Je pars bientôt en Chine (fin mai) et j'avais plusieurs questions. Merci de tout conseil et aide pour ce voyage!
1. Les billets de train Pékin Xi an il vaut mieux les acheter sur place ou avant mon départ ?
2. De même pour des billets d'avion Xi'an Yangshuo/Guilin ?
3. Pour visiter Pékin, la grande muraille, Xi'an il vaut mieux avoir un guide ?
4. Avez vous des conseils de rando à Guilin un peu sortis de l'ordinaire touristique ?
5. Les hôtels à Xi'an, Guilin faut il les réserver combien de temps à l'avance ?
6. Argent: Il vaut mieux avoir des euros et les changer sur place ou sortir des yuans au distributeur automatique ?
1) Billets de Train
Obtenir un billet : En Chine, les billets de train se prennent uniquement au guichet des gares concernées (dans ton cas Pékin ou Xian, la gare de Shanghai par exemple ne peut te les fournir). Et si tu veux être sur d'avoir LE train qu'il te faut, prends de l'avance. De plus, une gare chinoise est toujours bondée, prévoit une grosse heure (si il n'y a pas trop de monde) pour obtenir ton billet.
J'imagine que tu as choisi de prendre un train de nuit entre Pékin et Xian. Fais bien attention de prendre un billet pour les couchettes molles.
Enfin, sache que dans les gares, il te faudra parler chinois ou le langage des signes ... l'anglais n'est pas chose courante ici.
Prendre ton train : Le jour J, prévoit au moins une heure d'avance à la gare, pour passer le service de sécurité, puis trouver ta salle d'attente, puis ton quai. Attention, 10 minutes avant le départ du train, les passagers n'ont plus accès aux quais.
La première fois que j'ai pris le train en Chine, j'en ai presque regretté notre SNCF ! Cependant, cela reste une expérience enrichissante, inégalable et très chinoise !!!!
2) Billets d'avion
Les aéroports chinois sont très similaires aux aéroports européens. Tu ne devrais donc pas rencontrer de problèmes. Cependant, plus tu attends avant de prendre tes billets, plus les prix seront élevés. En ce moment, comptes 700 rmb pour un vol Xian-Guilin pour fin mai ... mais si tu attends, attends toi à payer plus de 1 100 rmb.
3)Visites importantes et Guides
Cela ne dépend que de toi ! si tu aimes avoir des informations lors des visites ... prends un guide ! Des guides t'accosteront devant les grands sites touristiques ; cependant, pour avoir un guide francophone et être sur de la qualité du guide, prend de l'avance et passe par une agence spécialisée.
Pour les visites en dehors de la ville (comme, la grandes muraille et le tombeaux des Ming ou l'armée enterrée), faire appel à un guide est très judicieux et permet d'éviter les transport en commun, stress et pertes de temps.
4) Rando à Guilin
Pour les balades, sort de Guilin et va à Yangshuo, ce village est entouré par des rizières !!! deux randos sont recommandés : Yangshuo-Fuli et Yangshuo-pont du dragon. A pied ou à vélo, tu peux te régaler ... et n'hésite pas à joindre les villages plus éloignés et à rentrer en bus.
Si tu aimes la marche, évite le site de badaling pour la grande muraille, et fait la rando qui part du site de Simatai et qui rejoint Jingshanling.
5) Hotel
Comme partout .... cela dépend de ton mode de voyage (plutôt organisé ou plutôt routard ?)
6) RMB
Tout dépend de ta banque, de ton forfait et des taux de changes. Renseigne toi au pré de ton banquier pour payer le moins de frais possible.
En France, compte une dizaine de jours pour que ta banque recoive des RMB.
En Chine, retirer des RMB est touours possible avec une carte bleue francaise mais tu ne peux pas payer avec ta carte bleue dans la majorité des magasins et restaurants. Attention, rééchanger des RMB en euros est plus compliqué !
Tu peux également utiliser des traveler check !
Dans tous les cas, attention à la fausse monnnaie.
Voilà, j'arrive à la fin de tes questions. J'espère que mes réponses sont claires et précises.
Bonjour, une question bête à propos des trains : pour les trains couchettes, les contrôleurs te réveillent quand tu es à destination ou il faut un réveil ?
1) Billets de Train
Obtenir un billet : En Chine, les billets de train se prennent uniquement au guichet des gares concernées
Faux.
Inutile d'aller vous-même à la gare !
N'importe quel hôtel, guesthouse, auberge de jeunesse vous les fournira pour quelques yuans de plus sans que vous ayez à vous déplacer. Pour les billets d'avion, vous pouvez les réserver par internet et les retirer sur place ou vous les faire livrer à votre hôtel.
Prendre le train de nuit de Pékin à Xi'an est très facile, aucun besoin de parler chinois, tout est affiché en anglais également. Vous passez le contrôle des bagages à l'entrée de la gare, vous prenez l'escalier roulant qui est devant vous et au premier étage à gauche vous avez la salle d'attente. On vous appelle, il y a des panneaux en anglais, bref pour louper son train il faut le faire exprès.
En ce qui concerne les visites, soit vous les faites vous-même en bus, soit vous passez par l'hôtel qui pourra vous réserver un taxi plus un guide si vous voulez.
A Xi'an, c'est pareil, vous faites vous-même ou l'hôtel s'en charge.
En ce qui concerne les guides francophones, c'est un peu plus compliqué, il y en a très peu et ils sont réservés en priorité aux groupes. Attendez-vous à avoir un guide anglophone.
Concernant l'argent, il vaut mieux les retirer en yuans sur place, au fur et à mesure de vos besoins. Inutile de les acheter en Europe, je serais bien étonnée que les taux soient meilleurs qu'en Chine. Et s'il vous reste des yuans que vous n'arrivez pas à dépenser, gardez-les pour un prochain voyage ! Je plaisante, quand il m'en reste, je les change à mon retour ici.
Bonne préparation et bon voyage,
Danielle
A man, a plan, a canal, Panama - palindrome, auteur inconnu
"2) Billets d'avion
Les aéroports chinois sont très similaires aux aéroports européens. Tu ne devrais donc pas rencontrer de problèmes. Cependant, plus tu attends avant de prendre tes billets, plus les prix seront élevés. En ce moment, comptes 700 rmb pour un vol Xian-Guilin pour fin mai ... mais si tu attends, attends toi à payer plus de 1 100 rmb. "
Alors ca a change depuis pas longtemps, depuis au moins 2007 pour moi, et pour d autre avant (qui m avait conseille la dessus) et jusqu a il y a quelques jours, c est en prenant les billets au dernier moment que tu as les eilleurs prix (a condition qu il reste des places, mais je n ai jamais du attendre plus de quelques heures), j ai meme eu un bug sur une reservation dont je me suis appercu en allant enregistrer, j ai achete un billet a la derniere minute, moins cher que le prix de la reservation faite la veille ou l avant veille!
evidemment, ca marche mieux et plus facilement si tu voyages seul et que tu as le choix dans la date
D'après toi, est ce qu'il est plus interessant de réserver les billets au tarif réduit sur ctrip (On trouve facilement des billets réduits à 20 ou 30%...) ou alors les prix sont encore plus intéressants sur place, à la dernière minute dans une agence? Combien as tu payé pour tes billets en les prennant sur place par ex ? (et pour quel trajet ;) )
"D'après toi, est ce qu'il est plus interessant de réserver les billets au tarif réduit sur ctrip"
ta question est incomplete: je pense que c est plus interessant financierement de prendre ses billets au dernier moment, a condition d avoir le choix dans la date.
si pour une raison ou pour une autre (planning serre, imperatifs professionnels, ...) tu dois respecter un calendrier alors il est plus interessant de reserver a l avance, ou tu vas probablement payer plus cher mais tu auras ta place a coup sur
je pense que l esprit commercial de la chose est de liquider les places restantes au dernier moment plutot que de les laisser vides, mais si tout est reserve a l avance, il n y a plus rien a liquider, ca m est arrive une seule fois, et l avion suivant etait 3h plus tard, avec des places a liquider. sur des grosses lignes et sur des dates "normales" tu auras toujours de la place au dernier moment. sur des petites lignes ou au dates chaudes (golden week, nouvel an...) le pari est plus risque
Combien as tu payé pour tes billets en les prennant sur place par ex ? (et pour quel trajet ;) )
je n ai pas un souvenir certain, mais par exemple il me semble avoir paye un aller simple pekin shanghai 450 yuan(40 euros a l epoque) avec 60% de reduc au dernier moment (le soir pour le lendemain matin), les prix peuvent bouger mais la politique commerciale semble la meme: ils liquident les dernieres places (qd il y en a) avec 60% de reduc au mieux, donc regarde les prix normaux sur internet et fais ton calcul. sinon fais comme si tu etais en voyage et regarde les prix pour le lendemain ou le jour meme; en faisant ca 5 ou 6 fois tu auras une idee du cote "interessant de la chose"
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I’m looking for advice from seasoned travelers about a roughly one-month trip to Japan.
From late October to late November 2026.
We often travel in Southeast Asia but have never been to Japan.
Based on what I’ve read, I’d love to hear your thoughts on:
- Is traveling day-to-day, without booking hotels or trains in advance, possible in Japan?
(I’ve read many travel journals and blogs that say everything was booked way in advance… but that’s not how we usually travel.)
- Will the Japan Rail Pass be worth it for us?
(According to an old simulator, I’m looking at around 400 € for trains compared to 570 € for the JRP.)
Here’s our rough itinerary (which may change):
- Arrival Osaka: 3 nights with Nara
- Hiroshima and Miyajima Island: 3 nights
- Kurashiki or Naoshima: 2 nights
- Himeji: 1 night
- Kyoto: 4 nights
- Kanazawa: 2 nights
- Takayama and Shirakawa-go: 3 nights
- Around Mount Fuji: 3 nights
- Tokyo with Nikko: 6 nights (no theme parks)
Departure from Tokyo
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
I booked my trip from May 5 to 26, 2027. I’m starting to plan my itinerary and look for hotels (I know it’s early!). While I’ve found some in Seoul and Busan, I’m noticing that elsewhere—like Yeosu—most hotels aren’t available (on Booking.com, for example, almost all are unavailable). AI tells me not to worry because hotels in South Korea only open bookings 6 months in advance, so it’s normal to see most of them unavailable on booking sites.
Could you confirm this for me and, of course, reassure me (!)? Thanks so much.
philippe
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.
We’re arriving as a group of three in Tokyo on Saturday, October 17th, then heading straight to Kyoto by direct train.
On Sunday and Monday, we’ll explore Kyoto, and in the evening, we’ll take a train to Osaka to spend the night.
On Tuesday, we’ll pick up a rental car at Itami Airport for a 6-day/5-night road trip around Shikoku:
- 2 nights in the Iya Valley
- Thursday morning, we’ll head to Matsuyama for 2 nights.
- Saturday, we’ll visit Mima (town, a few temples + overnight stay) and return on Sunday to drop off the car in Osaka.
We’ll leave very early on Monday the 26th by plane for Aomori in northern Honshu, where we’ll pick up another rental car at the airport for a 5-day/4-night trip:
- Day 1: Tsugaru Peninsula (Takayam Inari, Cape Tappi, Kanita); overnight in Kanita
- Day 2: Ferry transfer to the Mutsu Peninsula (cliffs, Lake Usori); overnight in Shimofuro
- Day 3: Head to the Hakkoda Mountains and onsens galore; overnight TBD
- Day 4: Return the car in Aomori by noon and explore the city before taking the train to Tokyo in the evening
We’ll spend Friday night in Tokyo, wander around on Saturday, and head home on Sunday.
Thoughts on the road feasibility of this trip? We’ll be there right in the middle of Koyo season, so it’ll be busy...
I know it’s a lot of driving, but there are two of us who can take turns. We’re not afraid of driving, even in the mountains and on the left side! Just wondering, are we going to be rushing, or is this manageable? AI says it’s all good, but it’s not the one driving...
Any tips for booking accommodations in the Iya Valley? Not many places have email addresses or websites (I know Booking.com exists, but not all listings are on there... and given the season, I think it’s better to book ahead!). Same question applies for northern Honshu.
For the rental car, I’m thinking of going with Alamo since at least it’s in French and straightforward, but are there any direct rental companies with user-friendly websites (Toyota Rentacar, ugh... 🏴☠️)?
Another question: With so many trains, is it even necessary to book them in advance? Can we just go to the ticket counter and grab seats on the spot?
For paying for the rental car, do we need a credit or debit card?
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.
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?
