Originally Posted by susiesan

This is the reverse option I am considering if my TPAC flights of choice don't work out. I'd be visiting all the same cities but the weather will be colder in the north as the season goes on. But if I do the whole trip in September, before National day, it appears I'll have warm weather the whole time.

I'm also looking at this order:
MCI-ICN-HGH
HGH-PVG train
PVG-KWL
KWL-TAO
TAO-PEK
PKE-ORD-MCI

At the moment, I don't see a CA flight Guilin-Qingdao. I could go KWL-PEK then PEK-TAO, then leave China from Qingdao. But I have an extra stop in ICN to ORD on OZ whereas I can fly PEK to ORD or SFO in one flight on UA.
So much will depend on what TPAC flights I can score on which *A carrier. I always try to get the flights with the least total travel time in each direction. I despise sitting around airports for hours at a time even when I can use the lounges. (except if it involved time at the Virgin Upper Class lounge at Heathrow where there is a spa and beauty salon there!)