30 days in China itinerary
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 710
30 days in China itinerary
I am still trying to frantically plan a mastertrip over the period of at least 4 weeks. I thought about staying in one country, albeit hopping from place to place within that country (CHINA) every few days, which I am happy with.
I will be starting and ending in Beijing.
I was thinking of:
Beijing
Hangzhou
Mt Huangshan
Zhangjiajie
Shenzhen
Sanya
Guangzhou
Lijiang
Jiuzhaigou
Xi'an
Beijing
With pretty much air travel between all of these cities where possible.
Is the order of destinations making any sense? I have looked on a map and this seems the most logical way to go. I did Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Taipei earlier this year, so no need to go back now.
Also, including airfares, do you think this itinery is acceptable for £5k?
I will be starting and ending in Beijing.
I was thinking of:
Beijing
Hangzhou
Mt Huangshan
Zhangjiajie
Shenzhen
Sanya
Guangzhou
Lijiang
Jiuzhaigou
Xi'an
Beijing
With pretty much air travel between all of these cities where possible.
Is the order of destinations making any sense? I have looked on a map and this seems the most logical way to go. I did Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Taipei earlier this year, so no need to go back now.
Also, including airfares, do you think this itinery is acceptable for £5k?
#2
I am still trying to frantically plan a mastertrip over the period of at least 4 weeks. I thought about staying in one country, albeit hopping from place to place within that country (CHINA) every few days, which I am happy with.
I will be starting and ending in Beijing.
I was thinking of:
Beijing
Hangzhou
Mt Huangshan
Zhangjiajie
Shenzhen
Sanya
Guangzhou
Lijiang
Jiuzhaigou
Xi'an
Beijing
With pretty much air travel between all of these cities where possible.
Is the order of destinations making any sense? I have looked on a map and this seems the most logical way to go. I did Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Taipei earlier this year, so no need to go back now.
Also, including airfares, do you think this itinery is acceptable for £5k?
I will be starting and ending in Beijing.
I was thinking of:
Beijing
Hangzhou
Mt Huangshan
Zhangjiajie
Shenzhen
Sanya
Guangzhou
Lijiang
Jiuzhaigou
Xi'an
Beijing
With pretty much air travel between all of these cities where possible.
Is the order of destinations making any sense? I have looked on a map and this seems the most logical way to go. I did Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Taipei earlier this year, so no need to go back now.
Also, including airfares, do you think this itinery is acceptable for £5k?
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 710
Shenzhen? Since you mentioned you don't need to re-visit HK for now, why would you want to go here? Unless you are interested in visiting a Soviet aircraft carrier, a theme park with miniature models of famous world attractions or umpteen massage parlors, it's an oddball on your list. Of course, if you really like Hong Kong history and want to see where it was signed over to the British after the first opium war...
The rest of the details on my list are simply to marvel about the natural and ancient splendours of China, from sacred mountains, to snow-capped peaks, to tropical beaches, to dusty museums.
#4
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,418
I am still trying to frantically plan a mastertrip over the period of at least 4 weeks. I thought about staying in one country, albeit hopping from place to place within that country (CHINA) every few days, which I am happy with.
I will be starting and ending in Beijing.
I was thinking of:
Beijing
Hangzhou
Mt Huangshan
Zhangjiajie
Shenzhen
Sanya
Guangzhou
Lijiang
Jiuzhaigou
Xi'an
Beijing
With pretty much air travel between all of these cities where possible.
Is the order of destinations making any sense? I have looked on a map and this seems the most logical way to go. I did Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Taipei earlier this year, so no need to go back now.
Also, including airfares, do you think this itinery is acceptable for £5k?
I will be starting and ending in Beijing.
I was thinking of:
Beijing
Hangzhou
Mt Huangshan
Zhangjiajie
Shenzhen
Sanya
Guangzhou
Lijiang
Jiuzhaigou
Xi'an
Beijing
With pretty much air travel between all of these cities where possible.
Is the order of destinations making any sense? I have looked on a map and this seems the most logical way to go. I did Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Taipei earlier this year, so no need to go back now.
Also, including airfares, do you think this itinery is acceptable for £5k?
As for cost, it all depends on how you want to travel. Depending on airfares, you could be looking at £150-250/flight, although you can do better. That's 1/3 to 1/2 your budget. Do you want deluxe accommodations? Food should be less expensive, but don't forget admissions fees and such, which can add up. But certainly doable for that budget.
Personally, if it were me I would probably visit somewhat fewer cities/places and spend more time there. 30 days is a long time to go-go-go. Depending on your interests, I would tend to drop some of the southern cities, and save those for a separate trip (i.e., Shenzhen, Sanya, Guangzhou). If you stick with your order you could go from Zhangjiajie to Lijiang and spend a number of days in Yunnan, then Chengdu and Jiuzhaigou. That would give you at least 3 days per "stop" (although you might adjust--e.g., you might stay only two nights and one day in Jiuzhaigou, but more in Yunnan).
Last edited by drewguy; Aug 28, 2012 at 12:52 pm
#5
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Southeast USA
Programs: various
Posts: 6,710
What time of year are you planning? That might make some difference in recommendations and order of destinations.
Other thoughts:
--For 30 days, it seems like a bit much, you'd be spending a lot of that time in airports or other intercity transport. There may be some connections that are better/more reliable by train. Again, when are you planning your visit?
--Shenzhen and Guangzhou I'd deprioritize. Given that there are some more important ways to spend time in/near some of the other places on your list. You can pick them up when you next go to HK Disneyland.
--Sanya I'd deprioritize. It's just simply no comparison to the SE Asian beaches. And besides being out of the way, it's relatively expensive to get to.
--Be very strong in your desire to visit Zhangjiajie--including it always adds a layer of hiccup and time-snarfing logistics as there are limited flights in/out to limited places, and other options in/out are ponderous.
--Are you a hiker, or just prefer quick looks around a scenic area without too much effort (be honest)? Depending on answer, might change the timing factors.
--Your itinerary is not well-fleshed out yet. For instance, nobody (with any sense) goes to Lijiang and out again without seeing something else of the wonderful surrounding area. It's just pointless to do so. That means allotting an appropriate number of days. When you start really doing a day-by-day and including logistics, you'll see how fast 30 days gets eaten up.
--If you must start/end in Beijing, making some sort of general circle like you propose usually makes sense. But I'm not convinced your order of visit is the optimum one.
--Cost: 5000 GBP?!? Jeez, I could do 30 days for this itinerary in half of that amount or less, flying everywhere, paying lots of high entry fees, and staying in very comfortable places. But without knowing your travel style particularly for accommodations, not easy to advise you on this. Accommodation cost will be the biggest single variable.
Other thoughts:
--For 30 days, it seems like a bit much, you'd be spending a lot of that time in airports or other intercity transport. There may be some connections that are better/more reliable by train. Again, when are you planning your visit?
--Shenzhen and Guangzhou I'd deprioritize. Given that there are some more important ways to spend time in/near some of the other places on your list. You can pick them up when you next go to HK Disneyland.
--Sanya I'd deprioritize. It's just simply no comparison to the SE Asian beaches. And besides being out of the way, it's relatively expensive to get to.
--Be very strong in your desire to visit Zhangjiajie--including it always adds a layer of hiccup and time-snarfing logistics as there are limited flights in/out to limited places, and other options in/out are ponderous.
--Are you a hiker, or just prefer quick looks around a scenic area without too much effort (be honest)? Depending on answer, might change the timing factors.
--Your itinerary is not well-fleshed out yet. For instance, nobody (with any sense) goes to Lijiang and out again without seeing something else of the wonderful surrounding area. It's just pointless to do so. That means allotting an appropriate number of days. When you start really doing a day-by-day and including logistics, you'll see how fast 30 days gets eaten up.
--If you must start/end in Beijing, making some sort of general circle like you propose usually makes sense. But I'm not convinced your order of visit is the optimum one.
--Cost: 5000 GBP?!? Jeez, I could do 30 days for this itinerary in half of that amount or less, flying everywhere, paying lots of high entry fees, and staying in very comfortable places. But without knowing your travel style particularly for accommodations, not easy to advise you on this. Accommodation cost will be the biggest single variable.
#6
Well as a big theme park fan, I wouldn't mind visiting Window of the World, or OCT East including Knight Valley. I won't be going back to HK until the expansion of Disneyland is complete next year.
The rest of the details on my list are simply to marvel about the natural and ancient splendours of China, from sacred mountains, to snow-capped peaks, to tropical beaches, to dusty museums.
The rest of the details on my list are simply to marvel about the natural and ancient splendours of China, from sacred mountains, to snow-capped peaks, to tropical beaches, to dusty museums.
#8
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,033
--Cost: 5000 GBP?!? Jeez, I could do 30 days for this itinerary in half of that amount or less, flying everywhere, paying lots of high entry fees, and staying in very comfortable places. But without knowing your travel style particularly for accommodations, not easy to advise you on this. Accommodation cost will be the biggest single variable.
In any event, I would axe Huangshan, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and probably Sanya in order spend more time in the west/southwest.
#9
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SEA
Programs: Million Miles achieved | 2017 Delta Platinum, United NADA, Global Entry, PreCheck, NEXUS
Posts: 1,295
Two thumbs up on Huangshan mountains. I did it las t year and it was spectacular be prepared however to carry everything up the mountain. The hikes in the miuntains are spectacular. I'd say you need two days there minimum.