Au cours d'un voyage en Chine que je prépare pour octobre 2012, je me pose la question de réserver ou non l'hôtel vers Huangshan.
Je passerai 2 nuits dans le coin, arrivant de Hangzhou et repartant ensuite à Shanghai.
J'envisage le circuit suivant :
jour 1 : arrivée le matin depuis Hangzhou ; on dépose les bagages à Tangkou ; visite de Xidi et Hongcun ; nuit à Tangkou
jour 2 : départ tôt pour les Montagnes Jaunes ; aller-retour dans la même journée par télécabine (est-ouest) ; nuit à Tangkou
jour 3 : retour vers Shanghai
La visite de Xidi et Hongcun est-elle facile de cette manière ?
Vaut-il mieux réserver les 2 nuits à Tangkou ? ou plutôt la première nuit seulement, pour voir s'il est possible sur place de réserver la 2ème nuit en haut ?
je prépare un voyage un peu comme le tien mais avec comme destination Tunxi. C'est plus loin du téléphérique mais je pense que c'est un peu plus sympa à visiter (d'après les guides, vieille rue avec architecture Ming).
Une remarque, Hangzhou - Tunxi c'est 3h30 de bus (d'après Lonely), je crois que Tangkou est un peu plus loin, non ? Cela risque de ne pas laisser beaucoup de temps pour visiter Hongcun et Xidi ? J'ai prévu de passer une nuit de plus moi du coup.
Voyage fait le mois dernier
oh oui il faut dormir à Tunxi !!Très sympa
La lao jie et ses vieilles maisons extraordinaires...
A SAVOIR : Pour les marches de l ' est et de l ouest du HUANGSHAN on ne peut plus aller au pied des téléphériques en voiture taxi ou bus, la zone est bouclée et on vous amène à une station de bus qui vous guide soit vers l' est soit vers l' ouest prix du ticket de bus 59 yuans /pers !!!Prix exorbitant qui nous a fait penser qu il s' agissait d'un aller retour Que nenni 59yuans de plus pour le retour !Droit d' entrée dans la zone géographique 280 yuans /pers !!! aller retour téléphérique 160 yuans /pers soit un total pour nous trois de 1674yuans(215euros)!!!pour entrer au Huangshan....Il faut compter minimum 2h d' attente pour prendre les télécabines aux marches de l' est pour les marches de l'ouest je ne sais pas...
La visite de Xidi et Hongcun est à ne pas manquer facilement accessible de Tunxi.
pour les villages j' ai négocié avec un taxi(200yuans) il nous amenait et attendait le temps qu il fallait( bon je parle un tout petit peu chinois)On est parti de Tunxi à 8h30 et retour vers 14h . En effet nuits à Tunxi ville super agréable!!
Nous avons fait la grimpette des marches de l' est à pied:: 3h30! et redescendu en télé .Pour monter en télécabine l' attente était estimée à 3h!On y était à 9h du matin Quand on est redescendu à 16 h personne!!
Maintenant ce que je ferais c' est y aller en fin d' après midi et passer une nuit au sommet....Les paysages sont vraiment fabuleux mais c' est vraiment une grosse machinerie à touristes....
J'hésite effectivement entre Tunxi et Tangkou.
Mon choix de Tangkou est surtout motivé par la possibilité de prendre le téléphérique au plus tôt le matin.
Hangzhou-Tangkou semble possible en bus (gare routière de l'ouest, 3 ou 4 bus par jour, durée 3h ; mais je n'ai pas plus de précision : si qq'un connait les horaires et durée ?).
Ceux qui y sont allés : avez-vous réservé un hôtel là-haut à l'avance, ou fait le choix sur place (est-ce facile hors week-end) ?
nuit 1 : à Tunxi, plus facile d'accès, plus sympa, plus pratique pour visiter Xidi, mais certes plus éloignée des montagnes (~60km j'ai cru comprendre)
nuit 2 : en haut (je prendrai ma réservation à l'avance, par ex. hôtel Baiyun plutôt bien noté)
Oui !C' est ce qu' il faut faire!Tunxi (la lao jie)est vraiment à voir .pour le huangshan passer la nuit au sommet permet d'aller au pied des télécabines vers 15 h d' éviter ainsi les 2 à 3H de file d' attente du matin , de s'installer et de faire une première ballade , de voir le coucher de soleil Que du bohneur quoi!🙂
Tu parles de Xidi mais n' oublies pas de visiter Hongcun aussi !
Merci pour la recommandation.
Où as-tu dormi en haut ? et à quel prix (je ne vois que des hôtels > 100 € la nuit)
Avais-tu réservé à l'avance ? réservé depuis Tunxi ? ou pas réservé du tout ?
Voici mon retour d'expérience (fin octobre 2012), pour ceux à qui ça pourrait servir.
C'est une option que je recommande, car Tunxi vaut le détour, contrairement à Tangkou.
J'ajouterai : ne pas hésiter à payer les ~100 € de nuit d'hôtel en haut des Montagnes Jaunes, sinon c'est la course.
Old Street Youth Hostel (auberge de Tunxi) : ils parlent très bien anglais et sont très serviables.
En revanche ailleurs, l'anglais est très peu parlé, alors il faut se débrouiller autrement.
Mais les Chinois étaient plutôt sympatiques, et les taxis mettent sans problème le compteur en marche.
Mercredi :
09h40 : Départ de Hangzhou en bus (départ Gare routière de l’ouest : Xizhan), en direction de Huangshan City. 90 yuans
12h30 : Arrivée à Tunxi. Taxi pour l'auberge de jeunesse Old Street Youth Hostel : 9 yuans. Auberge de jeunesse : 160 yuans pour 2 (préréservé sur le site hostelworld.com)
13h30 : Taxi pour visiter Hongcun (pas le temps pour Xidi, ni pour prendre le bus) : 300 yuans l'A/R (compteur activé) ; compter 1h15 l'aller, et 1h sur place. Très mignon.
19h00 : Dîner en face de l'auberge de jeunesse : excellent resto, original, et pas cher (50 yuans chacun pour un énorme repas)
Jeudi :
08h00 : Départ de l'auberge de jeunesse ; on y laisse notre bagage principal. Taxi pour la gare routière, puis mini bus pour Tangkou (il y en a toutes les 20 minutes) ; compter 1h15 de trajet ; 20 yuans chacun
10h00 : Puis : bus pour Huangshan Mountain : 19 yuans, 280 yuans l'entrée sur le site, 80 yuans la monté en télécabine de l'est (pas de queue du tout, on a eu de la chance)
11h00 : arrivée en haut ; Balade directement vers notre hôtel Paiyunlou, préréservé sur Agoda, 95 € la chambre pour 2 ; très bon hôtel vus les commentaires sur les autres ; je conseille de prendre une chambre et non un dortoir, car ça permet de se coucher tôt (à 21h, dodo !), régler le chauffage comme on le souhaite, et laisser ses affaires sans pb le lendemain matin pour voir le lever du soleil.
13h30 : Déjeuner devant l'hôtel (50 yuans chacun)
14h00 : Balade vers au nord du Xihai Grand Canyon : magnifique
17h00 : Coucher de soleil sur Cloud Dispelling Pavillon ; à 10 min de l'hôtel !
19h00 : Dîner à l'hôtel ; moyen (80 yuans chacun)
21h00 : Bonne nuit à l'hôtel (où il y a même le wifi !!)
Vendredi :
05h30 : Réveil pour voir le lever du soleil prévu à 6h15, au Purple Cloud Pick ; très sympa (l'hôtel prête un gros manteau pour l'occasion)
06h30 : Retour à l'hôtel pour récupérer le sac, petit déjeuner rapidement dans la chambre
07h30 : Check out, et balade vers Flying over rock, Top of Peacks, Rock Watching Pavillon, Forck, Black Tiger Pine, Stone Bamboo Shoot
11h30 : télécabine, et bus vers Tangkou (80 + 19 yuans)
12h30 : Là, la gare n'était pas la même et on n'a pas retrouvé le bus pour Tunxi, du coup : taxi ; 200 yuans au compteur (pour 2)
13h30 : déjeuner à Tunxi, récupération des bagages
15h45 : le bus (réservé à notre demande le mercredi) passe nous prendre pour retour sur Shanghai ; 135 yuans
21h00 : Arrivée à Shanghai, déposés place du Peuple
Bonne balade à ceux qui y vont ; les paysages sont magnifiques, et l'ambiance plutôt agréable (mais j'avoue qu'il n'y avait pas foule et qu'il faisait beau).
Très peu d'occidentaux sur place !
mon compagnon et moi partons en Chine fin mai. Nous voudrions aller à Hunghsan aussi, pour le mont et ce qu'il y a dans les entourages, dont le canyon.
J'ai lu ton post avec interêt, mais je ne comprends toujours pas très bien comment faut-il faire pour aller de Tnuxi aux téléphériques? As-tu pris un taxi ou un bus? C'est assez loin, non?
D'autre part, comme nous reterons deux ou trois jours, nous pensions faire aussi le canyon, et d'autres choses. Pourrais-tu m'aider et m'expliquer ce que nous pouvons faire qui ne soit pas torp éloigné? J'ai vu qu'il était possible de prendre des taxis pour des villages comme honsun, recommenderais tu de faire pareil?
Enfin, dans ton post, tu parles du canyon, vu d'en haut, quand tu es sur le mont. Je croyais que c'etait bien plus loin. Ai je mal compris?
le canyon dont il est question plus haut est au sommet du mont, en tout cas, dans le parc national. Gardez bien en tête que, une fois que vous avez pris le téléphérique, les possibilités de balades sont immenses au sommet et vous pouvez largement occuper plusieurs jours à vous balader au sommet. Par contre, ça impose que vous dormiez au sommet, dans des hôtels de l'ordre de 100€/nuit.
Cette carte est plus qu'utile :
http://www.huangshantour.com/gallery/display.asp?id=1114
De Tungxi, il faut rejoindre Tangkou, la ville qui est au pied de la montagne. Vous pouvez la rejoindre par plusieurs moyens mais le moins cher est de passer par votre hôtel qui doit connaitre des bus (bien s'entendre pour le retour !). A Tangkou, votre transport vous laissera à la gare routière à l'entrée de la ville : en effet, les bus de la ville sont les seuls à aller au téléphérique.
Attention, tout ça est très long. Et l'aller et retour dans la journée pour Tungxi oblige à se lever très tôt et à une journée vraiment épuisante. D'autant que les monts en Chine sont très aménagés, en particulier en escalier... La descente à pied par les marches de l'est nous a tué les genoux pour plusieurs jours...
La vieille rue de Tungxi est vraiment sympa et il faut absolument y résider. Aux alentours, la visite des villages traditionnels de HongCun et de Xidi peut se faire dans la journée et vous permettra de voir un peu la Chine rurale dans un cadre idyllique.
Nous arriverons à Hong Kong le 4 Mars vers 17 heures et nous n'avons pas encore réservé d'hôtel ou de guesthouse. Pensez vous qu'il soit nécessaire de réservé…
Bon, je vous livre la une des mes adresses préférées ou comment réserver un hotel avec des prix négociés sans passer une demie heure a s'énerver au comptoire…
J aimerais passer une bonne semaine a hong kong au debut du mois de fevrier, je ne sais pas si je doit reserver l hotel sur internet (asiaroom ou hotel.com) ou…
I’m starting to look at neighborhoods in Seoul, and I’m leaning toward staying in a hotel in Insa-Dong—I’ve spotted one really close to Unhyeongung.
Is this a good area—nice and convenient for exploring the city?
Otherwise, I’ve also found another hotel in Yongsan-Gu, right near the station of the same name. Is that station useful for getting around Seoul?
Since I’ll be in South Korea for nearly two months, I plan to spend at least a week in Seoul to recover from jet lag (it takes me a while to adjust...). So, I’d love a neighborhood that’s pleasant and a hotel not too far from a subway station.
Hi,
My departure is coming up soon—two months backpacking in Taiwan, so much to discover! I’d love to hear about your travel experiences.
My main interests are meeting people, understanding how things work, hiking, and nature in general. I’ve also done a lot of reading about Taiwan’s complex situation.
I do stone sculpture.
I also want to visit Orchid Island for its history.
Marie
We’re back from a one-month trip to China and wanted to share our itinerary. Hopefully, this can give future travelers some ideas for exploring this beautiful country.
Beijing → Temple of Heaven / Forbidden City
Jinshanling → Great Wall
Zhangjiajie → Tianmen Mountain and Heaven’s Gate
Wulingyuan → Avatar Mountains / sandstone pillars
Fenghuang → riverside houses
Ping’an → terraced rice fields
Tiantouzhai → village / rice terraces
Yangshuo → Li River / karst mountains
Shanghai → skyline with the Oriental Pearl Tower
Our travel journal is available on our travel journal, written day by day. You’ll find lots of photos and some travel tips there.
I could really use your help to finalize our trip to Japan.
We’re heading there for three weeks with my partner, starting November 10th. Our plan was to visit Tokyo, Kyoto, and a few stops in between (nothing too original so far…).
However, we’re more into nature and hiking, so even though we do want to explore Tokyo and Kyoto, we’d like to maximize nature stops between the two. Initially, we’d considered places like Kamikochi, but I understand it’s not accessible this late in the season.
Hi there,
I’d like to do this cycling route over 2 or 3 days. I’m struggling to figure out and find a (good) bike rental that lets me start in Onomichi and drop off in Imabari. Can anyone help with great tips for rentals and accommodations along the route? How do I get back to Onomichi afterward?
Next year, we’re celebrating 20 years of marriage (and travel 🙂), and we’re looking for something new, pretty legendary, and something the teens will enjoy too.
The family council has settled on Japan for now. And it’d have to be a summer trip—no choice there.
The catch: I keep reading that August isn’t the right season for southern Japan. It’s hot, humid, and there’s a risk of typhoons… Okay, but what does that *actually* mean in practice? Are there any travelers who’ve been there during this time? Is it *that* unbearable?
We’re pretty familiar with Southeast Asia—last year, we dealt with scorching heat in Vietnam and insane humidity, plus a typhoon we experienced from a distance, and visiting Angkor in the blazing sun. Is it worse than that?
I’m back with my detailed itinerary for 20 days in South Korea—it’s my first trip to the country. Our idea is to experience a more rural and cultural Korea. Here’s the rough plan: Seoul for 4 nights at the start and 1 night at the end, Gurye for 4 nights, Suncheon for 4 nights, Namhae for 4 nights, and Gyeongju for 2 nights. The goal is to pick a base and explore the surrounding areas. What do you think of this itinerary? Anything you’d change?
thanks
hi everyone, we're heading out for a 12-day trek in the Japanese Alps. We're bringing freeze-dried meals like we always do. We just found out that importing meat is banned, even freeze-dried. Is that true? We already bought them. They're commercially made freeze-dried meals. Online, it's not specified that they have to be "commercially made" because you can make your own freeze-dried food. And since we've heard they're really strict in Japan, can anyone confirm this for us? thanks
I haven’t found what I’m looking for despite my searches!
For a 15-day trip next spring, I’d like to buy a card (preferably an eSIM, but a physical SIM is fine too) that also lets me make calls in the country (to contact a hotel, a tourist spot, etc.).
You can easily find options just for data, but I haven’t come across any that include calls, texts, or even MMS.
Could you recommend something?
hi there
I’m planning a trip in September—here’s my rough itinerary. What do you think? Is it easy to rent a car to get around between my stops? Thanks so much!
Philippe
StopNightsFull daysSeoul44Gurye (Jirisan)43Suncheon43Namhae43Gyeongju21Seoul1—
Hi,
July 2026: I’m writing to you from Dali.
First, I got scammed on Booking—AI-retouched photos. No tourists at this hotel (Yishanju Designer Hotel), and the reality was horrible: dirty, with a disgusting breakfast. It’s better to use Trip.com here.
Next, the old town was an infernal cacophony, packed with tourists who shoved past without a care. Some vendors harassed you to buy things. All the stalls sold the same cheap plastic junk or other uninteresting stuff. The beautiful scenery was ruined by vendors lining 100% of the alleys. Impossible to walk, crushing heat, nothing good to eat except fresh fruit. Horrible experience.
Day 2: We went to Cangshan Mountain by cable car—the ride was short and nothing spectacular. We were at 2,600 m.
My plan was to see Erhai Lake. Unfortunately, I followed the advice of an AI chatbot: take the boat at Langkan Dock. The Didi dropped us off in the nearest area, which was full of charming little alleys but packed with Chinese tourists. The three-wheeled yellow cabs zoomed through the narrow streets, forcing you to hug the walls, on top of the scooters and other pedestrians to deal with. Crossing the neighborhood was hellish and suffocating. Once out, we hit the "corniche," which was also packed with Chinese tourists. The lake’s edge was all pebbles, and everyone was standing around taking photos. I was with my 5-year-old son. I would’ve liked to sit down and let him play with stones by the water, but it was clear we didn’t belong. They were even shoving each other for a shot! There were no boats in sight. In short, we’d had enough, and there was nothing interesting there either.
On the way back, we had to cross that maze again under the scorching sun. My son was braver than me—I even had a little dizzy spell from all the chaos. Add to that Dali’s altitude (2,200 m), so altitude insomnia, fatigue, and vulnerability during the day...
The restaurants weren’t inviting—the staff served sticky rice in a little bucket. The dishes were wrapped, and you had to figure it out yourself. After that, they ignored you completely, even if you were the only tourist.
On the 3rd day, it was time to leave for Shaxi. I hope to see beautiful villages. But honestly, I’m exhausted by this atmosphere where everything is complicated, communication is never smooth, noise is everywhere, and the behavior of some Chinese people is abusive...
Silver lining: not a drop of rain in 4 days and blue skies.
I couldn’t visit the villages in southern Yunnan because of rain and storms there...
But I was expecting to see a few more tourists.
We’re planning a 17-day trip to South Korea in October 2026 with my husband and our daughters, who’ll be 9 years old.
I’d love to get your thoughts on our draft itinerary.
First, some key details:
1/ Jeju Island is a must for us. I’ve personally dreamed of going there for years after reading a novel about it.
2/ Our girls are used to road-trip style travel since they were born, so this kind of trip won’t be an issue for them.
3/ We plan to travel by train, except on Jeju where we’ll rent a car (we already have an international driver’s permit).
Itinerary:
Seoul: 1 arrival day at 10 AM + 4 full days
Gyeongju: 2 days
Busan: 3 days
Jeju: 4 days
Seoul: 2 days
Hi there,
My girlfriend (23) and I (24) are heading to Japan for the first time from October 20th to November 6th. Here’s our itinerary:
6 nights in Tokyo
1 night in Hakone (ryokan already booked)
4 nights in Kyoto (hotel already booked)
2 nights in Osaka
4 nights back in Tokyo
I’d like to book hotels for Tokyo (both stays) and Osaka, but I’ve gotten so many different recommendations.
I’ve read that Shinjuku is the place to be for its huge hub, accessibility, and things to do, but I’ve also heard about Shibuya, Asakusa, and Ueno.
I’ve looked at hotels, and first off, I’m surprised by the prices compared to what I’ve seen on forums (I guess inflation’s hit here too… and maybe I’m late to the booking game?). I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the options.
For our first stay in Tokyo, I’d prefer a hotel (not a residence or Airbnb) since we’ll be arriving at night, and it’s our first time in Japan. It’d be great to have a place with a reception, staff who speak at least a little English, and can give us some guidance. For the second stay, we could consider other options if it’s better.
Budget-wise, we can go up to 150–180 € per night, but if we can save some money to spend elsewhere, that’d be amazing!
I’m open to all recommendations, hotel suggestions, or any other tips for Tokyo (first stay), Osaka, and Tokyo (second stay).
Hi there,
I’m getting ready for a classic tourist trip to China in May 2026.
The "Terres Lointaines" itinerary looks good to me, and the price is interesting.
Has anyone traveled with them before? Any feedback?
Is there a better option?
Thanks so much for sharing your experiences on this!
Michel
I just booked my hotel in Seoul—it’ll be near Unhyeongung, on Samil-Daero 30-Gil—and I’m wondering if there’s public transport from the airport to this address (bus or subway)? If not, what’s the taxi fare? I read it’s around 50 or 60 €.
I’m traveling to Japan with a young adult with autism (ASD) from July 28 to August 8, following a pretty classic route: Osaka, Hiroshima, Kyoto, and Tokyo. I’m looking for a schedule of the most spectacular fireworks displays during that time. So far, the dates for the major *hanabi* events aren’t available online yet. If anyone has them, I’d really appreciate it if you could share!
We’ll be doing a self-drive trip using public transport in May 2026.
On Day 6, we’ll arrive in Hakone by train from Tokyo in late morning. We’ll spend the night in Hakone before heading to Kyoto.
The main goal of this stop is clearly the view (no hiking) of Mount Fuji, not so much exploring Hakone, where the sights seem limited.
I’ve read on the forum that the view is great from Gotemba, but it also takes a good hour by bus to get there. And, apart from that view, there’s nothing else to see in Gotemba!
So, I’m not sure what to choose. Any thoughts? Or alternatives to suggest?
Maybe some spots in Hakone or Gotemba for a great view?
Hi everyone, I’m Julien!
This summer, from late June to late July, I’m planning a one-month solo trip to Japan—my first time!
I’d love to hear your thoughts and advice on the itinerary I’ve put together to explore this amazing country.
Here are the routes I’m considering:
**Option 1: More mountain and nature-focused**
Tokyo: 8 nights, with day trips to Nikko and maybe the Izu Peninsula
Kawaguchiko (Lake Kawaguchi/Mt. Fuji): 1 night. The place looks stunning, but I’m worried Mt. Fuji might not be visible due to the weather
Kyoto: 6–7 nights (including a trip to Nara)
Osaka: 1–2 nights, where I’d like to drop off my things to make the Kumano Kodo easier
Kumano Kodo: 3 nights—an experience I haven’t seen much elsewhere, but I thought it sounded really interesting
Hiroshima: 2 nights
Miyajima: 1 night
Takayama: 3 days
Kanazawa: 3 days (From what I understand, the Osaka–Takayama–Kanazawa–Tokyo route is convenient for transport)
Tokyo: 1 night (return)
**Option 2: More varied but a bit vague in parts**
Tokyo: 8 nights
Kyoto: 7 nights (+ Nara)
Osaka: 2 nights
Kobe + Himeji: just passing through—I’m not sure if it’s worth a night
Naoshima: 1 night—still pretty unclear for me
Takamatsu: 2 nights. An interesting city, but I’m not sure how long to stay
Shimanami Kaido: biking from Imabari to Onomichi, then heading to Hiroshima
Hiroshima: 2 nights
Miyajima: 1 night
Kyushu road trip (Aso + onsens + Fukuoka): 5 nights (also pretty vague—I could fly from Fukuoka back to Tokyo)
Tokyo: 1 night
**Option 3: More balanced/simplified**
Tokyo: 8 nights
Kawaguchiko: 1 night
Kyoto: 7 nights (+ Nara)
Osaka: 2 nights
Koya-san: 1 night
Kumano Kodo: 3 nights
Takayama: 3 nights
Kanazawa: 3 nights
Tokyo: 1 night
A few key points:
I haven’t made any reservations yet, except for the flight tickets.
I know my plans are too packed and will need to be adjusted.
I’m specifically looking for advice on which stops to cut or shorten.
Hello everyone,
Like Cedric13600, I’ve booked a flight ticket for 30 days / 29 nights in September 2026, from Beijing to Shanghai. We’re a couple in our sixties who love independent road trips.
I’d like to draw inspiration from the following private itinerary suggested by a travel agency:
Day 1: Arrival in Beijing
Day 2 to 4: Beijing
Day 5: Datong
Day 6 & 7: Pingyao
Day 8 to 10: Xi'an
Day 11: Luoyang
Day 12: Dengfeng
flight
Day 13 & 14: Chongqing
flight
Day 15 & 16: Lijiang
Day 17: Dali
Day 18: Kunming
Day 19: Jianshui
Day 20 & 21: Yuanyang
Day 22: Travel via Guilin
Day 23 & 24: Yangshuo
Day 25: Guilin
Day 26 & 27: Zhangjiajie
flight
Day 28 & 29: Shanghai
Day 30: Departure from Shanghai
But to do this itinerary independently:
1. This schedule seems very ambitious to me—what do you think?
2. If it’s too packed, what would you remove as a priority?
Thanks so much in advance for your help.
I’m planning a 5-week trip between Yunnan and Sichuan from mid-October to the end of November 2026:
Arriving in Kunming, I’ll do a loop in the far south of Yunnan via Thonghai, Jhiansu, Zhemi, Yuanyang, Nafa, Jinping, Mengzi, and Shilin (visiting markets, villages, and hiking), then head to northern Yunnan/southern Sichuan on the same theme (passing through Kunming again) via Dongchuan, Huize, Qiaojia, Puge, Xichang, Lanba, Butuo, Huolie, Dimo, Riha, Niuniuba, Meigu, Mabian, and Leshan, before arriving in Chengdu (where I’ll take my return flight to Paris).
This would be a trip with a strong ethnic/rural focus. Since I’ve never traveled in China, I’d love to hear your thoughts on doing this solo. Are there public transport options in the region? What tips do you have for traveling through this area as smoothly and enjoyably as possible? I’ve done quite a bit of backpacking in the mountains of northern Vietnam and really enjoyed using local motorbike drivers. Is something like that available in this region (through local tourist agencies or hotels)?
What should I be cautious about? Are local tourist agencies (or hotels) offering tours and guides reliable? If you know of any specialized sites sharing tips or experiences, or names of local agencies, hotels, etc., please don’t hesitate to share them! :)
In short, all your advice (on any topic that comes to mind!) is very welcome.
Thanks so much!
While researching South Korea, I came across the term "templestay," which refers to a Korean program that lets you stay in a traditional temple to discover Buddhism and Korean culture by living like the temple residents and doing activities like making lanterns.
A templestay isn’t just for foreign tourists—on the booking site, I saw that some temples are more geared toward foreigners, with English-speaking monks.
I was wondering if it’s still worth it, especially in temples where the monks don’t speak English?
I'm 69 years old and heading to China, where most tourist sites are free or discounted for me. However, trip.com either refuses to let me book because the sites are free or doesn’t apply the discount. Does WeChat apply this discount if I book through them? How can I just reserve without paying and pay on-site? Is that possible?
I’d love to get some feedback on our 30-day / 29-night itinerary in China. We’ll be there in September as a family with two kids (6 and 10 years old).
Do you think I should cut a few nights between Wulingyuan (Avatar Mountain) and Yangshuo? I’ve planned 15 nights total there.
We’ll be on a round-the-world trip starting May 2026 and will need to do schoolwork with the kids. Hoping to fit it in during train rides!!
Ever since I started planning this China itinerary, I’ve been discovering completely mind-blowing places I’d never heard of before—30 days feels way too short for China!!!
Here’s our itinerary:
Beijing - 4 nights
Forbidden City
Great Wall of China
Temple of Heaven
Xi’an - 3 nights
Terracotta Army
Muslim Quarter & Great Mosque
Chengdu - 3 nights
Zoo - Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
Wenshu Yuan Temple
Hi there,
We just got back from a 2-week trip to China as a couple, and before we left, the budget was the hardest thing to picture concretely. We found plenty of info on visas, apps, transport, and itineraries, but way fewer detailed breakdowns of what you *actually* spend on the ground.
So, we took the time to share our real budget for 14 days. In our case, we spent around 1,800 € per person, with a big chunk of that going toward round-trip flights at about 600 € per person. We were also pretty surprised by how affordable China can be once you’re there—transport is often cheap, and a lot of everyday expenses stay reasonable.
The trickiest part, in the end, was figuring out how to pay while you’re there, since it’s not always obvious if you’re not prepared. But once everything’s set up and you get the hang of it, it’s really smooth.
If this can help other travelers get a better idea before they go, we’ve broken it all down here:
https://aventures-sans-mesaventure.com/budget-2-semaines-de-voyage-en-chine/
Hi everyone,
I’ve been planning several itineraries for a trip to Japan with my wife but would love your insights before we start booking!
In short, we want to go during Golden Week, see late-blooming cherry trees, and have the freedom to get around with a rental car.
Here’s the plan:
18-day itinerary in Japan (April 25 → May 12)
Goal: freedom, late cherry blossoms, culture & nature
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Days 1–3: Tokyo (April 25–27)
Arrival and adjustment (no car needed yet).
Neighborhoods to visit: Shinjuku, Asakusa, Meiji Jingu, Shibuya, Odaiba.
Suggested activities: Ghibli Museum, Sumida River cruise, izakaya meals.
Late cherry blossoms (yaezakura) possible at Shinjuku Gyoen.
Pick up the rental car on the morning of April 27.
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Days 4–5: Mount Fuji & Hakone (April 27–28)
Route: Tokyo → Kawaguchiko/Hakone (~2 h).
Activities:
Lake Kawaguchi, Chureito Pagoda (Fuji views + late cherry blossoms)
Onsen baths, Hakone Open-Air Museum.
Stay: ryokan with onsen and views of Mount Fuji.
Activities:
Preserved old town, sake breweries, UNESCO village of Shirakawa-go.
Stay: traditional minshuku (thatched-roof house).
Cherry blossoms are finishing at this altitude — beautiful mountain/nature contrasts.
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Days 8–10: Kyoto & Nara (May 1–3)
Route: Takayama → Kyoto (~4 h 30).
Activities in Kyoto:
Fushimi Inari (red torii gates), Golden Pavilion, Arashiyama, Gion (geisha district).
Day trip to Nara:
Free-roaming deer in Nara Park, Todai-ji Temple, Kasuga Taisha Shrine.
Stay: Kyoto (3 nights).
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Day 11: Osaka or Himeji (May 4)
Route: Kyoto → Osaka (~1 h) or Himeji (~1 h 30).
Option 1: Osaka → modern vibe, street food, castle.
Option 2: Himeji → stunning UNESCO-listed castle.
Stay: Osaka.
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Days 12–13: Kanazawa (May 5–6)
Route: Osaka → Kanazawa (~4 h 30).
hi! Is it easy to use for paying for all the small purchases at the markets? INSTALLATION AND USE WITHOUT ISSUES—do you also need a VPN for China?
Secondly, for using phone and internet, I have Orange—is it reliable, or should I go with Airalo instead?
