China in April
Feb 19, 2004 | 9:50 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 7,037
China in April
We're planning to travel to China in April. I'd appreciate any comments on
our proposed itinerary and hotel choices:
Beijing - 3 days - Grand Hyatt
X'ian - 2 days - Hyatt Chongqing
Huangshan - 2 days - Golf hotel and Xi Hai
Guilin - 2 days - Sheraton Guilin
Hangzhou - 2 days - Shangri-la
Shanghai - 3 days (day trip to Suzhou) - Four Seasons
our proposed itinerary and hotel choices:
Beijing - 3 days - Grand Hyatt
X'ian - 2 days - Hyatt Chongqing
Huangshan - 2 days - Golf hotel and Xi Hai
Guilin - 2 days - Sheraton Guilin
Hangzhou - 2 days - Shangri-la
Shanghai - 3 days (day trip to Suzhou) - Four Seasons
Feb 19, 2004 | 10:59 am
#2
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 46,398
Those are pretty good hotel choices on the whole, though I'm not a big fan of the 4 Seasons. FYI, at least the 4 of those properties at which I've stayed/booked (Beijing, Hangzhou, Xian, and Shanghai) have been known to cough up pretty nice discounts when pressed. Weather shouldn't be a problem.
Try posting in the "Asia" forum; you might get more action.
PS - If I were you, I'd trim Xian and Hangzhou down to one day each (and maybe even reduce Shanghai to 2 days) in order to spend more time in Beijing.
[This message has been edited by moondog (edited Feb 19, 2004).]
Try posting in the "Asia" forum; you might get more action.
PS - If I were you, I'd trim Xian and Hangzhou down to one day each (and maybe even reduce Shanghai to 2 days) in order to spend more time in Beijing.
[This message has been edited by moondog (edited Feb 19, 2004).]
Feb 19, 2004 | 2:31 pm
#3
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: san diego, ca
Programs: AA 2MM
Posts: 913
I agree with Moondog's advice about trimming itinerary to spend more time in Beijing, but that is strictly a personal bias. I never tire of Beijing.
Xian's clay army is stupendous but the city can be gridlocked and a bit of an eyesore; you can see the terra-cotta army on a day trip, if time gets short.
Guilin has also become very touristy, though the karst scenery is awesome; i'd catch an early morning boat down the Li River, rather than lingering in Guilin.
Shanghai is the most Westernized city and sheer numbers of people can be overpowering, but it used to have wonderful - and genuine - antiques, if you are interested in that.
Weather: I've seen snow in Beijing end of March, start of April, but later in the month should be quite nice and warmer, of course, in the south.
Xian's clay army is stupendous but the city can be gridlocked and a bit of an eyesore; you can see the terra-cotta army on a day trip, if time gets short.
Guilin has also become very touristy, though the karst scenery is awesome; i'd catch an early morning boat down the Li River, rather than lingering in Guilin.
Shanghai is the most Westernized city and sheer numbers of people can be overpowering, but it used to have wonderful - and genuine - antiques, if you are interested in that.
Weather: I've seen snow in Beijing end of March, start of April, but later in the month should be quite nice and warmer, of course, in the south.
Feb 20, 2004 | 8:32 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 7,037
Thanks for the replies.
We may take the advice and add a day to Beijing in order to do more temple/palace visiting. We're doing all the usual tourist things (but emphasizing older art, architecture, museums, etc. with no shopping, factories, etc). Huangshan is the exception - it's not on the usual itinerary, but we've been studying paintings of the Yellow Mountains and wanted to see them.
We may take the advice and add a day to Beijing in order to do more temple/palace visiting. We're doing all the usual tourist things (but emphasizing older art, architecture, museums, etc. with no shopping, factories, etc). Huangshan is the exception - it's not on the usual itinerary, but we've been studying paintings of the Yellow Mountains and wanted to see them.