Thanks for the advice, all of you. We do have a fairly strong interest in going to Urumqi and points west because it's so different. Any suggestions for 5 or 6 days out west? It really sounds interesting, but we'd fly, I think, rather than take long train flights.
We have seen many organized tours which gives us an idea of where is interesting to go, but would prefer to self-guide if you think we can. Any ideas?

Urimqi ?, i have not been there, but hear there is still some civil unrest, it's just not in the china news here.

I am just back from my 2nd trip to Huhhot this july, Its the capital city of Inner mongolia, (IM) a neat place & only an hour flight from BJ at 620 rmb one way.
The largest city in IM is Baotou about a 2 hour drive from Huhhot, also a neat city with some IM culture areas for tourists. Both cities are very safe.

far west- & self guided- try Chengdu & search this forum for those comments

Thanks for the heads-up. Actually when we began to search the unrest news popped up and made us reconsider. We now will spend a few days in Beijing and then leave China for a few days, coming back to Shanghai, so we'll miss the gathering, which after all, is the main topic of this thread. We really thought we could make it work, but I think this will be better. We now have from Oct 10 to Oct 31 to make our way from Shanghai to Beijing and will try to hit as many amazing spots along the way as we can. Thanks to all for your input.

I loved it out west. Urumqi is awesome, but make sure you make it to Kashi/Kashgar (moondog has good info about there). Qinghai is another great area, as is Yunnan (Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, etc).

I would advise you to avoid permitting "unrest" to influence your decision too much. Also, Wulumuqi itself is nothing to write home about; it's really just a gateway to a fascinating region (Xinjiang).

Unlike Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu, Yunnan is a hot tourist destination for Chinese people. As such, I probably wouldn't go there during the October holiday.

I try not to go anywhere touristy in China during the Oct holiday. Last year I ended up in Tibet climbing a mountain, was a nice break from crowds.

Maybe having been SIN based for so long I am a little spoiled but I find myself recoiling at the idea of dealing with the airport mayhem. Before I moved to Beijing I flew in close to midnight on the last day of the Qingmin festival holidays and found myself looking out into a sea of what must be hundreds of people at PEK waiting for taxis and airport shuttles. There were hardly any taxis coming in, and I figured that at that late hour, there can only be fewer and fewer taxis coming in and it would be hours before I could get a taxi. Thankfully the hotel was able to send a car out to me very promptly - but ever since I'm quite afraid of having to depend on public transport during the major holidays. At least on a business trip I can expense a 600RMB car service... Now that I'm a resident it's on my own dime!

This is where finding a cab driver to be your driver is a good thing.

Did you all get together and have your planning meeting/beer drinking session about the get together? Is it still on? Is there any news to report or a game plan?

Since the Beijing do would be happening approx. a month from now if it's going to happen, is it going to happen? If not, will any of the regulars be in Beijing while I'm there to meet for drinks or dinner? I will be staying at the Cap Ren (I think, no confirmation from the hotel yet) arriving Oct. 8 leaving Oct. 12. PM me if you want to get together. I'd love to put a face with a screen name and thank you personally for all of the help I got here planning this trip.
Susie

Looks like I will be returning to Beijing on October 4, but as I haven't been involved in planning the "do" I'm not sure what's going on. Who's around?

I'm planning on doing everything in my power to not be in China over National Day (week), but I will try to make it to Beijing on the 8th.

Maybe on the 8/9th we could have silent auction (chinese rules) on the new KRYPTONIUM medallion skymiles tags !!!. & then use the money to buy a round of DYKWIA drinks....

I donate a KRYPTONIUM tag that i got from Bogus Rogus in the US last week.

You got one??? Nice, I sent a friendly VM to his admin per his FT post, hope I get them too. They are awesome!!!

On an unrelated note, I might be making a stop through in late Oct and also mid Dec. Who's around for a Shanghai mini-DO?