China Travel Forum

I have asked once for information about travelling China (http://forum.virtualtourist.com/discussion-331488-1-1-Travel-0-1024960-Beijing-discussion.html) and get very useful feedback from many of you. But now I have more knowledge and advanced plans and many detailed questions.

1. We will get Beijing 26th of May. Then we want to go (by train) as soon as possible to Xian. Do you thing it is wise and realistic to visit Datong (and its neighborhood) and Pingyao? Will we able to reserve the tickets, if we want to departure Xian 1st of June?

2. 1st of June we want to flight from Xian to Guilin. When should we buy the tickets for plane? From Poland (via www.elong.com or www.ctrip.com) or on the spot in Beijing (many hostels/hotels) offers such a reservation. Another questions is so called "Ticket Delivery Place"... When I tried to reserve tickets the webpages asked me about that thing, although we wanted only e-tickets and didn't yet know any addresses where we will during our stay in Xian.

3. Being in Guilin region we want to visit Longsheng and stay for a few days in Yangshuo. How to organize such a visit? How many nights and where will we need?

4. 6th of June we plan to return back to Beijing (by plane). Probably then we will go for a Great Wall and tourist attraction in the capitol. How to arrange it in the best way?

I will travel with my friend. We don't speak Chinese. The proper standard for us is "backpackers +" (I mean eg. 2-stars hotels, two internal flights, some taxis and interpreters services from time to time if we will need them).

The most important questions are about train Beijing-Xian (and stopovers) and reservation of planes' tickets. But I will grateful for every other advices, such as hotels/hostels, transport, of the beaten paths tips and whatever you consider important and interesting. We will especcially flattered everybody from locals or expats who is ready to meet us on our way, eg. to drink together a pint of beer.

We booked our train tickets Beijing - Xian on the 11th May and travelled on the 13th so you should be ok provided there is no public holidays around that time. It would be worth checking.

1. My advice is that you'd better abandon Datong or Pingyao, one destination. A: Train from Beijing to Datong: No K613, No k615, 6 hours. Train from Datong to Xi'an: No 1674/1675, 16 hours. B: Train from Beijing to Pingyao: No K603, No 1163, 12 hours. Train from Pingyao to Xi'an: No 1725, No 2535, 10 hours. To get the next tickets should be the first thing when you arrive at Beijing and Datong( Pingyao). It's uncomfortable to get on the train of No 1674/1675, No 1725, No 1163 and No 2535, especially in the summer, chaos, without airconditioning.

2. Ask a help from the hostel that you stay in when you arrive at Beijing. Book the flight from Xi'an to Guilin and bring the ticket with you. You can always get the discount ticket in China.
in Xi'an, you can stay in Shuyuan international youth hostel.

1. Skip Datong.
2. Neither elong nor ctrip accepts international credit card, you have to book your flight when you arrive in China. Try to book your flight upon your arrival in Beijing caz usually it's cheaper to book a flight in advance, you may do it via elong or ctrip and pick your tickets at the airport or have it delivered to your hostel in Beijing.
3. It's suggested to take a 2 days trip in Longsheng:
D1: Guilin--Longsheng by bus, transfer local bus to Longji and stay there for a night;
D2: Longji--Guilin/Yangshuo;
D3: Raft along Yulong River;
D4: Li River Highlight,Yangdi--Xingping.
4. There's a scheduled toursit bus departing from downtown Beijing to Great Wall.
Wish it helps.

1) You should be able to fit both in.
2) Let me know if you want a trusty contact to help with tickets in Xi'an.
3) Take a look at http://www.yangers.com for good information about the Yangshuo area.