Luoyang Travel Forum

Making a 2 weeks tour in China begining from May 11 to May 25. Landing Shanghai, on to Hangzhou. The 3 places I yearn to visit in Henan Sheng are:
Zhengzhou, Luoyang and Shaolinsi (Shaolin Temple). I am a Lone Ranger traveller. Can any member be kind enough to share some of your experience mainly on transportation, accommodation such as the best way to the 3 places in Henan Sheng by train, bus (other than by Air as I like to see the countryside during the ride by train or bus). The question I like to ask is: Is there a train or bus from either Shanghai or Hangzhou and where are the station?. Would appreciate member sharing some thoughts on accommodation.

You can take the train to Zhengzhou from Hangzhou, but it might stop in Shanghai first due to northbound trains being routed that way.
Henan tours usually begin in Zhengzhou, which is the railway hub. From Zhengzhou you can do the Henan tourist loop by bus in either direction. I suggest you go to Luoyang first and then continue by bus to Dengfeng (the city near Shao Lin Temple) and finally bus back to Zhengzhou from Dengfeng with a side trip to Kaifeng if you have time.
My favorite accomodation in Hangzhou is the Liuying Hotel located right on West Lake's shore. I always stay there when visiting Hangzhou. It's about 10 minutes by taxi from the train station.

Thanks a million. You live up to the Confucius philosophy. Can you tell more of where the Train stations are? Can you add a bit of advice on accommodation?
In Malaysian Language we say TERIMA KASEH meaning THANK YOU From LONE RANGER soon to embrace LAO TZI philosophy (The way of TAO)

You only need to find the Shanghai train station, which is simple to locate. Since you are taking the train to Hangzhou and Zhengzhou, the location of those train stations will be evident upon arrival.
Hangzhou is the only place on your itinerary where I have been recently, so I do not have suggestions for accomodations in Luoyang or Shanghai.

I believe I've posted some of my findings when I visited these 3 places in Henan province last winter, so you might want to check those out. I definitely posted for Luoyang, but not for Shaolin.
Do you have to come back to Shanghai? My recommendation for the schedule would be:
11-15/5: Shanghai
15-18/5: Hangzhou
19-21/5: Luoyang
22-23/5: Shaolin
24-25/5: Zhengzhou
26-27/5: Shanghai
All the journeys can be done by train except Luoyang -- Shaolin and Shaolin -- Zhengzhou, for which you'll have to take bus.
It's pretty easy to find the train stations in Shanghai, Hangzhou, Luoyang and Zhengzhou! Look on a map! Or a guidebook!

BTW, what's your budget for accommodation?

Thank you. Your advice is a great help.

Thank you, Ellyse. Your suggestion is a great help. Yes I have to be back to Shanghai, which fits into your schedule. Maybe I may cut short in some of the places to move further up to Xian in Shaaxi Province. Any good suggestion? For Accommodation my last travel to Hangzhou I put up in a Hotel along Yan An Lu (across Sifu) costing me RMB 150 (Single)- good clean 3*

Ellyse, Ho (Lone Ranger) again. I have included the answer in the earlier reply. Ellyse, Where is your home page? Also like to let you know I am from Malaysia living in Kuala Lumpur the capital city. Would be glad to lend a help in the country in general and in Kuala Lumpur in particular to you when you happen to visit Malaysia. Thank You.

Why do I "have" to have a homepage?
If you want to fit Xi'an into your schedule, I think it's possible. Try this instead:
11-13/5: Shanghai
14-15/5: Hangzhou
16-18/5: Xi'an
19-20/5: Luoyang
21-22/5: Shaolin
23/5: Zhengzhou
24-25/5: Shanghai

BTW, I have been to Kuala Lumpur before, on the invitation of the Rotary Club. :)

Ellyse: Home page not necessary to me now. I have found you. Very grateful for the updated suggestion and the speed you sent posted it on the page. THANK YOU.

You don't surprise me that you have been to Kuala Lumpur and more especially as Rotary guest. May I ask, How long were you here?

I don't really remember, but I think we were there for about 1.5 days.

One and a half days is considered a quick working visit, perhaps not considered a holiday as such. Why not take a holiday?

Because I don't have the money? In case you haven't noticed, I don't have my own income. We were invited to perform there.

Perform? What? on a speaking assignment or social/charity work?
Don't know whether you have sample the life in Malaysia for that short one and a half day here. You see Malaysia is a colourful and multi cultural country. You have Malay Festival, Chinese and Indian festival. All three festivals are Public Holidays and Holidays include Malay New Year, Chinese New Year, Indian New Year plus Religious festivals such as Muslim New Year, Buddhist, Hindu and Christmas Day.(Also are Public Holidays).
You list as Study abroad as one of your many interests. Have you considered Malaysia where English is taught widely with British, Australian, New Zealand and US Universities having branch campuses in Malaysia. Cheer!

At least in Shanghai they don't throw you in jail for kissing in public.

I won't go into the details of my pedigree, but I'll kindly have you know that I'm not a PRC citizen. And FYI, I've been to Malaysia quite a number of times already. I'm more interested in travelling to other countries rather than to Malaysia, no offence intended but I've seen more or less enough of it for now.

And BTW, I'll also have you know that I know a lot more about Malaysia than you think I do!

Me too!
I got third place in Wild_Orchid's "So You Think You Know Malaysians" contest.

You do have updated knowledge of Malaysia. The case you refer to is not punishable by jail term perhaps just a fine. It is due to an overjealous local authority officer enforcing an untested law about indecent behaviour.The flip side of the matter is that the legal or the Bar council is following the case. The public is indignant about the matter. There is a challenge in the court of law which Malaysia has an independent judiciary system. The law on indecent act in public places has it also in developed countries.I like to extend to you a warm welcome should you decide to come to Malaysia to sample life here. Cheer!

Your English actually tell on you. Not a PRC citizen is absolutely believeable.
No I am not offended. Sure there are other better places to visit/tour. I am only making a suggestion to you.I am not "selling" Malaysia as a best tourist country. By no means. I said what I know and feel. Cheer.

How I wish I know you more. Travelling and knowing the world is your forte. I have great respect for you. This is my honest appreciation, definitely not a flattery

I can't say that travelling's my forte, as I've only limited travelling experience, as you can tell from my profile. However, most of my travelling has been done in China, so I'm in a better position to advise on travelling in China.

Your advice has been valuable and is worth a great deal to me.I would like to pick on your experience. Would you mind to extend a helping hand?.
On another subject. You are NOT likely to be a Malaysian nor a Singapore citizen because you spell you sirname as Huang which is very rarely spelt in both these countries. There are, of course. In Malaysia or Singapore they spell it as Wong,Ong, etc. Huang is spelt by Chinese in China as this is Han spelling. Also spell the same way in Taiwan or ROC or Taiwan Province of China depending on your allegiance.
Whatever it is the good English that you have written makes it unlikely that you are a PRC citizen and I believe in you totally. Cheers!

Ah, to each his/her opinions and revelations then. I'll try to help with whatever I can help with.

Hi,

There's a daily flight from Shanghai to Luoyang, pretty convenient and it will save you time. Shaolinsi is really worth the trip but I would also do side trips to the White Horse temple, Longmen Grottoes and some days in Xian. There's also a museum in Luoyang where wou can visit historic underground tombs as well as reconstitutions. I spent more than 3 weeks there last summer and never got bored.

have fun !

Chuck

Hi! Chuck G.. What a coincident I was reading your page just yesterday and here comes your good advice. THANK YOU. May you have more fun in your continuing travel. Cheers!