Feedback on my China itinerary - Hong Kong to Chengdu

Hi there,

I’m planning a route through China from Hong Kong to Chengdu.

Here’s the draft:

Hong Kong + Macau (4 nights) Shenzhen (1 night) Guangzhou (2 nights) Yangshuo (3 nights) Sanjiang (1 night) Longji Rice Terraces (1 night) Guilin then head north (1 night) Zhangjiajie (3 nights) Chongqing (1 night) Chengdu (2 nights)

I’d love your thoughts. Can I cut nights from some spots and add them elsewhere?

Quick note—I’ve got a lot of travel experience and I’m pretty fast and efficient (early riser, etc.). So I usually pack in more than the average traveler...

Thanks for your help!

And bonus question. Since I'm planning this for November, do you think I should book my hotels and trains a bit in advance, or can I wait until the last minute (like the day before for the next day)?

Hi there

I don’t get the logic of going from Yangshuo up to Sanjiang and then back to Guilin.

And that’s a lot of road time just to spend one night in Sanjiang.

For the Yangshuo part, 3 nights is good—there are plenty of activities to do. And it’s best to book accommodations ahead, because even though there are lots of options, the best places aren’t that numerous.

In Guilin, we really enjoyed visiting the Reed Flute Cave, the pagodas, and especially the Longji Rice Terraces. You’re right to spend a night there—you’ll be able to see the sunset, which is stunning over the terraces. I explain all the details for getting to the Longji villages in this link, with my top pick being Dazhai/Tiantouzhai.

As for the rest, I haven’t done it yet, so I can’t really give any advice.

Hi Robert,

Regarding your question about reservations: book your trains in advance when they become available for booking (it’s not super far in advance from what I remember—about 2 months, but double-check that info).

it wasn’t super long if I remember correctly, 2 months I think but info to be verified)

it’s 15 days

Oh, 2 weeks then, thanks for the clarification! !