Thinking about my third visit to China, this spring (?). I got a one-year multi-entry visa for my visit to Guilin/Yangshuo, flanked by short stays in Beijing.

I think I'd like to spend 6-7 days in Beijing this time - more of the wall (Jinshanling to Simitai, maybe a night on the wall), plus exploring when the crowds are smaller (big sites, last time it was the national holiday in October, so things were pretty crowded).

I'd also like to add Xi'an - the warriors and I really really want to go see/hike up the (?) five mountains. Possibly take the new train from Beijing to Xi'an. I'm guessing a week would be enough.

Any general suggestions on itinerary, sequencing, amount of time, particularly in Xi'an? Anything particularly recommended in/near Xi'an besides what I have listed? I like temples/ruins, particularly like hills/hikes/kayaking/long bike rides. I also spend a lot of time just walking around, looking at neighborhoods, markets, hutongs, etc.

I'm thinking about early April - yes, no? I don't mind dressing for cooler weather, but bucketing down rain is never my idea of a good time.

I liked Ban'po, in spite of the fact that most of the cool stories we learned about it in archaeology class have been discredited.

^ Thanks, just googled, that looks like somewhere I'd like to visit!

I'm visiting Shanghai & Beijing in April. Weather shouldn't be bad at all. Likely in the low 60's during the day? Its not the rainy season so it should be fine ...

April can be kind of gross in BJ (sandstorms or inversions).

March? May? I also want to go to Xi'an, my visa expires in early September. I'm hoping to hit a spring 'shoulder', no massive summer crowds but clear outdoor weather.

IME, SH is good from mid March onwards, while BJ shifts in early May. A third problem I forgot to mention about BJ spring is those annoying cotton_ball/pollen things. Apparently, the city has taken serious measures to replace the type of tree that is the culprit, but it's still unpleasant, to say the least. Basically, try to arrive in BJ after the trees are fully bloomed, and all will be good.

OK, so if I go to SH first, maybe mid-April and BJ afterwards, that might work? If its the trees I'm thinking of, I can deal with the pollen, but I'd like to avoid (regular) wet weather or weather that causes dust/haze. (I know there's no guarantees, just trying to go for the best odds).

"Wet" is rarely an issue, but the inversions can be downright disgusting.

I'm going from Beijing to Xi'an in mid-May. Was going to take a flight. Would appreciate any info on a new high speed train.

Is there one Beijing to Xian? I thought this was an overnight slow one still...

There had been one D daytime train running for a while, but now the G trains are on the schedule, Beijing West to Xian North in less than 6 hours (one of them less than 5 hours). 8 trains per day, leaving from around 07:00 to 17:30. Prices are around RMB 825 first class and 515 second class, so not particularly cheap compared to the overnight sleepers, which are mostly T's but one of my favorite overnights, the Z19, is still running (bit over 11 hours with only one intermediate stop). Soft sleepers are only around RMB 400-ish. Still though, when you figure in the city-airport-city time sequence and hassle, and the air ticket cost, the bullet train option between these two cities looks mighty fine.

Didn't know, nice.