For me, the answer to this question hinges of the difference between the cheapest F and cheapest Y fares on offer.

Earlier today, I checked out the three routes you mentioned in your OP using July 28 as a sample date:
1. SHA-XIY is ~850 unless you fly at 715a; F is 1440 on a number of flights
2. Xiy-ctu is 870 (close to full fare) in Y but 2270 in F, which is full F, I believe
3. Ctu-sha numbers were similar to #1 (fairly expensive Y, and discounted F)

I might bite in the cases of 1 and 3 (~$100 to upgrade a 2.5 hour flight isn't a horrible deal).

Thanks you've all been very helpful - seems like a sensible plan!

Recently, rainy season, Chengdu is often rain.Aircplane are often late.

The rate of XIY-CTU barely drops in the whole year, even in the low season...:(

Ok so I've revised the trip to the following:

4 nights 3 days in Beijing including Great Wall day trip. Accommodation ritz Carlton financial road

3 nights xian, 2 days, 1 day tour for the army, one day for the city we will probably do alone. Any hotel recommends welcome!

Xian to Guilin - was looking at something like this:

http://www.guilin-yangshuo-guide.com...-day-tour.html

Guilin to Hk for the night then back to the sandpit (emirates of course) :D

I've had to ditch the pandas due to time constraints :(

Any further advice welcome!

Beijing Financial Street is boring and inconvenient. Otherwise, your plan seems okay.

Any hotel recommends for my trip?

Is the banyan tree in yangshao out of the way?

As for the Xi'an hotel: I would choose a place within the parameters of the wall. That's where you want to be for sightseeing. Pick one of the two Sofitels ("on Renmin Square" & "Legend Peoples Grand Hotel") at 100 and 200 USD/night, respectively. They are almost next to each other, and both in a perfect location.

Guilin: Don't know this operator, but the itinerary covers everything. As for hotels: I'd stay in the downtown area, not a resort like the Shangri-La.

I stayed at the Hilton in Xi'an and was very pleased. Great upgrade as a diamond and it's not too far from the Xi'an metro.

When I did the Terracotta Warriors, I booked a group day trip through Viator as I had only full day Saturday and part day Sunday and didn't want to waste time trying to arrange things once I got there (especially since I wound up having a flight delay... In October).

So what about Beijing!?

Opposite house looks odd, where is the best location?

I have always enjoyed staying in the area around Wangfujing Road. It's within walking distance to malls, restaurants, the Forbidden City/Tien An Men Square, the Mausoleum or Houhai Lake. Traffic can be a pain, and you can avoid it for several attractions by staying closeby.

As an orientation point, the Peninsula would be in a perfect location.

I'm booking through the hotels available at work....

Which of the following is the best?

Thanks!


China World Summit Wing Beijing



Conrad Beijing




Grand Hyatt Beijing




Grand Millennium Beijing




Howard Johnson Paragon Hotel Beijing




Intercontinental Beijing Finance Street




Kerry Hotel




Park Hyatt Beijing




The Ritz-Carlton Beijing




The Ritz-Carlton Beijing Financial Street




The Westin Beijing Financial Street





Waldorf Astoria Beijing

Only based on location as described above, these two are equally good

Waldorf Astoria
Grand Hyatt

I like the Conrad location myself because it's on 3rd Ring (e.g. better food options), and close to Line 6 (fast east/west access).

The Hyatts, Kerry, and China World Summit are also good.

The only hotels I would scratch from the list are the HoJo, all of the Financial Street places, and maybe the RC Beijing (China Central Place is a little inconvenient).

Waldorf it is 🙂