Posts by Alicoptere
3 results on this page.
More options
Search results
Questions for a 15-day itinerary in China
I’ve never been to China in August, but I was there in June this year, and it’s true that it can get really hot and humid. But that didn’t stop me from exploring properly.
I’d absolutely recommend Yangshuo (over Guilin) because Guilin is basically the gateway city, and Yangshuo is too, but you can just rent a bike to explore the countryside. Guilin is almost an hour away by road. Don’t miss a sunrise over a peak—Xianggong Mountain for me was absolutely stunning.
After that, it’s really hard to suggest a two-week itinerary because China is so vast. If you’re set on visiting Yangshuo and are more interested in the countryside, I’d recommend arriving or departing from Hong Kong, exploring the south of the country, then taking a train or domestic flight to leave from Beijing or Shanghai. Shanghai takes less time to visit than Beijing, so it’s up to you to decide what interests you most.
In the south, I’d suggest at least 2 days in Hong Kong (no more if you want to focus on China), then 3 days in the Yangshuo area. That gives you time to bike around, hike, and spend a day at the Longji Rice Terraces. After that, you’ve got several options. I really loved Guizhou and its ethnic villages, which are still off the radar for most Western travelers. I adored the villages of Zhiaoxing and Langde, but keep in mind that tourism in China can be a bit unusual—you’ll have to pay an entry fee for the village and sometimes take a minibus from the entrance to the village itself. Aside from that commercial side, the interior stays pretty authentic. I spent 3 days there total (including Xijiang). Hunan is also incredible, with Zhangjiajie National Park, Fenghuang, and Furongzhen. I spent 3 days there too—one day per place—but it might be worth staying longer. Zhangjiajie could be explored over 4 days, but I found the infrastructure a bit off-putting if you want to stay more than a day, with all the buses and crowds. You could also head to Sichuan from Chengdu—2 days minimum—and visit the national parks of Huanglong and Jiuzhaigou, which are breathtaking with their unreal blue pools (there are tours available, otherwise it’s tough without a car). I spent 5 days in Sichuan, but it’s easy to stay longer. Chongqing is an option if you love ENORMOUS cities—it’s mind-blowing, and Wulong Karst is worth the detour. Finally, in the south, I’d also recommend Yunnan, where you can easily spend 2 weeks. I especially loved the Yuanyang Rice Terraces (at least 1-2 nights there), Lijiang, and Shaxi. Otherwise, you could do the most classic route: Beijing - Xi’An - Yangshuo - Shanghai, but you’ll lose more time in transit. These cities are all super interesting, but if Yangshuo is calling to you, I think the south will really appeal to you.
I’d advise you to travel independently. China isn’t complicated once you get the hang of it. Book your flights/trains/hotels on Trip, activities on Klook (sometimes the Chinese-language tours are really cheap, and the language barrier isn’t usually a big issue). Set up Alipay and WeChat for payments, Amap for navigation (Google Maps doesn’t work), get an eSIM with a VPN (I wouldn’t recommend Airalo), and bring something for translation.
Sorry if this is a bit all over the place! I just spent a semester on exchange in Shanghai and took the chance to explore China as much as possible. I summed all this up on this page: A semester in China – Alicia Duvanel, which might make more sense with the photos!
No matter what you visit, I hope you’ll love China—it’s a trip that’ll probably leave a big mark on you!
I’d absolutely recommend Yangshuo (over Guilin) because Guilin is basically the gateway city, and Yangshuo is too, but you can just rent a bike to explore the countryside. Guilin is almost an hour away by road. Don’t miss a sunrise over a peak—Xianggong Mountain for me was absolutely stunning.
After that, it’s really hard to suggest a two-week itinerary because China is so vast. If you’re set on visiting Yangshuo and are more interested in the countryside, I’d recommend arriving or departing from Hong Kong, exploring the south of the country, then taking a train or domestic flight to leave from Beijing or Shanghai. Shanghai takes less time to visit than Beijing, so it’s up to you to decide what interests you most.
In the south, I’d suggest at least 2 days in Hong Kong (no more if you want to focus on China), then 3 days in the Yangshuo area. That gives you time to bike around, hike, and spend a day at the Longji Rice Terraces. After that, you’ve got several options. I really loved Guizhou and its ethnic villages, which are still off the radar for most Western travelers. I adored the villages of Zhiaoxing and Langde, but keep in mind that tourism in China can be a bit unusual—you’ll have to pay an entry fee for the village and sometimes take a minibus from the entrance to the village itself. Aside from that commercial side, the interior stays pretty authentic. I spent 3 days there total (including Xijiang). Hunan is also incredible, with Zhangjiajie National Park, Fenghuang, and Furongzhen. I spent 3 days there too—one day per place—but it might be worth staying longer. Zhangjiajie could be explored over 4 days, but I found the infrastructure a bit off-putting if you want to stay more than a day, with all the buses and crowds. You could also head to Sichuan from Chengdu—2 days minimum—and visit the national parks of Huanglong and Jiuzhaigou, which are breathtaking with their unreal blue pools (there are tours available, otherwise it’s tough without a car). I spent 5 days in Sichuan, but it’s easy to stay longer. Chongqing is an option if you love ENORMOUS cities—it’s mind-blowing, and Wulong Karst is worth the detour. Finally, in the south, I’d also recommend Yunnan, where you can easily spend 2 weeks. I especially loved the Yuanyang Rice Terraces (at least 1-2 nights there), Lijiang, and Shaxi. Otherwise, you could do the most classic route: Beijing - Xi’An - Yangshuo - Shanghai, but you’ll lose more time in transit. These cities are all super interesting, but if Yangshuo is calling to you, I think the south will really appeal to you.
I’d advise you to travel independently. China isn’t complicated once you get the hang of it. Book your flights/trains/hotels on Trip, activities on Klook (sometimes the Chinese-language tours are really cheap, and the language barrier isn’t usually a big issue). Set up Alipay and WeChat for payments, Amap for navigation (Google Maps doesn’t work), get an eSIM with a VPN (I wouldn’t recommend Airalo), and bring something for translation.
Sorry if this is a bit all over the place! I just spent a semester on exchange in Shanghai and took the chance to explore China as much as possible. I summed all this up on this page: A semester in China – Alicia Duvanel, which might make more sense with the photos!
No matter what you visit, I hope you’ll love China—it’s a trip that’ll probably leave a big mark on you!
Trans-Mongolian trip, post-2022 info?
Hi there,
Thanks so much for your reply. I was thinking of flying to Mongolia because I need to get a visa in January, which requires proof of departure from the country, and train tickets won’t be available yet. I saw there are 3-day tours to visit the Gobi Desert, among other things, on GetYourGuide for less than 400 CHF, which seemed reasonable given the cost of tours in Mongolia. You seem to know your stuff—is it better to wait until I’m there and hire a guide/driver on the spot?
Thanks so much for your reply. I was thinking of flying to Mongolia because I need to get a visa in January, which requires proof of departure from the country, and train tickets won’t be available yet. I saw there are 3-day tours to visit the Gobi Desert, among other things, on GetYourGuide for less than 400 CHF, which seemed reasonable given the cost of tours in Mongolia. You seem to know your stuff—is it better to wait until I’m there and hire a guide/driver on the spot?
Trans-Mongolian Railway trip, post-2022 info?
Hi,
I’m supposed to be going on a university exchange in Shanghai from February to June 2025, and I’d love to return to Europe afterward via the Trans-Mongolian Railway. My plan was to fly from China to Mongolia’s capital and maybe spend 3-4 days exploring the country. Then, I could take the train, with a stop in Irkutsk before heading to Moscow for a two-day visit, followed by two days in Saint Petersburg. After that, I’d take a bus to Tallinn and possibly fly home from there due to time constraints. I was thinking this whole trip would take about two weeks. This site: Russian Train Tickets - Online Booking for Russian Train Tickets seems useful for buying tickets (though the ones that go through Mongolia need to be booked via a form or on tutu.travel), and this one for the bus from Russia to Estonia: St. Petersburg - Tallinn buses and tickets.
From what I’ve gathered, Russia now offers an e-visa, and Mongolia has suspended visas for Europeans until the end of next year.
Would anyone have any info or advice? Given the current situation in Russia, everything is pretty complicated to research, and most of the information is outdated.
Thanks in advance, Alicia
I’m supposed to be going on a university exchange in Shanghai from February to June 2025, and I’d love to return to Europe afterward via the Trans-Mongolian Railway. My plan was to fly from China to Mongolia’s capital and maybe spend 3-4 days exploring the country. Then, I could take the train, with a stop in Irkutsk before heading to Moscow for a two-day visit, followed by two days in Saint Petersburg. After that, I’d take a bus to Tallinn and possibly fly home from there due to time constraints. I was thinking this whole trip would take about two weeks. This site: Russian Train Tickets - Online Booking for Russian Train Tickets seems useful for buying tickets (though the ones that go through Mongolia need to be booked via a form or on tutu.travel), and this one for the bus from Russia to Estonia: St. Petersburg - Tallinn buses and tickets.
From what I’ve gathered, Russia now offers an e-visa, and Mongolia has suspended visas for Europeans until the end of next year.
Would anyone have any info or advice? Given the current situation in Russia, everything is pretty complicated to research, and most of the information is outdated.
Thanks in advance, Alicia
