Where to go in december?
 

Hi. I will arrive at 18 december in HKG and leave China at 05 january from PEK. I will stay three nights in HKG and two nights in PEK, so I have 13 days and 13 nights to spend without a real plan.
Last time I visited PEK, PVG, XIY and KWL, so I need some new destinations for this trip.
The climate in the south should be better in this part of the year, so I thought about visiting KMG. How many days would you reserve for Kunming? I am not a fan of big cities, so to see just the most important sights and then went to some smaller town with beautiful nature would be nice. Is the Tiger Leaping Gorge worth a visit in december? Or should I go to south yunnan to see the rice terraces?
The second destionation could be Chengdu for a day or two, then visit Mount Emei and maybe go to Huanglong.
Will this be a good choice for end december?

Yunnan
 

I would definitely consider Yunnan province.I would go to the stone forest.It a couple hour ride from Kunming, See the thread I started.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/china...rovince-5.html

Yunnan is a very good location and wouldnt be too cold.
U can go to Kunming, Dali, Lijiang etc.

Sichuan province would be really cold then.
Huanglong and Jiuzhaigou would be freezing in December and most of the stores/restaurants and drivers wouldnt be around during that time.
Dont recommend the place for December.

Another place u can consider is Hainan Island if u like beaches and such.

Good morning! Will a trip to the stone forest fill a day? Should I stay longer in this area?
If Dali, Lijiang are good for this time of the year, tiger leaping gorge will be a good choice, too? I want to see some beautiful landscape and not only the cities.
Hainan is not a option, I dont like to lie in the sun and do nothing :)

Stone Forest
 

Stone Forest will take the best part of the day. There are buses that can take you check with your hotel or negotiate with a Taxi. Taxi a little faster.

I paid about 400 RMB for the day to a taxi .Additionally went to greenhouse area( tons commercial flower growing companies) and the biggest Jade shop.I ever seen in Kunming.Visited Dali and Li Jiang in,it was fine and should be OK in December

Xishuangbanna
 

Xishuangbanna is another nice place when the north is cold. Tropical rain forest and interesting vegetation. A short flight from Kunming…stay two nights in Jinghong so you have a full day to explore. Need a taxi, or maybe arrange a private tour.

There is a cheap flight from Shenzhen to Kunming at my date, but it will arrive at 23:30. Next morning buy a overnight trainticket to Lijiang, go by bus to the stone valley, in the evening board the train to Lijiang and stay there two nights. Walk the tiger leaping gorge with a one night brake, go by bus or train to Dali for one night and go back to Kunming by Overnighttrain. Fly to Xishuangbanna, stay two nights and back to Kunming. Would this be a good plan? If I count right there are 3 days left. Where should I stay longer?

Whats with bus transport Kunming Xishuangbanna, will the scenery worth the 16 hours ride? Planeticket costs 530RMB, Bus 150RMB. Maybe I should go one direction by plane, one by bus.

The most scenic ride I had in China was a bus ride from Shangria-La to Lijiang.The road scary in spring, in winter would be worst.In Xishuangbanna you can take a raft trip down the Mekong river.I would recommend a show.There are a couple shows.The GREEN brochure has a great show. You can skip the dinner but show is very good for entertainment would recommend that you stay in old town in both Dali and Lijiang.
Flew to Xishuangbanna so I can not tell you about the scenery as you drive

Will it be a good idea to arrive in Kunming at 23:30? This flight cost 630RMB, next flight with a earlier arrival time is 800RMB and arrive at 20:50.
The late flight will give me a whole day in Shenzhen.

There are plenty of taxis at late night and the airport is close to town.

[QUOTE=31570324;17389379 ) I want to see some beautiful landscape and not only the cities.

Hainan is not a option, I dont like to lie in the sun and do nothing :) [/QUOTE]

From HK, for a couple days, you can take the ferry to Macau. A bit of action there in Macau, both at the pool, or inside !. Also quite a few flights from Macau to mainland china cities.

Jiatong, you really advice me to go to Macau if I dont like big cities and want to see some nature? :confused:
Thank you Blue Tiger, so I will book the late flight from Shenzhen to Kunming now. Is there a place in Shenzhen where I can deposit my suitcase during the day?

Chengdu is a great option, but why not go to Huangshan? Qingdao is also nice though you likely won't want to swim this time of year.

Would Huangshan not be to cold at the end of december?

Depends what you define as cold. Sure it will be chilly, below freezing at night, but beautiful if there's snow and lacking the hordes of Chinese tourists.