoiled by progress. Unfortunately most tours we witnessed had only a few hours in which to visit before loading back on buses to Guilin. What a shame. If allowed the time skip the directed tour path through the tourist vendors and detour a few streets to the large Food Market for an interesting experience. For a quick, tasty and inexpensive meal seek out the Dumpling Palace. If you have the option stay a night or two in Yangshou and take a local cooking class, or a guided tour on bike or foot to the surrounding areas.
Enjoy
Reply to this As a further thought, I would encourage you to skip the tour and do the Guilin/Li River/Yangshuo trip by yourselves. Your hotel in Guilin or a youth hostel can arange day tours in Guilin and the Li River cruise to Yangshuo. There are several inexpensive hotels in Yangshuo. Talk to other travelers at the local coffee shops to get names of guides who can drive you from Yangshuo to Longsheng for a memorable couple of days surrounded by picturesque rice terraces. The driver can pick you up the next day and return you to Guilin.
Or, if you skip the rice terraces there are clean efficient and inexpensive buses that return to Guilin from Yangshuo.
If you need more info email me and I will forward the hotels we stayed in.
Roy
Reply to this Thanks Roy - I think from what I've heard about the Yangtze Cruise (industrial scenery + being encouraged to join in talent shows!) I think we are definitely veering towards the Li River option. Any other tips/handy hints for us first timers???
Reply to this Hello Elaine, I would like to disagree here. Yangtze: although the dam has risen the water level there is still a VERY impressive scenery to enjoy and you get the chance to see Chinese life up front. It is a two to three day cruise with side excursions (we did a cruise in a smaller boat up a side gorge was through very steep cliff faces, rice fields, bamboo forest, small villages, a fantastic experience). The lower part is mountainous and rural. True, closer to Chongqing there is more industry and bigger cities, but that has an interest too. The Li cruise is about three hours, indeed the scenery is beuatiful but it is a completly different thing, and you should compare it to the side excursion of the Yangtze. Personally I found the Guilin/Yangzhou area too much explolited for tourism and the cruise was overpriced in my opinion.
As for the activities on the Yangtze cruise boat you don't need to participate but I must say that everyone on board took very good care of us, it was very well organized and great Chinese food. In addition we had the chance to talk a lot to the guides, it is usually difficult to talk to Chinese people if you don't speak the language but the guides spoke very good English and were very open and friendly. If this is the first visit to China I would definitely recommend the Yangtze cruise as it gives you a good introduction to the Chinese history, nature and everyday life.
enjoy your trip
Reply to this Thanks everyone for your replies.
We have now decided on the Guilin/Yangshuo and the Li River option as the area looks stunning.
However, if we enjoy our first trip to China (which I'm sure we will...) the Yangtze Cruise is definitely on the agenda for next time!
Thanks again for all your help,
Elaine
Reply to this Just wanna to say you made the right decision! Both are good options, but Guilin and Li River are one of the top domenstic tourist destinations in China. So even Chinese people is chosing Guilin as their vacation spot, you can't go wrong. Don't forget to check out the stunning show called "Impression, Liu Sanjie" (印象刘三姐) China's largest outdoor performance on a natural stage setting formed by the Li River and 12 peaks.
Reply to this Cheers! We had the same opinions from people we met at the Destinations Travel Show.
Can't wait to go now... Any other advice for us first times is much appreciated!
Reply to this 1. BE OPEN MINDED! Get ready for the culture shock of your lifetime! It is a good thing. This is why we travel.
2. Learn a little Chinese. Not too many people are going to speak English unless you are in Beijing.
3. I am a big food buff. Street food is the best food. Of course that could sometimes do a number on your tummy. So take the dukoral vaccine before you go.
4. Another food point, China is food heaven if u are opened minded!! But don't feel like you have to push yourself. I have eaten nasty things, but dog meat I will NOT touch.
5. Brush up on your Chinese etiquette. For example, tipping is not common in China unless you are traveling with an English speaking tour group.
6. Be comfortable with having your space invaded. 1.3 billion people! not lot of room.
7. When you buy things, start the bartering at 10% of the vendor price. Then work up to about 20%. So if the vendor is asking for 100 RMB for a Tshirt, offer 10 RMB to start and buy it for 20 RMB. Accept the fact u probably will still get ripped off. But hey, you just got a shirt for about 3.2 USD.
8. Try to chat with the locals. U will be surprised with what you learn.
I love traveling in China. The history, the culture, the people, the food... It will be sensory overload for you. China is worth going back a few times since it is so big and so many cool spots to see.
Reply to this Ruby,
You are right on with your description and advice. China can be a culture shock but the reason we independent travelers enjoy the experiences so much is for the challenges and exposure to other cultures.
Great comments.
Roy
Reply to this If I were you, i will choose Li River. Guilin is the most famous for its beautiful landscape and Li river scenery. Do some sightseeing by booking a tour
now. Reply to this Dear Elaine
I Suggest you choose Li River& Yangshuo !
Have good trip in china !
Cheers
Reply to this Lijiang but acutally has been commercialized and different a little bit from what it used to be in the past. Similar to most tourist destinations, more and more business but less and less spirituality.
Seeraa International
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