Hi there! 😉

I’ve already created a post for our entire trip to Japan, but I’d love to focus specifically on our stay in Tokyo here. We (two couples of friends) will be spending 6 full days there in early November. Here’s what we’ve planned so far. We’d really appreciate your feedback to validate—or not—our schedule, and especially to hear your tips. Thanks in advance! 😉

DAY 0: Arrival in Tokyo in the evening, so rest and dinner near the hotel.

DAY 1:

09:00 – Shinjuku Gyoen Park

Must-see: ✔ Japanese garden (red bridge, pond) ✔ French garden (perspective and rose garden) ✔ English garden (lawns and maple trees) Photo spot: Red bridge + red maples (koyo).

11:00 – Harajuku & Takeshita Street

Walking route:

Start with Takeshita-dori (kawaii fashion, Japanese crepes). Walk up to Omotesandō (designer architecture: Dior, Prada).

Don’t miss: ✔ Kiddy Land (toys, souvenirs) ✔ Tokyu Plaza Omotesandō (entrance with escalators and mirrors → iconic photo)

12:30 – Lunch

Afuri Harajuku (yuzu ramen, light and fragrant). Alternative: Uogashi Nihon-Ichi (standing sushi, quick and fresh).

14:00 – Meiji-jingū (optional but recommended)

Access: From Omotesandō, enter through the large wooden torii. Must-see: ✔ Decorative sake barrels ✔ Forest path (zen atmosphere) ✔ Main pavilion (respect the purification ritual at the entrance). Duration: 45 min.

16:30 – Return to hotel / rest

JR Yamanote Line from Harajuku → Shinjuku (5 min).

18:30 – Evening in Yurakucho (Gado-shita)

DAY 2 09:00 – Visit to Asakusa

Walking route:

Kaminarimon Gate → photo under the large red lantern. Nakamise-dori → shopping street (souvenirs, snacks: melon pan, senbei). Sensō-ji Temple → main pavilion, five-story pagoda.

Don’t miss: ✔ Omikuji (fortune-telling draw) ✔ Photo with the pagoda and Tokyo Skytree in the background.

11:30 – Akihabara

Walking route: ✔ Yodobashi Camera (gadgets, electronics) ✔ Mandarake (figurines, manga) ✔ Super Potato (retro games)

13:00 – Lunch

Quick option: Ichiran Ramen (Akihabara). Local option: Tendon Tenya (affordable tempura).

14:30 – Free time / shopping

Explore the small alleys for anime shops, figurines, gashapon.

16:30 – Departure for Toyosu (teamLab Planets)

Transport:

JR Yamanote Line from Akihabara → Shimbashi (15 min) Yurikamome Line from Shimbashi → Shin-Toyosu (15 min)

Tip: Book a 6:30 PM slot to enjoy the evening atmosphere.

18:30 – teamLab Planets

Duration: 1.5 to 2 hours. Tip: Bring a towel (barefoot experience in water). Mandatory reservation: (official website).

20:30 – Dinner

Option on-site: DMM Café (Toyosu). Option back in Shinjuku: Izakaya (Torikizoku or Teyandei).

DAY 3:

Excursion to Mount Fuji (Kawaguchiko)

DAY 4:

09:00 – East Gardens of the Imperial Palace

Must-see: ✔ Ruins of Edo Castle ✔ Nijubashi Bridge (iconic photo) ✔ Museum of the Imperial Collections (free) Duration: 1h15. Tip: Open exceptionally this day (public holiday).

10:30 – Walk to Ginza

Walk: 15 min via Marunouchi Naka-dori (chic street with shops and cafés). Tip: Enjoy the autumn decorations and designer façades.

11:00 – Ginza

Must-see: ✔ Ginza Six (modern shopping center) ✔ Nissan Crossing (futuristic car exhibit) ✔ Wako Clock Tower (iconic photo)

14:30 – Shibuya

Walking route: ✔ Shibuya Crossing (photo from Starbucks Tsutaya) ✔ Hachikō Statue ✔ Shibuya Scramble Square → Shibuya Sky (panoramic view of Tokyo and Mount Fuji if the sky is clear). Shopping: Loft, Tokyu Hands, Shibuya 109 (fashion).

17:30 – Return to hotel / rest

JR Yamanote Line from Shibuya → Shinjuku (7 min).

19:30 – Dinner

Izakaya option: Izakaya Tofuro Shinjuku (traditional atmosphere). Modern option: Nabezo Shinjuku (all-you-can-eat shabu-shabu).

DAY 5:

10:00 – Ghibli Museum

Duration: 2 hours. Must-see: ✔ Permanent exhibits (Totoro, My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away) ✔ Exclusive short films (Saturn Theater) Tip: Photos are not allowed inside, but there are beautiful spots outside.

12:00 – Stroll in Inokashira Park

Must-see: ✔ Central pond (boat rental available) ✔ Benzaiten Shrine Duration: 30 min.

14:30 – Nakameguro & Daikanyama

Transport: JR Chuo Line from Mitaka → Shibuya, then Tokyu Toyoko Line → Nakameguro (40 min). Must-see: ✔ Walk along the Meguro River (trendy cafés, design shops) ✔ T-Site Daikanyama (magnificent architecture) Coffee break: Onibus Coffee Nakameguro (artisanal coffee).

17:30 – Return to Shinjuku

Transport: Tokyu Toyoko Line → Shibuya → JR Yamanote Line → Shinjuku.

DAY 6:

Free morning (shopping or relaxation)

Suggestions: ✔ Shopping at Lumine Shinjuku or Isetan ✔ Stop by Don Quijote for souvenirs ✔ Or Thermae-Yu Onsen (if you want a relaxing morning before departure).

14:45 – Arrival in Odaiba

Walking route: ✔ Aqua City (shopping, bay view) ✔ Statue of Liberty (photo with Rainbow Bridge) ✔ DiverCity Tokyo Plaza (giant Gundam statue) Immersive option: Immersive Fort Tokyo (if you want a fun indoor activity).

16:30 – Sunset over Rainbow Bridge

Best spot: Esplanade in front of Aqua City or Odaiba Beach. Photo tip: Wait for the bridge lights to turn on (around 5 PM).

18:30 – Dinner in Odaiba 20:00 – Departure for Tokyo Tower

Transport:

Yurikamome Line from Daiba → Shimbashi → Oedo Line → Akabanebashi (30 min).

Tokyo Tower: ✔ Incredible night view of illuminated Tokyo. ✔ Duration: 45 min to 1 hour.

21:30 – Return to Shinjuku

Transport: Oedo Line → Shinjuku (15 min).

And there you have it—I hope I didn’t go on too long! 😉 Thanks everyone for your advice....

Hi everyone, So great to be back on this forum😉

I just lightened my wallet by 3000 € for 3 tickets: Paris > Tokyo > Osaka > Paris (well, not just mine—I’m exaggerating, there are two of us). For my daughter’s 10th birthday, we’re heading to Japan—it’s her "decade gift," though I thought she’d pick London🏴‍☠️. But I’ve been dreaming of going back to Japan since my 2013 trip, so I’ll admit this trip is (a lot) for me too. We’re traveling during school holidays, so the ticket prices are unfortunately sky-high. Maybe I could’ve gotten a better deal if I’d waited, but who knows... oh well, it’s done now. We leave at the end of October, so we still have a few months to prepare. That said, I’d rather start early to make sure we don’t miss anything (like the Ghibli Museum—I couldn’t go last time, and anyway, I’ll have to wait until September to book). Last time, there were three adults, so it was pretty straightforward. Eleven years later, well, now it’s two adults with a 10-year-old😛.

So I’m wondering how many days to spend in Tokyo. My daughter idealizes the city (that’s why she wants to go to Japan), and she’s really drawn to Japanese culture and food. Actually, what first got her interested in Japan were all the *kawaii* character products... Tokyo is such a fascinating city, but it can also be exhausting—especially for a kid, and I’m not sure what to expect. Beyond Tokyo, honestly, I’m not entirely sure. I was thinking of Hakone and maybe stopping by Fujikyu Highlands. Then heading down to Osaka for a few days in Kyoto before flying home (our return flight is from Osaka). We only have 11 days there (not counting the arrival day, and since our flight leaves at 11:30 PM on departure day, we’ll have the whole day), so it’s not a ton of time. I already spent a week in Kyoto on my last trip (huge crush on it), and I’d love to have two months there, but... well, you know how it is.

For example: 5 days in Tokyo 2 days in Hakone 4 days in Osaka/Kyoto

What do you think? If you’ve done this trip with kids, do you have any tips for family-friendly accommodations in Tokyo and Hakone? My daughter would love to try an onsen. We have a decent budget, but it’s not unlimited. We’d like to book as we go to spread out the costs a bit.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts

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.

Bonjour Je souhaite faire ce circuit vélo sur 2 ou 3 jours. J'ai du mal à comprendre et trouver le loueur de (bon) vélo qui me permet de démarrer à Onomichi et le laisser à Imabari. Quelqu'un peut m'aider pour les bons plans location et hébergements sur le circuit? Retour en transport à Onomichi...?

I'm planning a 19-day itinerary in Japan this summer. For a first trip, Kyoto seems like a must. For the rest, I'm torn between: - Matsumoto, Takayama, Kanazawa for 5 to 6 days - Kyoto 4 days - Nara 2 days - Koyasan 1 day - Hakone/Mount Fuji 2 to 3 days - Tokyo 3 days

Or dedicating the first 6 days to Kyushu.

Maybe there’s less traditional Japan in Kyushu compared to the Japanese Alps? Maybe Kyushu is less crowded? Thanks for your thoughts!

Hi everyone,

I’ve traveled a lot outside Europe before Covid, usually organizing my trips myself. In recent years, I’ve focused on Europe, which I’d neglected before. Now, I’d like to get back to long-haul trips and fill in some gaps on my world map.

At the moment, I’m considering a route in China—I’ve only been to Hong Kong (which isn’t really China)—for late April/early May 2026. Here’s a first draft:

D1: Departure D2: Arrive in Beijing in the morning – hutongs – night in Beijing D3: Forbidden City – Temple of Heaven – night in Beijing D4: Great Wall – night in Beijing D5: Summer Palace – (Ming Tombs?) – night in Beijing D6: Train to Datong – Yungang Grottoes – night in Datong D7: Train to Pingyao – visit – night in Pingyao D8: Train to Xi’an – Wild Goose Pagoda – night in Xi’an D9: Terracotta Army – Xi’an city walls – night in Xi’an D10: Flight to Zhangjiajie (or the night before) – Tianzi Mountain – night in Wulingyuan D11: National park – night in Wulingyuan D12: National park – night in Wulingyuan D13: Train to Chongqing – night in Chongqing D14: Explore Chongqing – night in Chongqing D15: Return flight

I know it’s tight, but what do you think? For the Great Wall section, what do you recommend? Jinshanling seems like the best option, or Simatai, but it’s far. For the budget, I’m planning on 2,500 € per person. Thanks for your feedback! Phil

Hi there, I’m planning a trip to China. Which sites do you use to book accommodation—specifically for apartments? Thanks for your tips!

Hello Hello, We’re two couples of friends heading to this amazing country and need your help to validate our itinerary. First, I’ll share the overall plan for our trip. I can go into more detail for each day if everything looks good to you. Thanks Thanks

30/10 Arrival at HND 31/10 Tokyo: Chiyoda, Yurakucho & Shinjuku 01/11 Asakusa, Ueno, Akihabara & TeamLab Planets 02/11 Day trip to Mount Fuji (Kawaguchiko) 03/11 Yanaka, Ueno, Shibuya & Izakaya 04/11 Ghibli Museum & Kichijoji 05/11 Shopping and Odaiba at sunset 06/11 Departure for Kyoto & first discoveries 07/11 Arashiyama, bamboo grove & zen temples 08/11 Fushimi Inari, Gion 09/11 Kyoto → Himeji → Hiroshima 10/11 Hiroshima (morning) → Osaka (afternoon) 11 & 12/11 Exploring Osaka and return to France 🙂

Hi there,

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

Wulingyuan (Avatar Mountain) - 3 nights "Avatar Mountains"

Zhangjiajie - 2 nights Tianmen Mountain

Furong Town - 2 nights

Fenghuang - 2 nights

Guilin - 2 nights Chuanshan Park Guilin Yaoshan Scenic Attraction Reed Flute Cave

Yangshuo - 4 nights Biking along the Yulong River Moon Hill Ruyi Peak Xianggong Hill

Shanghai - 4 nights Shanghai Disneyland Yu Garden / Yuyuan Garden Yuyuan Bazaar

Thanks! Cédric

Hi there,

A quick recap of our 19-day trip to China – classic itinerary, half-family: dad and 13-year-old son, August 2025.

Arrived in Shanghai, the idea was to explore the city in the evening to help with jet lag. Day 1: Maglev (50 CNY), then metro to the hotel, night cruise on the Huangpu River, admiring the skyline. Day 2: Yuyuan Garden (meh), Lujiazui district, sunset from the top of Jinmao Tower, stroll along the Bund, admiring the skyline. Day 3: Chaos at the Shanghai Museum – should’ve booked in advance. Backup plan: Longhua Temple (nice), Tianzi Fang district (great). Day 4: Aquarium (okay), Pearl Tower, Fake Market (top), then flight to Guilin. Taxi from Guilin to Yangshuo (400 CNY arranged by the hotel). Verdict: Maybe one day too many. Late mornings (jet lag) kept us from visiting the water town. Day 5: Yangshuo – scooter ride (40 CNY) along the Yulong River. Day 6: Early Didi (30 min) to the top of Xiang Gong Shan (ideally for sunrise). Then a walk through the countryside to the Li River, crossing by boat (10 CNY) to Xingping. You can shorten the walk by flagging down a mini-shuttle that shuttles Chinese tourists in the opposite direction. Explored Xingping, scooter ride, 20 CNY viewpoint, sunset from Laozhai Hill, back to Yangshuo. Day 7: Scooter ride to spots we missed on Day 5. Verdict: It’s stunning. Might be worth staying in Guilin the first night and booking a cruise to Yangshuo the next day on the Li River. Day 8: Bus (4/5h, 100 CNY) to Longji/Dazhai. Hotel in Tianzhouzai – I think it’s better to stay in Ping’an, it’s more typical. Dazhai is generally overdeveloped. Day 9: Full-day hike from Dazhai to Ping’an, then bus back to Dazhai. Super nice walk, only crossed paths with 4 people. Day 10: Walk around the top of Dazhai, but the trails are poorly maintained – no loop possible. Verdict: Gorgeous, probably one day too many, but the area is very rainy, so it’s good to have a buffer. Day 11: Private taxi (4/5h, 200 €) to Fenghuang. Explored the town in the evening – really nice. Day 12: Short visit to Fenghuang during the day, then train to Zhangjiajie and Wulingyuan. Hotel pool. Day 13: Early start: Zhangjiajie Park via Wulingyuan entrance, Route A (starting with the cable car). Fabulous. If I did it again, I’d take Route B to get early access to the section near the giant elevator. Day 14: Early start: Zhangjiajie Park via the south entrance – superb. Day 15: Wulingyuan Grand Canyon, glass bridge – nice but not essential. Day 16: Tianmen Mountain in the afternoon. You can leave your luggage at the entrance. Routes A and B sell out quickly. Note that Route C no longer uses buses to the top – there’s a brand-new cable car instead, which I think is actually better than A and B. Really nice, worth doing. Evening flight to Beijing. Verdict: The canyon could be done the same morning as Tianmen Mountain, or even skipped. Day 17: Visited the Forbidden City (book a week in advance!), missed the entry slot for Tiananmen Square (book in advance!) due to security checks. Visited the Lama Temple. Stayed in a hutong. Day 18: Great Wall at Mutianyu. Private taxi (100 € round trip – probably overpaid) to arrive before 7 AM. Then back to Beijing, Temple of Heaven, and finally the modest skyline from the mall at Guomao metro station. Day 19: Fake markets (pointless – they’re stripped of their usual goods compared to Shanghai’s), Summer Palace, then Wangfujing Street. Headed to the airport. Verdict: 3 days is too short for Beijing.

Overall impressions: Highlights: Incredible places (cities and landscapes), often vast and fascinating, a total change of scenery. Very easy and smooth to travel despite the clear language barrier. Excellent food, very affordable, very few scams. Lowlights: Intense heat and humidity in August, *way* too many tourists (99.9% Chinese), a real circus that makes the trip exhausting. Walking is tiring in the long run (even though we’re very active) because it’s all on stone paths and stairs. To avoid crowds, you’d need to wake up early every day – tough with kids, especially with jet lag.

Logistics: - Buses and private taxis arranged last-minute through hotels. - Didi is widely available everywhere, plentiful, and cheap. - Flights and trains booked on Trip.com a month in advance (fills up fast). - Hotels on Booking and Trip.com. Only the one in Yangshuo was booked well in advance – hotel capacity is huge everywhere. - Apps: Didi, Alipay, WeChat, Maps.me, Google Translate. Free 35 GB data plan, SIM card from the airport.

Hi everyone I’m currently planning my trip to China for next August. I’m starting from scratch, so I’m counting on your advice and firsthand experiences! For now, I only know that I’ll arrive in China via Beijing, Shanghai, or Hong Kong and leave 15 days later from another one of these three cities. In between, I’d love to explore a mountainous and natural region in the countryside. The Guilin area really appeals to me with its spectacular landscapes. I still have tons of questions: - What can you do during this often humid season? - Is it better to go through a local agency or organize everything yourself? - What itineraries would you recommend? Anyway, everything’s still up in the air, and I can’t wait to read your opinions, suggestions, and great tips to help me build this trip!

Hi there,

Having already visited some of the "classic" spots during my first trip to Japan in 2006, I’d like to show my partner some slightly lesser-known places (all relative, of course!) for our trip planned in November 2025, while still keeping a few of the country’s "must-sees."

Here’s the rough itinerary I’ve sketched out so far:

- Day 1: Arrival in Tokyo – Night in Tokyo - Day 2: Depart for Kamakura – Night in Kamakura or return to Tokyo - Day 3: Depart for Matsumoto – Visit the castle – Night in Matsumoto - Day 4: Matsumoto – Narai – Tsumago – Night in Tsumago - Day 5: Tsumago – Magome (hike) – Night in Magome - Days 6, 7, 8, 9: Depart for Kyoto – Sightseeing – Nights in Kyoto - Day 10: Depart for Kinosaki Onsen – Night in Kinosaki - Day 11: Explore the area around Kinosaki (Takeno? Izushi?) – Night in Kinosaki - Day 12: Depart for Himeji – Visit the castle – Night in Himeji or Hiroshima - Day 13: Miyajima Island – Night in Hiroshima - Day 14: Depart for Onomichi – Night in Onomichi - Day 15: Bike day to Ikuchi Jima / return by ferry – Night in Onomichi - Day 16: Depart for Tomo-no-Ura then Kurashiki – Night in Kurashiki - Day 17: Depart for Okayama – Visit the garden – Night in Okayama - Day 18: Kibi Plain bike ride – Night in Okayama - Day 19: ??? - Days 20, 21, 22: Tokyo – Nights in Tokyo

I’m struggling a bit to gauge how long the travel times will be, despite my online research, so I’d love to hear your thoughts and advice on this itinerary.

Thanks so much in advance for your feedback!

Hi everyone,

So happy to be back here !

I’m currently planning our first trip to Japan. We’ll be traveling with our two teens, aged 16 and 17. We’re doing a pretty classic loop, but I’d still love to hear your valuable input.

Here’s the itinerary we’re considering:

- Tokyo (5 full days) - Fuji Yoshida (1 night) - Matsumoto (1 night) - Kamikochi / Gokayama (1 night) - Kanazawa (1 night) - Ine (1 night) - Himeji - Kyoto (5 full days)

We’re thinking of renting a car for the Japanese Alps portion.

We’re planning a 3-week trip, so I still have a few days to allocate—maybe in the Japanese Alps.

What do you think of the itinerary? The detour to Ine might seem odd, but I really want to include a coastal part—any thoughts? Is renting a car in Japan a total hassle?

And finally, is it absolutely necessary to book all accommodations in advance if we’re traveling in August? Or can I leave some flexibility for the Kanazawa / Ine / Himeji portion? Maybe if we really love a place and want to stay longer?

Thanks in advance for your tips!!

See you soon,

Gwen

We’ve just returned from a 30-day trip to China, 20 years after our last visit to this vast country. What a transformation! So many new highways, high-speed trains, clean public restrooms, very comfortable and affordable hotels, and queues before boarding public transport… Has China really changed this much?

Language Technology has helped overcome—on a very small scale, of course—the language barrier thanks to translation apps on our phones. Unfortunately, very few Chinese people speak English, even in international hotels, which we find baffling, even frustrating, but that’s just how it is, and it’s up to us to adapt. It’s a shame, too, because no one makes an effort to communicate any other way than through their phone, which wasn’t the case when we were there 20 years ago. In restaurants, hotels, and some shops, they’ll show you a voice translation—usually in English—on a phone, and all you have to do is respond.

Payments We never withdrew cash in China. It’s possible to do so, but we never looked for an ATM. On the other hand, we tried to exchange 100 € as soon as we arrived in Xi’an, and it was a real ordeal. We had to do it at a specific bank, The Bank of China, and the administrative process took… an hour! So, no cash. Like everyone else, we used Alipay, one of the most popular online payment systems, and it’s super easy to use. WeChat also works well but is a bit more complicated to set up. It’s so convenient and used absolutely everywhere, even for purchases of 5 yuan, which is roughly the equivalent of about 55 euro cents. 10 yuan equals 1.22 €.

Phone As for the internet, I had installed a VPN before leaving—Let’s VPN—but it was completely useless since we had subscribed to an international plan with our carrier before the trip, which gave us 35 GB of data. No need to ask hotels for Wi-Fi; we only used roaming. It worked perfectly, no matter where we were. So, no VPN or SIM card for us.

TWO ESSENTIAL TOOLS FOR TRAVELING: your passport and your phone Traveling to China is much simpler than you might think. And let’s add that the Chinese, despite the language barrier, are very open and always ready to help.

The itinerary After carefully planning our route and considering the length of our stay (I had initially thought about applying for a visa longer than 30 days to stay for 6 weeks in China), we decided to take advantage of the recent option to stay for 30 days. Of course, we had to make some choices. I booked a one-way ticket from Paris to Xi’an and a return from Kunming to Paris once the itinerary was set: 9 days in northern Gansu 4 days in Hunan, specifically the well-known Zhangjiajie 15 days in Yunnan

Organization, transport, hotels This wasn’t a "backpacker" trip, as the hotels we booked were generally comfortable. I had arranged a car with a driver for the Yunnan portion through the Ciel Yunnan agency. Excellent choice—it allowed us to optimize our route. For the Gansu and Hunan portions, after much deliberation, we decided against hiring a driver. All our travel was by train and taxi. Taxis are available near train stations, airports, and some hotels in big cities. We also used "Didi," the Chinese equivalent of Uber. The app is available through Alipay. Getting around China by train is extremely easy. You just need to book your tickets on a travel site. I used trip.com and travelchina. Since we weren’t traveling during peak season, it was easy to get the tickets we wanted. You can buy train tickets up to 15 days before departure. You can book earlier, but there’s no guarantee you’ll get the time you want, especially during tourist seasons (usually the first week of October or May). Once at the station, you only need to show your passport, and you’ll need it again when leaving the station. Taxis are easy to find and not expensive. For day trips, we usually went through the hotel. Like everyone else, I had checked the prices of online tour agencies beforehand, and they were all overpriced. It’s better to wait until the last minute or, if possible, contact the hotel and ask them. I did this twice. We took domestic flights three times: Xi’an to Dunhuang Lanzhou to Changsha Changsha to Lijiang It’s best to buy flights shortly before departure, as prices are quite low then. There’s no point in booking months in advance. Often, flights only appear 2 months before departure. All hotel reservations were made on trip.com, except for three booked on Booking. Almost all exceeded our expectations in terms of comfort. Rooms were usually spacious, and new technology even makes its way into the rooms with "smart" toilets and automatic curtains… All for a very reasonable price.

The "attractions" That’s the term used on travel sites like trip.com for visits and activities, and it fits perfectly! Don’t expect to move freely around a natural tourist site. Cars aren’t allowed. The process is more or less the same everywhere: you arrive at the visitor center, pay the entrance fee, then, with your ticket or passport (always keep them on you!), you board a bus that takes you to the various viewpoints. The duration of the "tour" is usually indicated. It might seem confusing or even unnatural, but no one can avoid it unless you go to very remote, non-touristy places. Generally, the further west you go, the less this type of visit exists. The upside is that these places are better preserved since access is only by electric shuttle. On the downside, you sometimes have to deal with noisy tourist groups, their guides’ loudspeakers, and their non-stop chatter. But if you move a little further away, you’ll often find yourself alone.

Highlights of this trip:🙂 A 2-day escape to the Badan Jaran Desert—absolutely stunning. The colorful mountains near Zhangye. The Buddhist caves in Gansu. The breathtaking Hani and Yi rice terraces in Yuanyang. The architecture of the old towns, even if they sometimes feel a bit overdone. The warm welcome from the locals.

A little disappointed by: Zhangjiajie, despite its beauty. It was way too crowded, even though we were there in the off-season. And that’s nothing compared to the Stone Forest near Kunming… I also struggled with the food after a while. 😕

A few photos to come…

We just spent three weeks in Yunnan. I’ve started writing up a travel journal about the trip.

Hi there! After a wonderful trip in 2024, we’ll be heading back to Japan at the end of July 2026 to reunite with our daughter, who will have been there for a few months.

Last time, we did a route: Tokyo – Japanese Alps – Kyoto – Osaka – Hiroshima. This time, we’ll have 10 days to ourselves before our daughter joins us for a full week. We’re thinking of spending 2 days in Tokyo and 1 day at the end of the trip for shopping.

We’re looking for ideas for a route (by train and bus) that’s a little off the beaten path, especially avoiding the most touristy spots like the best-known temples in Kyoto. Our favorite spots in 2024: Kanazawa, Takayama, and Miyajima Island. We love temples, gardens, and would love to explore the nature, which looks incredible.

Thanks in advance for your tips and suggestions!

Hi there,

A few friends and I are planning our trip to Japan for next autumn. This will be my first time traveling, which is why we’ve decided to go for a big trip of at least 2 months, maybe even 3.

So far, we’ve estimated the budget to be between 7,000 and 10,000 € per person for the stay. I’m not sure if that’s too high or too low, considering we’ll be moving around a lot.

Here’s a summary of the route we’d like to take:

First, we definitely want to visit the classics like Tokyo, Kyoto, etc. Then head toward Mount Fuji with Fujiyoshida and the surrounding area. We’d also like to visit some less touristy, more authentic spots like the Wakayama region. We’d like to check out some mountain or countryside villages like Shirakawa-go for a few hikes. We’re still debating whether to visit Miyajima and Hiroshima since we’re not sure we’ll have enough time. And we sadly had to cut Hokkaido from our list for the same reason.

I won’t go into every detail since we’ve mapped out over twenty places, but those are the main highlights.

As for our travel style:

We want to take our time. Not try to cram in as much as possible without any breaks or enjoyment. Most of the time, we’ll be staying in Airbnbs and youth hostels. For food, we’ll mix it up between restaurants, pre-made meals, and cooking our own. For transportation, we’re considering renting a car to reach villages in the countryside. (I’m a bit nervous about the road rules over there.) For activities, one or two a day seems reasonable. (Both free and paid ones.) But I have no idea how much souvenirs might cost. I’ve often read on forums that it’s between 200 and 600 €?

My questions:

So, that’s the plan. We’re not sure yet if we’ll go for two or three months. It’ll mostly come down to money. We want to be mindful of our budget but still treat ourselves—no regrets about missing out on an activity or restaurant we really wanted to try.

Do you have any advice or suggestions for us? What do you think of our itinerary? For flight tickets, I’m estimating between 650 and 900 € for a round trip. Does that sound about right? But I have no idea which airline to choose?

Thanks so much to anyone who replies—I’d really appreciate it!

Hi everyone,

We're currently planning our itinerary for this summer (late July - August) in China. Our travel style is more backpacker-oriented—we're used to traveling in Latin America, booking things just 3 days in advance. Could you share your thoughts on this route?

We’re particularly wondering about: - Yangshuo (which seems very touristy) → Xingping instead? The park Bajiaozhai? - How to get around and find accommodation in the small Miao and Dong villages? - Should we book trains and hotels in advance for late July and early August?

Thanks so much!

28-Jul Monday Kunming: Bamboo Temple Dian Chi Lake Kunming 29-Jul Tuesday Visit the city center Lake bike tour Dali Dali 30-Jul Wednesday Three Pagodas / Cangshan Mountain Dali Dali 31-Jul Thursday Transport to Shaxi - visit 1 - Dali Old Town Coach Station (大理古城客运站) 2 - Arrive Jianchuan Coach Station 3 - Local green or yellow minibuses to Shaxi Dali → Jianchuan → Shaxi Shaxi 01-Aug Friday Quick visit Shaxi → Lijiang Shaxi Shaxi 02-Aug Saturday Quick visit Shaxi → Lijiang Shaxi Lijiang 03-Aug Sunday Tiger Leaping Gorge trek 04-Aug Monday Tiger Leaping Gorge Qiatou Lijiang / Dali 05-Aug Tuesday Dali → Kunming → Kaili Full-day transport Kaili 06-Aug Wednesday Langde Miao Village - Xijiang Miao Village Kaili 07-Aug Thursday Visit village Kaili 08-Aug Friday Visit village Zhaoxing 09-Aug Saturday AM: Train to Guilin - PM: Elephant Trunk Hill / night barbecue Zhaoxing → Guilin (1h) Guilin 10-Aug Sunday Bajiaozhai (Park / hike) Ziyuan 11-Aug Monday Bajiaozhai (Park / hike) Ziyuan 12-Aug Tuesday Yangshuo Yangshuo 13-Aug Wednesday Yangshuo Yangshuo 14-Aug Thursday Yangshuo Yangshuo 15-Aug Friday Guilin → HK (3.5h) Guilin → HK (3.5h) 16-Aug Saturday Hong Kong

Hi there,

For our second trip to Japan, we’ll be spending 22 full days in Kyushu. 😎 Here’s our draft itinerary:

1 - FUKUOKA 2 - FUKUOKA 3 - FUKUOKA 4 - FUKUOKA / SASEBO / OJIKA 5 - OJIKA 6 - OJIKA / SASEBO / NAGASAKI 7 - NAGASAKI 8 - NAGASAKI 9 - NAGASAKI / KUMAMOTO +++ car rental +++ 10 - KUMAMOTO / ASO 11 - ASO 12 - ASO / KUROKAWA ONSEN 13 - KUROKAWA ONSEN / KUMAMOTO +++ end of car rental +++ 14 - KUMAMOTO / KAGOSHIMA 15 - IBUSUKI / CHIRAN 16 - SAKURAJIMA (car?) 17 - KAGOSHIMA / YAKUSHIMA 18 - YAKUSHIMA (car?) 19 - YAKUSHIMA (car?) 20 - YAKUSHIMA / KAGOSHIMA 21 - ??? 22 - FUKUOKA

We’ve deliberately skipped the eastern part (from Beppu to Miyazaki…)

We still have a few questions about our itinerary:

Car: For most of our travel, we plan to take the train or bus, except in the Aso region where we’ll rent a car. We’re wondering about Sakurajima and Yakushima: is a car necessary there?

Ojika: Would one night be enough?

Yakushima: Are two full days (plus two half-days) sufficient?

If we keep the schedule as is, we have one extra day to fit in somewhere—any suggestions?

Thanks for your help! 🙂

Hi there, We’re planning a trip to China from May 5th to June 3rd, 2025.

We’re traveling independently using local transport—this will be our third trip to China since the 15-day visa exemption and our first since the 30-day visa exemption in 2025. We’ve drafted an itinerary and would love to hear your thoughts on the destinations and the length of our stops. We’re also looking for hotel recommendations.

Day 1: Montpellier to Beijing with Air France, Beijing – 6 days, including a trip to the Great Wall at Badaling, Beijing to Datong, Datong – 2 days, Datong to Pingyao, Pingyao – 2 days, Pingyao to Xi’an, Xi’an – 3 days, Xi’an to Chengdu, Chengdu – 2 days, Chengdu to Chongqing, Chongqing – 2 days, Chongqing to Changsha, Changsha to Zhangjiajie – 2 days, Changsha to Shanghai, Shanghai – 2 days (we’ve already been to Shanghai in May 2024). Shanghai to Montpellier.

Thanks for your feedback and tips! Alod

Hi everyone,

I’m planning another trip to Japan next July-August (three and a half to four weeks). We were lucky enough to visit the country back in 2012 and explored Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Hiroshima, and Miyajima Island.

This time, we’d like to spend a few days in Tokyo again and then discover other regions and cities. I really want to see Himeji Castle and Naoshima Island, but I haven’t decided on the rest yet.

Since we’ll be in Japan mostly in July (three weeks) and a bit in August (first week), I’m also thinking about the weather, which seems more favorable in the north (northern Honshu and Hokkaido), though the south (Shikoku, Kyushu) is tempting too.

I’d love to hear your advice on an itinerary, keeping in mind that we love variety—some history, temples, nature, and big cities.

We’re a retired French couple. We’ve just spent 4 weeks in China: - 1. Exploring Yunnan in a group (12 people); a journey that took us from the Vietnamese border in the south to the edges of Tibet in the north. - 2. A private trip to Guizhou with just a driver. We’re absolutely delighted with what we discovered: a modern country with excellent infrastructure (especially the low level of urban pollution thanks to the high number of electric vehicles, the absence of diesel, and no noisy motorbikes in these two less industrialized provinces), friendly Chinese people who were always ready to help us when we had difficulties or questions, and a rich natural and cultural heritage. The language barrier remains the biggest challenge, despite instant translation tools. For both trips, we booked through the agency CIELCHINE, which we highly recommend. The value for money is unbeatable. The services were luxurious, especially for us since we usually travel alone on a tight budget for accommodation and food. The agency’s staff were perfectly competent and, what’s more, warm and welcoming. For Yunnan, our guide SEBASTIEN, who was experienced and knowledgeable, won everyone over. In Guizhou, our driver HUANG was professionally flawless and guided us through villages he knows well. Friendly and full of humor, he’d spontaneously talk to people he met, which made us be treated with much more kindness and allowed us to exchange a few basic words. As you can see, I haven’t ticked anything negative—not because I’m hiding anything or have any ulterior motive, but because I’m completely satisfied and the experience even exceeded all my expectations.

Hi there. We’re planning a month in November to visit several places in China. This time, though, we’d like to do it with a car and driver (unlike our last trip to Sichuan, where we went on our own).

Thanks in advance and have a great day! !

Hello,

What a joy to be back on this forum that I’ve browsed for so many years :-)!

I’m heading to Japan with my partner in November 2025. This will be my second trip there and his first.

I was planning to go from Tokyo to Matsumoto, which I haven’t visited before, and from there, check out Shirahone Onsen and then hike from Magome to Tsumago. However, after reading several travel journals, I’ve realized that the village of Shirakawa-go and its surroundings look amazing. Back in 2006, I visited Takayama, which I loved, but I don’t want to stay there again.

To visit the places mentioned above (Shirahone Onsen, Shirakawa-go, Magome, and Tsumago), I’m thinking that a car might be more convenient than public transport, especially for getting from Shirakawa-go to Magome. Could you confirm if that’s the case? If so, is it easy to rent a car for a few days to do a loop starting from Matsumoto?

Thanks in advance for your valuable tips.

Have a great evening

Hi everyone,

This trip report covers a journey along the Silk Road in China (see detailed description below) undertaken in October 2025. The goal isn’t to recount the trip but to provide information that might help those who want to take a similar journey. Much of the information is valid for any trip to China.

Who we are: a retired couple, aged 63 and 65 (age gives discounts on entry to various sites and museums in China, which is why I won’t list prices here—I don’t know them, but you can easily find them online). We’re used to traveling independently. We speak English, which is the only foreign language spoken in China, though by very few people. I speak and read a little Chinese, which helped, but you can easily get by without it (without any English at all, I think it would be more difficult).

Period: We arrived just after "Golden Week," when all of China is on vacation, and after the summer, when schools are out, so we encountered very few tourists (99.99% of whom were Chinese). Our experience with booking visits in advance (which we didn’t need to do) isn’t representative for those who want to travel in the summer! The October-November period was perfect for our trip—it wasn’t too hot or too cold (one day of snow on the Tibetan Plateau), though it was only a few degrees on the Tibetan part, with altitudes between 2,000 and 3,000 meters. The trees were beautifully colored.

General remarks: Everyone we dealt with was very kind and perfectly honest. If you order a meal without really understanding what to do and the person modifies your order, trust them—the result is what you need. If a taxi driver signals that they’ll wait for you to finish your visit and pick you up afterward, trust them. It means there aren’t many taxis where you are, and it’ll be more convenient. For prices at street vendors, we always found the right ballpark, and sometimes they even added a little extra to please us. A taxi driver treated us to lunch, and an employee drove us back to the hotel after a visit because there were no taxis. If you struggle to buy a ticket online because there’s no counter, someone will come to help. People even spontaneously ask if everything’s okay and if you need anything.

Everywhere we went was very clean, including restrooms (trains, stations, hotels, museums, tourist sites) and streets. The old stereotypes about this no longer apply.

The trip can be challenging for those who have difficulty walking. The distances to cover on foot in stations, to access sites, and within the sites themselves can sometimes be really long.

We used the Lonely Planet guide in English (published at the end of August 2025) a little for preparation, but mostly relied on the internet.

Before leaving: No visa is needed for French citizens for stays under 30 days. You get a stamp on your passport upon arrival and departure, and the formalities themselves are very quick in both directions (excluding any potential queues). Just a photo and fingerprints upon arrival, and welcome to China’s facial recognition system.

Money: All your payments (see below) will go through your Visa card—there will be hundreds, including many payments of 20 cents to a few euros. So, you need an international option that allows unlimited card transactions. Since cash is rarely needed, the allowed number of ATM withdrawals can be low. We made 3 withdrawals totaling 800 € for a month and could have managed with just 2. The exchange rate charged on our Visa card was 12 € for 100 RMB (yuan).

Install the following apps on your smartphone before leaving (otherwise, you’ll only have access to the Chinese versions, if available): - Alipay, which is used to pay everywhere in China (details below). You need to link it to your credit card, then provide proof of identity by uploading a passport photo and completing a facial recognition session. Alipay gives access to Didi (China’s Uber), public transport (metro/bus), and can also translate phrases. - WeChat (Weixin in Chinese, pronounced *weishin*), which is also used for payments but also replaces WhatsApp. Unfortunately, to activate your account, you need someone who already has WeChat to sponsor you (preferably a Chinese person). We asked someone at our first accommodations to do this—no problem. By sharing your WeChat number with accommodations, they can send you messages that are automatically translated, and you can communicate with people thanks to the translation (translation to French is very poor; it’s much better in English, but unfortunately, WeChat detects your phone’s language). Alipay and WeChat are accepted almost everywhere, but some places only accept WeChat. - Amap, the international version of Baidu Maps, which replaces Google Maps (not at all up-to-date in China). The English names of hotels often have little to do with the Chinese names except for a phonetic resemblance. To find them on Amap, it’s best to copy the Chinese name found on your Trip reservation under "show address in Chinese." - A VPN. We had CyberGhost, which didn’t work, but according to other travelers, NordVPN and Windscribe do. Without a VPN, you can’t access Google services, on WhatsApp you can send and receive text but not photos, and you can’t send or receive emails on Gmail addresses. We managed without a VPN by using Firefox as a browser and Bing as a search engine. - Trip, for booking trains and accommodations, and buying some tickets. It’s the equivalent of Booking for accommodations, but Booking has very few listings in China, while Trip has hundreds in every city. Most hotels and trains are exchangeable and refundable until the day before, with no or minimal fees.

You don’t need contactless (NFC) payment on your phone. Either you scan a barcode and enter the amount to pay, or you display a barcode, and they scan it with a scanner, and the amount is deducted directly.

Upon arrival: - Buy a Chinese SIM card: 100 RMB for 300 GB of data and several hours of talk time (we didn’t use it). Set the Chinese number as a reference on Alipay, WeChat, and Amap. - Find someone to sponsor you on WeChat.

Transportation: - **Plane**: China Eastern, Paris-Canton then Canton-Urumqi on the way out, and Xian-Canton then Canton-Paris on the way back. International flights were smooth, but the schedules for the two domestic flights were changed. It was fine on the way out because we had some leeway, but on the way back, we were notified the morning of that our flight was canceled and replaced with one that didn’t allow for the connection. We called and changed to an earlier flight (I think we were lucky to find available seats). - **Train**: Most long distances were covered by high-speed trains (called D or G in China) at 240 or 300 km/h. Second class is perfect—just as comfortable and clean as our TGVs. The only advantage of first class is the wider seats for larger people, but the downside is that seats are often booked in advance and thus less available. You can book trains long in advance on Trip, but they only go on sale in China 15 days before departure, so that’s when you’ll know if you have a ticket. Initially, we booked first class, but there were no seats available on the day, so we ended up booking everything in second class, which was perfect. There’s no paper ticket—if you’ve bought one, you go to the station, show your passport, and enter. You do the same to access the platform 15 minutes before the train, and that’s it. Our train was canceled twice, but no problem—we went to the ticket counter, got a refund, and were offered a replacement. It didn’t delay us by more than an hour (maybe it would be harder in peak season). For prices, check Trip.com, but it’s significantly cheaper than in France. - **Bus**: We took the bus between Xining and Tongren, Tongren to Xiahe, and Hezuo to Lanzhou—about 3 hours each time for 200 km, 6 € per person, and departures were right on time. - **Taxi**: For trips between the station and hotel, or hotel and visits. If you take a Didi via the Alipay app, you activate your location, enter your destination, and it offers several taxis. You accept, and you get the car’s license plate and its real-time position on the map. When you get in, the driver often asks for the last four digits of your phone number to confirm. Otherwise, you go to the taxi stand outside the station. The price per kilometer is around 20 cents, so for a 30 km trip from the station to the hotel, you’ll pay about 6 €. We never tried to save more by taking local buses, but since the metro in Xian costs 25 cents per trip, it’s probably in the same ballpark. Amap provides public transport routes like Google Maps. - **Driver**: We hired a taxi/driver for the day several times for sightseeing. Prices ranged from 350 to 1,000 RMB (the most expensive was arranged through the Sofitel Xining concierge) for trips ranging from a few hours to a full day, sometimes covering over 300 km (see the detailed trip description).

Accommodations: All booked in advance on Trip, but several were changed during the trip. Off-season, there were no issues. We mostly stayed in upscale places, but in China, that means 50 to 60 € per night in the most central or convenient neighborhood. Note: Almost all hotels have a 5/5 rating on Trip, but it seems the Chinese avoid giving lower ratings to be polite. So, you have to read the comments to realize that in France, we might have given a 2 or 3!

Food: At the table, you’re served hot water or a hot infusion, presumably made with purified water. We never got sick from drinking it, but don’t drink tap water. Purified or mineral water is easy to find.

In restaurants, you can manage by pointing to the dish you want from another diner, on the wall where there are photos, or on the menu with pictures. The food in the region isn’t often spicy, and people usually ask or signal before adding the red spicy sauce, so you should be able to handle it if you don’t like chili at all.

The "fake old quarters" in several cities are great places to find all kinds of restaurants (see detailed trip below).

Like Google Maps, Amap can show you nearby restaurants.

Shopping: For dried fruits, buy them in Turfan—you won’t find the same variety and quality even in Xian. Generally, if you like something, buy it. If you wait, you might not find it outside the region where you are.

In Xian, there’s a "Tea City" where you can find all kinds of tea (from cheap to very expensive).

The trip in more detail: I won’t dwell on the beauty or interest of the sites here since that’s a matter of personal taste. However, I will do so for lesser-known places to give an idea to those who might be interested.

For many sites, there are shuttles (sometimes not included in the ticket price but costing around 1 €) that take you to the interesting spots. We always took them—it saves you from walking past countless shops or along uninteresting paths.

- **Urumqi**: We spent only one night there, arriving in the middle of the afternoon and leaving the next morning. We stayed at the Dana Hotel in the bazaar. Given the size of the city, it’s a good option because I don’t think there are many other interesting places. The bazaar is brand new and not at all "typical" (Turfan’s bazaar is infinitely more interesting), but the dining area is very nice.

- **Turfan**: Stayed at the New Dap Hostel, which was great. The neighborhood is nice, not far from the city, and easy to find food. The museum is closed until 2026 (Amap provides museum hours and closures). We took a day trip (for the two of us) with a driver to the Bezeklik Caves, Flaming Mountains, the abandoned city of Gaochang, the Tuyuk Village Museum, and the Emin Minaret for 500 RMB from 9 AM to 8 PM (arranged by the hostel). The landscape during the excursion was quite fabulous. We also visited the Karez Museum and the abandoned city of Jiaohe on our own the next day. At this time of year, the sun sets around 6 PM, and there’s often haze after 5 PM, so for Jiaohe, for example, which takes about 3 hours to visit, it’s best to be there by 1 or 2 PM at the latest.

The Dahua Market area is perfect for dried fruits (including the famous grapes), and you can eat there among locals in their traditional costumes. Next to it, there are buildings full of shops selling made-in-China items—it kept us busy for a good half-day, if not more.

- **Dunhuang**: Stayed in a guesthouse near the dunes—the city center isn’t far but seems quite artificial. Visited the dunes, with a ticket valid for 3 days. Lots of Chinese tourists—very typical and interesting from an ethnological perspective 😊. We got up early one morning to climb the highest dune, just beyond the one everyone goes to. It’s a bit long and tiring, but the view is worth it. Visited the Mogao Caves, buying the ticket on-site (no chance in season without booking in advance). We met two other French people and got a French-speaking guide (by pretending not to understand English). It was really worth it—a group of 4 instead of 20, and they took their time (2 hours) for the visit. We took a day trip to the Yulin Caves (2.5 hours by road and 160 km one way) with a driver for 350 RMB. We liked it a lot, but if the Mogao Caves are enough for you, it’s not very different.

- **Jiayuguan**: Stayed in a city-center hotel. Visited the Wei and Jin tombs (actually just one)—that’s where we were told the taxi should wait to take us back to the city. We went down into a crypt with lots of decorated bricks from the 3rd century. We really liked it, but it’s not as spectacular as the fort if you’re not a fan. Visited the Jiayuguan Fort and, with the same ticket, climbed a small section of the Great Wall 10 km away. Plan at least 3 good hours for all this—there’s plenty to see.

- **Zhangye**: Stayed at The Silk Road Travelers Hostel, rustic but very nice and organizes excursions. Visited the Danxia (colored mountains)—just as spectacular as the photos. You can easily spend 3 hours there, so plan to finish before sunset to avoid the haze (you can always stay longer for the sunset if the weather’s nice). The next day, visited the Mati Si Temple in the cliff. The 10,000 Buddha Caves are under renovation, but the setting and the main temple are well worth the visit (the paths through the cliff tunnels must be hellish in peak season). You can probably organize these two excursions yourself by asking any taxi driver. Also visited the Giant Buddha Temple in the city center—really worth it.

- **Xining**: Stayed in a city-center hotel. Visited the Tibetan Medicine Museum to see the world’s largest thangka (1 km long), made over 40 years by renowned artists. It’s absolutely magnificent, on par with the virtuosity (but over 1 km) of the thangkas painted by famous artists in Xiahe (see below). Hired a female taxi driver for the day to visit Kumbum Monastery (Ta’er Si in Chinese) and the Danxia area in Guide, 50 km beyond the monastery. It’s less spectacular than Zhangye’s Danxia, but we really liked it (including the journey’s landscape). The next day, visited the old Ming-era Qutan Monastery—no visitors, with beautiful murals (half under renovation). Accessible by train to Haidong or Ledu, then a taxi. Xining’s mosque is of no interest, but there’s a pedestrian street with food stalls nearby that’s very nice.

- **Tongren**: Stayed near the main monastery. Visited Longwu Monastery (several hours), with lots of nice shops along the street leading to it. Then visited Wutun Monastery, which is less lively but beautiful and close to thangka workshops. You can go in and watch the painters at work. For a thangka made by a renowned artist, count about a year of work for 1 m² and around 10,000 €.

- **Xiahe**: Stayed in a city-center hotel. Visited Labrang Monastery—very nice but not as much as Tongren’s because many halls were closed. I think it’s better to go in season and take an English-guided tour (but it’s still worth the trip, even off-season).

- **Langmusi**: Took a taxi, but you can also take a bus (though very early in the morning and longer). Particularly beautiful for us because we woke up to bright sunshine and 5 cm of snow everywhere. Visited the two temples (really nice) and did the classic hike in the gorges starting at the Fairy Cave. For those interested, we continued along the canyon path, and after the meadow where marmots are clearly visible in summer, we climbed toward a pass on the left at 3,800 meters. The view of Langmusi and, above all, the vast grasslands and distant mountains was fabulous (3 hours round trip from the temple). You could probably reach the 4,000-meter summit by continuing up the valley instead of turning left, but according to guides, it’s better to count 7 hours round trip (no technical difficulty). You can leave Langmusi by bus, but off-season, you first have to take a taxi to a stop outside the city and wait for the bus. We didn’t try and took a taxi to Hezuo instead.

Note on this region: A high-speed train is under construction from Xining to Langmusi and beyond (never seen such an impressive construction site!). When it’s operational (in one or two years, I think), access to the area will be revolutionized, and perhaps some of the charm will be lost.

- **Hezuo**: Stopped on the way from Langmusi to Lanzhou. Visited the Milarepa Pagoda, entirely destroyed during the Cultural Revolution and since rebuilt. We liked it since we were passing through, but it doesn’t necessarily justify a long detour.

- **Lanzhou**: Reached by one of the many buses from Hezuo. Stayed in the "fake old quarter," which is extremely pleasant, especially in the evening with restaurants, groups of Chinese women dancing to loud music, etc. Visited Bingling Si with a driver, 120 km away—the landscape and site are absolutely magnificent, with no one around at our time of year. Visited the Gansu Museum (where the famous Flying Horse is, but it’s a replica). We bought the ticket on entry, but in season, you probably need to book in advance.

- **Yinchuan**: Stayed in the city center. A city we discovered by chance in the Lonely Planet—worth it if you have time. On the way, we stopped for a few hours in Zhongwei, where there’s an incredible Taoist temple (I’ll let you be surprised). Visited the Western Xia tombs—we took the short option, which visits Tomb 3. We think the others are similar but less impressive. The surrounding landscape and site are quite spectacular. Visited the film sets (really fun if you like Chinese movies), the short but interesting Ningxia Museum, and finally the modern art museum. The architecture is avant-garde, and there are some beautiful works (we like it, but it’s far from the center—hire a driver who waits, or you might have to wait for an employee to offer a ride back).

- **Tianshui**: Stayed in the suburbs, but you should find a hotel near the "fake old quarter" between the Fu Xi Temples and the Taoist temple—it’s a very nice area, and the two temples (especially the Taoist one) are within walking distance. Visited the Maijishan Caves—the ticket includes the shuttle to get there. Took a taxi from Lanzhou for about 10 € in 45 minutes. We found these caves fabulous.

- **Xi’an**: Stayed 500 meters from the Bell Tower at Hantang Inn—very convenient. We’d been before, so we didn’t revisit the Terracotta Army. The calligraphy district is worth it, as is the Muslim Quarter, though it’s very touristy. The area indicated on the Lonely Planet’s walking tour near the old fruit and vegetable market isn’t very interesting. To buy tea, you can go to the Northwest International Tea City, with dozens of shops. We chose one at random, tasted, and bought various teas. There’s everything from cheap to extremely expensive, but you can find reasonable prices even in seemingly luxurious shops. Along the street north of this area, there are large stores with tons of Chinese goods selling dishes, wedding items, etc. We spent hours there. In the city center, there are only malls with more or less international brands.

- **Longmen Grottoes**: Visited as a round trip by high-speed train from Xian—1 hour 15 minutes to Longmen’s high-speed train station, and the site entrance is 15 minutes by taxi.

We didn’t go to Mount Hua Shan, but there’s a high-speed train station nearby, and there were people on the train who were clearly going there. So, you can probably do this excursion in a day from Xian as well.

Conclusion: We hope this report makes you want to go or helps you if you’re already planning to. If you have questions that you can’t find the answer to by searching properly online and we can answer, don’t hesitate.

Hi there, - Rented a Budget car online, pick-up and drop-off at the airport: 11 days for 540 €, 1,400 km driven, gas at 0.85 €/litre. Driving was very easy in the country. - Two weeks was enough to see the highlights of Taiwan, especially with a car. - Withdrawing cash with a Revolut or Wise card: no bank fees at Cathay Bank ATMs. They’re yellow and green, often found in Family Mart stores. - Hikes: we did a few, the landscapes were interesting, but the trails were often too artificial for our taste (concrete, slabs, endless stairs, etc.). - Accommodation: averaged 42 €/night, booked in the afternoon for the same evening with no issues. Often stayed in B&Bs run by locals in remote areas—sometimes hard to find and with little English spoken, but no problem with a car. - Food: Chinese cuisine everywhere was excellent. - Weather in December: 8 great days, 5 average, 1 bad. Temperatures were pleasant, a bit chilly at higher altitudes. - Chungwa SIM card: 15 days for 20 €. - Most comprehensive website: taiwanobsessed.com. - We loved the hikes through the tea plantations in the Alishan region, Kenting Park, and the incredible Chung Tai Chan Monastery (tour with an English-speaking nun). Since Taroko was closed, the drive up the east coast from Kenting to Hualien felt long and not essential. Here’s our practical feedback from the trip—feel free to ask if you have any questions. Safe travels!

Hi everyone,

I’m planning to return to Japan for 15 days in April. This will be my second trip there. I’m starting to think about my itinerary.

I arrive in Tokyo in the evening and will spend one night there before taking the train to Hiroshima. I’ll stay in Hiroshima for 2 nights. Then, I’m heading to Kyoto (there are still so many beautiful things I want to see there), and I think I’ll stay for 3 nights. I also want to go back to Nara to visit the Pink Temple (probably in the morning before heading back to Kyoto).

And after that? I’d like to return to Hakone to try and catch a glimpse of Mount Fuji (I didn’t see it last time—it was cloudy). I’m thinking of staying one night there, probably in Odawara.

And then? I’ll head back to Tokyo and take the train to explore the surrounding areas and spend the day at some sites?

While in Tokyo, I want to visit Yokohama. I went to Kamakura last time and really loved it, but I don’t think I’ll go back.

I’ll end my trip in Tokyo, with my second-to-last night at the Muji Hotel and my last night near the airport.

That’s the plan so far—I’m open to your suggestions and itinerary tips!

Thanks in advance.

Hi there,

We’re thinking of spending 3 weeks in Asia this fall to visit some of the major capitals on this vast continent. We’d like to get a (very rough) sense of just how fast Asia is moving compared to what we see in the West (we’re from Quebec). For now, our very preliminary list includes Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Singapore. There are obviously plenty of other options—Seoul, Shanghai, etc.

What do you think? Thanks in advance!

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!

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