Je vais passer un peu plus de 15 jours en chine. J'épluche les guides et les forums pour me faire un itinéraire sympa, sans passer ma vie dans les trains tout en essayant d'en voir le plus possible (plus facile à dire qu'à faire...)
Mais voilà, je dois faire des choix... Voici la liste des endroits où j'aimerais vraiment aller, mais tout ne sera pas possible. Je veux bien vos avis sur les sites que je peux laisser tomber sans trop de regret. Et si vous voulez me compliquer la vie, vous pouvez aussi rajouter des sites que vous me conseillez absolument même s'ils sont pas dans ma liste 😉
Région de Shangaï : shangaï, Hangzhou, Suszhou, Nanjing, Huang Shan.
Région de Beijing : trois jours pleins dans la ville, la muraille de Simatai, Chengde
Shanxi et Shaanxi : Xian, Datong, Hua Shan, Pingyao
Et aussi : Quingdao
17 jours exactement (sans compter les jours de voyage). Mais comme je disais, je sais bien que c'est impossible et c'est pour ça que je demande de l'aide pour choisir les sites à abandonner. C'est vrai que je compte aussi faire la plupart des longs trajets de nuit (mais est ce que ce sera possible... ??)
c'est vrai ton séjour est trop court pour toutes ces destinations, rien que les montagnes ça te prendre plusieurs jours faciles, je te conseille de laisse tomber Datong, Pingyao.
dapeng
nemo a raison et en plus attention aux hotels ...c'est souvent plein la ou tu voudra aller ...
au fait, pourquoi faire une course pareille pour visiter un pays qui se decouvre petit a petit ...?
Il est important de percevoir combien votre propre bonheur est lié à celui des autres, il n'existe pas de bonheur individuel totalement indépendant d'autrui.....(Dalaï-Lama)
Finalement, plutôt que de rabioter des petits coins sympas dans chaque région, mieux vaut laisser tomber complètement une région. Ceci dit, le problème est le même je ne sais pas si j'abandonne la région de Xian ou celle de Beijing ou celle de Shangaï... Peut être la plus touristique (c'est laquelle ?) puisque j'y serais en période de congé chinois. Un avis sur la question ?
Pour moi tu détient la clée du voyage dans le nord de la chine, et pour une première approche c'est déja pas mal.
Je n'ai pas lu ou tu attérie, ni ton budget, mais je te donnerais moi mon itinéraire fétiche pour le nord:
Jour1: Shanghai - transfert, trouver un hôtel, découverte du bound (diner dans un resto de rue)
Jour 2: Départ pour Hangzhou (aller retour dans la journée), flanerie autour du lac, visite du temple, détour par la montagne au thé (si tu décide de dormir sur place, le marcher de nuit est sympas et les boudha en boit brut sont vraiment magnifique)pour le déjeuné, je te conseille le poulet à l'éttoufé
Jour 3: Suzhou:visite des jardins (une bonne liste sur le site
Jour 4: visite de shanghai, perle tower, marcher au faux (qui n'y vas pas, même si maintenant il est dans un bulding), nouvelle ville ancienne (pour les premier souvenir, et le premier mc do du voyage), temple du boudha de jade (vraiment sympas, le boudha en jade se trouve à la fin du temple sur la droite quand tu as le temple dans le dos, il faut monter dans le petit musée), fin de soirée, de l'autre côté du bound au starbeck café (mais si tu vas trouver avec le plan pop up de galimard et un mp)
Jour 5: départ pour Xi'an - arrivée, première découverte de la ville, visite du musée de la province, diner le soir de dumpling sur la place principale (attention ils ferme tôt à 8h y'as presque plus rien à manger), ballade le soir sur la place avec les vendeurs de cerf-volant.
Jour 6: La terracotta et les terme (negocier ferme à la sortie de la terracotta pour le taxi et les babioles, les vendeurs ne sont pas pauvre loin de la (pour la chine j'entant).
Jour 7 ballade autour de xi'an à la découverte des tombeau QUI et TANG (me souvient plus de l'orthographe), un peut long, mais vraiment sympas pour le dépaysement (et surtous pour le temple à la fin ou sont entreposer des phalange de boudha)
Jour 8 ballade aux monastère des oies sauvages (petite et grande pagode), visite des deux tour, la mosqué, et ballade dans le souk de la mosqué.
Jour 9: départ pour Beijing - découverte des Hutong, diner d'un merveilleux canard laqué dans le plus ancien restaurant spécialisé dans ce concepte avec des cerveuses qui ont une jupe fendut (aïe pas taper) et ou il comptes les milliers de canard sacrifier au bonheur des touristes et autres gastronomes.
Jour 10: Direction la grande muraille (destination à ta discretion)
Jour 11: La sitée interdite (y aller le plus tôt possible et prévoir de l'eau)
Jour 12: le palais d'été
Jour 13: le reste de Beijing: temple des lamas - heven temple ...
Les deux derniers jours sont consacré aux transport pour shanghai, aux cadeaux, ou laisse la possibilité de changer le programme, attention, ce n'est ni une proposition ni un guideà suivre, il y'as tant d'autres chose à faire, mais c'est comme ca que j'ai fait découvrire la chine à ma famille et à mes amis ...
Voila pour les questions logistiques et autres d'ordre pratique j'assure aussi le service après vente ...😏
Philo
"J'ai refait tous les calculs, notre projet est irréalisable, il ne nous reste plus qu'une chose à faire, le réaliser". Latecoere
dyslexique
désolé cé vrai qu'il y a pas de touriste etranger par labas. C'est un havre de paix sauf le weekend envahit par les hordes de touristes chinois avec le guide qui hurle dans son haut-parleur.
😉
Merci pour vos réponses, merci philobate pour ton itinéraire au menu près 😉
Quelques précisions sur mon voyage : j'arrive et je repars de shangaï, j'ai pas le choix puisque c'est un voyage profesionnel (enfin le début est pro, la fin est touristique 😎). Je reste du 16 au 21/09 à Shangaï pour le boulot et je pense que j'aurais largement le temps de découvrir la ville pendant ces quelques jours. Je suis d'ailleurs preneur pour les bons plans : restos, quartiers sympas etc (pas besoin pour le logement)... dans Shangaï.
Ensuite, du 21/09 au 06/10, je suis en vadrouille. Pour cette quinzaine, je pense finalement que je vais me "restreindre" à la région de shangaï pour la fin (semaine des congés chinois) et à la région de Xian au début. Tant pis pour Pekin, il y a trop de choses à voir dans ce coin, j'irais une autre fois.
Concernant les bons plan à shanghai, je te donne déja mon meilleur dans mon premier poste ...
Aller boire un verre (presque tous les soirs) en face du bound ...
Le bound est cette promenade face à la rivière border de facade coloniale, et trés bien mise en valeur ..., sur le bound ou vont beaucoup de touriste on a une super vue sur Pudong (nouveau quartier d'affaire) et sur les tour en construction...
Finalement on a pas une si belle vue sur les jolie facade qui se trouve derrière nous lorsque l'on regarde la rivière ...
La solution est simple ... aller de l'autre côté, quand tu sera sur le bound, tu verra de l'autre côté de M de Macdo (ils sont vraiment trés forts), et bien c'est sur cette esplanade.
Pour la rejoindre il faut prendre le métro jusqu'a l'arret de la perle tower (me souvient plus du nom) puis partir en direction de la rivière (ou du Shangri La), ensuite tu traverse le millenium park (pas sur du nom, Yang.... connetra, ou se souviendra plus que moi). Arrivé sur l'esplanade c'est pleins d'enseigne de restauration occidentale j'en convient, mais c'est paisible, sympas et tu as une superbe vue sur les facades du bound (pas mal d'expat, peut de touristes, et un peut de chinois).
Pour les resto, il faut me dire ce que tu aime, et je te donne des adresses..., en vrac:
Envie de viande (oui la cuisine chinoise ne grille que trés peut les viandes): Le Bresilien, un all you can eat du tonnere pour 10€
Envie de sushi: Sakae sushi (près de Jiang si), frais et vraiment bon pour pas chère
Envie de Tepaniaki: Sunny Tepaniaki, dans la conscession francaise
Envie de nouriture shanghaienne, le shanghai moon (plus sur du nom exact)
et ainsi de suite, tu peut même manger de trés bon beijing duck ... tu logera dans qu'elle hôtel ?
Philo
"J'ai refait tous les calculs, notre projet est irréalisable, il ne nous reste plus qu'une chose à faire, le réaliser". Latecoere
dyslexique
Peux tu me dire où se trouve Zhaouzuhang et qu'y a til à voir ?
( Je ne l'ai pas trouvé sur le guide bleu, et j'attends novembre pour le nouveau Lonely )
Merci
Me revoilà avec un itinéraire complètement différent....
Finalement je vais explorer le nord de shangaï, sans remonter jusqu'à Pekin (et aussi un chouïa le sud). L'itinéraire donnerait à peu près ça :
Suzhou - Zhenjiang - Nanjing - Yangzhou - Zhaozhuang - Qufu - Tai shan - Quingdao - Hangzhou - Huang Shan (en partant et en revenant de Shangaï donc)
J'hésite à laisser Quingdao au profit de Yantai, Weihai et Penglai (plus au nord). J'ai peu d'info sur ces villes, alors dites moi ce que vous en pensez 🙂
J'hésite aussi à pousser vers Shaoxing et l'île de Putuoshan (en laissant je ne sais pas quoi ...).
Ca me parait faisable en 2 semaines... Ou est ce que c'est toujours du marathon ?
Apparemment le 28 septembre c'est la fete (de confucius) à Qufu. Ca doit etre sympa d'y etre mais j'imagine que c'est aussi très dur de se loger à ce moment.
Comme je disais, je cherche les coins les "moins" touristiques pour la semaine du 1° octobre. Parmi les villes j'ai retenu Zhenjiang - Nanjing - Yangzhou - Zhaozhuang. C'est bien ça ?
Autre question : j'ai vu qu'on pouvait acheter des yuans via nationalchange.com. La commision est d'environ 15 euros pour 1000 euros de change. Est ce que ça a un intérêt ou bien est ce qu'il vaut mieux partir avec mes euros et changer sur place ?
Nominanda, Zhaozhuang est au nord de Xuzhou (50aine de km) dans la province de Anhui.
Philobate, je logerais sur le campus (east china normal university) à Shangaï. soit un hotel sans doute très quelconque, soit dans le centre d'accueil des étudiants étrangers (et assez loin du centre ville 😠)
Tu as choisit vraiment un belle itinéraire !
Tu vas courire un peut, mais ca vas être sympas ... effectivement il vas y avoir du monde, mais ca vas être amusant ...
Si tu peut aller à Putuashan n'hésite pas, et laisse toi séduire par les rabateur dans le hall d'arrivé, ils sont honnete ...
Pour le logmement, ce n'est pas bien grave les taxi ne sont pas trés chère et tu ne fera qu'y dormire ... 😏
Philo
"J'ai refait tous les calculs, notre projet est irréalisable, il ne nous reste plus qu'une chose à faire, le réaliser". Latecoere
dyslexique
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JE PREPARE UN VOYAGE AU YUNNAN POUR LE MOIS DE NOVEMBRE; POUVEZ VOUS ME DONNER DES CONSEILS, SUR LES BUS, TRAINS, AINSI QUE SUR LES PRINCIPAUX SITES A VISITER.…
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?
