China

[VanillaSkyGirl 6]

Has anyone vacationed in China? My family and myself are thinking of going in March or April of next year. Right now, I am debating between a mostly land trip over Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai, where we can do a slightly more thorough exploration of those areas, or we can take a land/cruise trip of Beijing, Chongqing, Wanxian, Fengdu or Shibaozhai, Two Gorges, Three Lesser Gorges, Yichang and Shanghai.

Does anyone recommend one option over the other? They seem like such completely different trips, and I am not sure which one would be more interesting or enjoyable for us. Are there any must-sees in these parts of China, besides obvious ones like the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, etc.

Please feel free to post pictures or stories if you have them.

[crotalus01 0]

been to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region several times (thats the official name). been to the mainland once. China is a pretty cool country, not super friendly people in the areas i was in, may be different when you really get to the interior.
have you thought about any other countries in the area? i HIGHLY recommend Cambodia - the Angkor Wat temples are some of the most stunning things i have ever seen, and some of the friendliest people i have ever encountered - i have been all over Cambodia on motorcycle and never had any problems (other than a nasty collision with another motorbike in Phnom Penh).
if you end up going with China try and get to the areas around the border with Afghanistan - life is VERY different there.

As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD...

[Sen.Blutarsky 0]

Yes, I've traveled throughout China -- both of 'em North, South, East & even West. Have fun!


Blutarsky 2008. No Prisoners!

[demoss99 0]

VSG - A really good friend of mine, a fellow jumper, is currently living in China. This is his second year living there and he's very knowledgable about the capital and surrounding areas. He also speaks the language fluently. He'd be a great resource for you. I'll PM you with his email contact info.

Hope this helps you out.

"I know you believe you understand what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant."

[Frenchy68 0]

I go to Shanghai every other month or so. Amazing city, definitely a must see.
Let's talk when I'm back in LA.

"For once you have tasted Absinthe you will walk the earth with your eyes turned towards the gutter, for there you have been and there you will long to return."

[freeflir29 0]

Never been there but I watched a show about it. They took a cruise either up or down the Yangtze(SP?) river. That looked pretty cool.

[ying82 0]

Take the land/cruise trip. It's much more scenic. Cruising down the three gorges brings to mind the scenic beauty from crouching tiger, hidden dragon and hero. I don't know how much the yangtze has changed since I was there four years ago though.

The overland route is mostly composed of a long tour bus ride with occasional stops to see local points of interest. Plus, there isn't really that much to do in Beijing, although xian has some nice scenery also.

we're extremely fortunate
not to know precisely
the kind of world we live in.
-W.Szymborska

[jumpwally 0]

Is there a DZ there?

smile, be nice, enjoy life
FB # - 1083

[Sen.Blutarsky 0]

Quote

Is there a DZ there?

No. There are no drop zones that are open to the public in the PRC from what I have been able to tell. I believe that Hong Kong did have one years ago but it went under even before the communists took over. (edited to add: this is shame since the Chinese have plenty of their nation's version of the venerable Mi-8 helicopter, which is a terrific platform for gaining altitude.)


Blutarsky 2008. No Prisoners!