Need advise from experienced travellers on 8 days China trip.
I will be in Japan in first week of June. I have 8-10 days with me to travel China and head towards Thailand.
I need advice on following:
1. Which Japanese city is best to travel to China. No ferries considering I have less time. I am planning for Osaka or Fukouka to Beijing
2. Considering that I reach Beijing first, I am planning Beijing(2days)>Chengdu(2days)>Shanghai(1day)>Hongkong(2days)
Many thanks in advance for your advise
Reply to this I have no advice regarding from which city to fly to Beijing. As your time in China is extremely valuable, it would worth simplifying logistics by taking day tours:
Beijing - day one to the Ming Tombs and Great Wall and day 2 to the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace.
Xian - day one to see the Terra Cotta Warriors and perhaps on museum in the city and day two to walk the city wall and see neighborhoods and museums
Shanghai - one day is pushing it
Chengdu - at least a full day to see the pandas, if that's why you are going there. I would pick Xian over Chengdu.
Hong Kong - as many days as you have left.
It may be faster and cheaper to take the overnight soft bed sleeper trains that take you from city center to city center...that's what we did.
Reply to this Assuming you're planning to fly between these places, 8'days is really pushing it to do all that. Shanghai, Hong Kong and Beijing are immense cities that need more than a day. I would take out Chengdu and just focus in those three cities. There is so much to see already.....we spent 4 days in Hong Kong and missed so much. We have blogs on both Hong Kong and the four months we lived in Shanghai if you want to read them. Shanghai see Yuyuan gardens for some of the old, jingan temple, the bund during the day and at night and a trip to one of the massive buildings. You can go up the towers to the bars at the top for the price of a drink rather than paying for the viewing platform.
Reply to this Thanks Kris & Kate and Bob for your advice.
Bob, you are right I love pandas so I can't miss Chengdu.
I am planning> Beijing>Xian>Chengdu>
From Chengdu, I have 2 options, either to go Shanghai and then to Hong kong.
The problem is Chengdu to Shanghai is close to 1 day travel and Shanghai to HK is also 1 day travel. I can take flight in one of those but not on both as I am under budget. Looks like I will have to miss Shanghai.
Reply to this Although Hong Kong is more expensive than Shanghai, the airfares from Hong Kong to Bangkok are half the price (Air Asia)...or you could fly directly from either city to Chiang Mai, Thailand and work your way south. Both are amazing cities. You can't see everything, so this will give you a reason to return to China. I've spent many years in Thailand so if you need advice about traveling there, let me know.
Reply to this Hi Bob, thanks for your expert advice. I booked ticket from HK to Chiang Mai.
And I absolutely agree to your comment that I cant see everything and there will be a reason to come back.
Since you are expert on Thailand, I would like your advice on my Thailand trip. I will start from Chiang Mai and visit the tiger reserve and few other places, head towards Bangkok and stay 1 day and another day in Pattaya. Then I will head towards Phuket and stay for 3 days as I love beaches.
Is there any other place that I need to add on if it is on the way, I dont want to do too many places and be tired.
Also would like your advice on stay, is airbnb good or i should book from sites like bookings.com, hotel.com, expedia?
Many thanks for your advice and time.
Reply to this I don't know how much time you have in Thailand, but I would skip Pattaya and Phuket (Patong) as both specialize in sleazy bars, lady boys, and old Westerner white guys with young Thai girls. At least with Phuket you can find nice beaches away from Patong, like Karon. But to save time I would fly directly from Chiang Mai to Krabi, and from there go to any number of islands...Koh Lanta for chill, Railey Beach for great scenery and pristine beaches, etc. You can research which island suits you by reading the blogs of those who have traveled in this area.
I prefer to book with Booking.com...it includes everything from hostels to resorts. Hotels are inexpensive so I personally like to spend a bit more to be on a beach with a private room with bath, which are still cheap. You can fly directly from Krabi to Bangkok...all flights on Air Asia.
Reply to this I agree with Bob, unless you have a specific reason to go to Pattaya and spend an extra day in Bangkok or add another day to a nicer beach. The beaches in Pattaya are small, dirty and built up unless you know where to look and it is beyond sleazy. There are much more spectacular beaches in Thailand. Railey is stunning as Bob says. If you are restricted on money and can't fly, look at Ko Samet or Ko Chang as both are closer to Bangkok. However, budget flights in Thailand can make it cheaper than the train.
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