note: my first thread was closed without reason/warning/notification and mod's never responded to my question in email as to why - who are the mods, not posted anywhere? if mod's have a problem with my post let me know why - it is the polite and appropriate thing to do, right?[/
... So I was getting great info that was helping me and I'm sure other... I'm opening again. I removed questions that were already given specific answers but left the 'opinion' questions on the thread. I also added a few more that I just thought about.


Going to China for the first time ever! Our trip is guided (agenda set) but I'm hoping the China savvy can give some advice...

Money
- take US dollars or get $ exchanged before leaving the states?

Clothing to wear
- 10 day casual/vacation trip

Good places to buy 'stuff'
- electronics, clothing, etc?

Thing to bring or not to bring

...and anything else after seeing what we have planned.

Agenda

Arrive in Beijing Capital Airport (June 30)

Beijing
- Crowne Plaza Hotel
- visit Badaling Great Wall, Sacred Way and the Ming Tomb
- dinner at a famous Cantonese cuisine restaurant in the Wangfujing area.
- visit Summer Palace

Xian (flight to get here)
- Hyatt Regency Hotel downtown - visit Summer Palace
- visit Provincial History Museum, City Wall, Great Mosque, explore the Bazaar near the Mosque.

Luoyang (taking train to get here)
- Hua Yang Plaza Hotel
- visit Longmen Caves, Chariot and Horse Pits, White Horse Temple and Shaolin Temple

Shanghai
- Sofitel Hyland Hotel
- visit the Shanghai Museum, the Yuyuan Garden, the Bund
- dinner at Central Hotel, restaurant Wang Bao He
- Portman Acrobatic Show at the Shanghai Centre Theatre

Departure from Shanghai (July 10)