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Old 05-29-2008, 10:46 AM   #1
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Default Cuba and Asia 2008!!!!

Hey everyone...

These are my plans for July-August this summer!

The question is: where to go in the question mark days?? Any suggestions from peeps who have been to the Middle Kingdom?


July 18 - 26: Varadero, Cuba (going with girlfriend)

Asia begins...

July 28: Beijing
July 29: Beijing
July 30: Beijing
July 31: Beijing
August 1: ???
August 2: ???
August 3: ???
August 4: ????
August 5: Shanghai
August 6: Shanghai
August 7: Shanghai
August 8: Shanghai
August 9: Hong Kong
August 10: Hong Kong
August 11: Hong Kong
August 12: Hong Kong
August 13: Hong Kong
August 14: Hong Kong
August 15: Fly home!
__________________
Vincent: "So what you gonna do?"
Jules: "Well, basically, I'm just gonna walk the earth."
Vincent: "What you mean 'walk the earth'?"
Jules: "You know, like Kane in 'Kung Fu'...go places...meet people...get in adventures."

Trips (only counting recreational travel):
FIRST TRIP (2005): FIRST EUROTRIP EVER! UK, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Holland
SECOND TRIP (2007): First Solo Trip! Greece, Turkey, Syria, Spain
2008: China (Beijing, Shanghai, Yangshuo) ...right before the Olympics!
2009: Japan & HK, Southern Spain
[size=1]2010: All over Lebanon, Ibiza (Spain), Oktoberfest (Germany), Thailand.
2011: India (Goa), Jordan, Jerusalem, San Sebastian (Spain), Amsterdam (again), London, Driving from Vancouver to L.A. (stopping in Portland, Seattle, San Fran and all the little stops), Montpellier (France), Geneva and Lausanne (Switzerland)

"Bite off more than you can chew, then chew it."
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Old 06-05-2008, 08:18 PM   #2
 
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Hi, I have experience in both China and Cuba and you are going to definitely have a great time. You are spending a good amount of time in Beijing and Shanghai (where I grew up as a kid) so you'll be getting a good taste of what most people think about when they think of China, so I suggest you go to places in China which are really different, such as Xinjiang (northwest, border of Kazakhstan), Inner Mongolia (1 hour flight from Beijing), or Yun'an (outside Tibet). All three are great. Rent a bike in Inner Mongolia and ride across the plains that Genghis Khan once rode across. Xinjiang is a Muslim area and very different from China (people there look more Russian than Chinese) and really great sites and food and some amazing hikes if that is your thing. Yun'an is the farthest, so I recommend that the least, though definitely go for it if that's your fancy.

I would be happy to answer any more questions you have. Good luck!
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Old 06-06-2008, 09:25 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by burvowski View Post
Hi, I have experience in both China and Cuba and you are going to definitely have a great time. You are spending a good amount of time in Beijing and Shanghai (where I grew up as a kid) so you'll be getting a good taste of what most people think about when they think of China, so I suggest you go to places in China which are really different, such as Xinjiang (northwest, border of Kazakhstan), Inner Mongolia (1 hour flight from Beijing), or Yun'an (outside Tibet). All three are great. Rent a bike in Inner Mongolia and ride across the plains that Genghis Khan once rode across. Xinjiang is a Muslim area and very different from China (people there look more Russian than Chinese) and really great sites and food and some amazing hikes if that is your thing. Yun'an is the farthest, so I recommend that the least, though definitely go for it if that's your fancy.

I would be happy to answer any more questions you have. Good luck!
Well, albeit undoubtedly truly fascinating locales, Xinjiang and Tibet/Yunnan are clear on the other side of China. So, with only 3-4 days, a lot of that time would be eaten up by the commute alone.

Inner Mongolia is far closer to Beijing, and would be a cultural experience. Just be forewarned that accomodations there can be rather spartan and less cushy.

Another possibility is passing through Henan and stopping by Shaolin temple there. That would be much less of a detour...
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Old 06-20-2008, 10:51 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by burvowski View Post
Hi, I have experience in both China and Cuba and you are going to definitely have a great time. You are spending a good amount of time in Beijing and Shanghai (where I grew up as a kid) so you'll be getting a good taste of what most people think about when they think of China, so I suggest you go to places in China which are really different, such as Xinjiang (northwest, border of Kazakhstan), Inner Mongolia (1 hour flight from Beijing), or Yun'an (outside Tibet). All three are great. Rent a bike in Inner Mongolia and ride across the plains that Genghis Khan once rode across. Xinjiang is a Muslim area and very different from China (people there look more Russian than Chinese) and really great sites and food and some amazing hikes if that is your thing. Yun'an is the farthest, so I recommend that the least, though definitely go for it if that's your fancy.

I would be happy to answer any more questions you have. Good luck!
Hey thanks buddy, I appreciate it. However, this trip.. will not be too long, I won't get out to those parts.. but maybe next year. I've always wanted to see the Muslim regions....
__________________
Vincent: "So what you gonna do?"
Jules: "Well, basically, I'm just gonna walk the earth."
Vincent: "What you mean 'walk the earth'?"
Jules: "You know, like Kane in 'Kung Fu'...go places...meet people...get in adventures."

Trips (only counting recreational travel):
FIRST TRIP (2005): FIRST EUROTRIP EVER! UK, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Holland
SECOND TRIP (2007): First Solo Trip! Greece, Turkey, Syria, Spain
2008: China (Beijing, Shanghai, Yangshuo) ...right before the Olympics!
2009: Japan & HK, Southern Spain
[size=1]2010: All over Lebanon, Ibiza (Spain), Oktoberfest (Germany), Thailand.
2011: India (Goa), Jordan, Jerusalem, San Sebastian (Spain), Amsterdam (again), London, Driving from Vancouver to L.A. (stopping in Portland, Seattle, San Fran and all the little stops), Montpellier (France), Geneva and Lausanne (Switzerland)

"Bite off more than you can chew, then chew it."
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Old 06-20-2008, 11:08 AM   #5
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Default Updated Itinerary!

Hello my friends... an updated itiniary. Thanks to Voyd and Zack for the advice - as well as stuff you've already posted. It was a great help.

I modelled this trip as a sampler of China, the motherland. Basically Beijing is "historical china", shanghai is "modern china" and guilin is "scenic and wilderness China"... and HK of course, is for my buddy's wedding.

July 29: Beijing
July 30: Beijing
July 31: Beijing
August 1: Beijing
August 2: Beijing-Shanghai
August 3: Shanghai
August 4: Shanghai
August 5: Shanghai-Guilin
August 6: Yangshuo
August 7: Yangshuo
August 8: Guilin-Hong Kong
August 9: Hong Kong
August 10: Hong Kong
August 11: Hong Kong
August 12: Hong Kong
August 13: Hong Kong
August 14: Hong Kong
August 15: Fly home!
__________________
Vincent: "So what you gonna do?"
Jules: "Well, basically, I'm just gonna walk the earth."
Vincent: "What you mean 'walk the earth'?"
Jules: "You know, like Kane in 'Kung Fu'...go places...meet people...get in adventures."

Trips (only counting recreational travel):
FIRST TRIP (2005): FIRST EUROTRIP EVER! UK, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Holland
SECOND TRIP (2007): First Solo Trip! Greece, Turkey, Syria, Spain
2008: China (Beijing, Shanghai, Yangshuo) ...right before the Olympics!
2009: Japan & HK, Southern Spain
[size=1]2010: All over Lebanon, Ibiza (Spain), Oktoberfest (Germany), Thailand.
2011: India (Goa), Jordan, Jerusalem, San Sebastian (Spain), Amsterdam (again), London, Driving from Vancouver to L.A. (stopping in Portland, Seattle, San Fran and all the little stops), Montpellier (France), Geneva and Lausanne (Switzerland)

"Bite off more than you can chew, then chew it."
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Old 06-24-2008, 08:21 PM   #6
 
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Personally, I would drop some time off HK and add more to one of the other locations, but that's just my preference and either way, your trip will still be a good time
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Old 08-08-2008, 08:58 AM   #7
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Well, I guess you've already left Beijing by now...but just wanted to mention a few "2nd tier" spots here once you've hit all the main historical landmarks for future reference:

1) HouHai Lake - Small, scenic lake surrounded by bars/clubs/eateries all along its perimeter. Great to hang out at during night or day. You can also rent paddleboats to cruise around in...

2) 798 - Modern art warehouse district. This former industrial park is now full of small studios/galleries and avant garde art. Definitely worth a stroll through for a few hours for a change of scene...after you've been "templed out."

3) Nanluoguxiang - Nice renovated hutong with tons of cool, funky & romantic eateries/shops. Great atmospheres and chow! Good place to grab a meal...
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