China tour Summer '09 中国暑假旅游09年

daizi
December 04, 2008, 05:48 PM posted in General Discussion

I travel to China with 15 or so students every three or four years. Each time I map out a different tour. This coming summer I would like to try a coastal tour. These trips always involve slower modes of transportation (train, bus, boat, bicycle, foot) with an emphasis on visiting at least a few places off the beaten track and intermingling with the locals. This last bit might be a bit difficult given the path of this itinerary. I welcome comments, warnings, and suggestions on destinations, sites, hotels, etc. from the many inveterate China travelers here on CPod.

Cheers. Randall

So far, this is what I have worked out (with the help of my long-time Chinese tour insider): 

Day 01   Beijing 北京

  • Arrive late in the afternoon
  • No hotel yet (looking for something near intersection of Wangfujing-Chang’an streets)
  • Dinner in a dumpling restaurant

Day 02  Beijing 北京

  • Tian'An Men Square
  • Forbidden City
  • Temple of Heaven
  • Summer Palace
  • Peking Opera show at Lao She Tea House

Day 03  Beijing 北京-长城

  • Simatai and  Jinshanling section of the Great Wall, with some hiking and hawker dodging
  • Peking Duck Dinner at Qianmen Quanjude Duck Restaurant

Day 04  Beijing 北京/ Qingdao 青岛 (overnight train to Qingdao)

  • Morning tour of Hutong, with bicycle rental
  • Local kindergarden visit
  • Tour the 2008 Beijing Olympics venues (including Water Cube and Bird Nest)
  • Walk around the famous Silk Alley Market
  • Qingdao by overnight train

Day 05 Qingdao 青岛

  • Stay at the Equatorial Hotel Qingdao in Old Town
  • Afternoon walking tour

Day 06  QIngdao 青岛/ Tai’an 泰安

  • Bus to Tai’an
  • Stay at International Hotel Tia'An near the Dai Temple for 2 nights
  • Afternoon walking tour of town & temples

Day 07  Tai’an 泰安 / Mount Tai 泰山 / Tai’an 泰安

  • Full-day tour at Mount Tai, with hiking (or, if you’re too lazy, cable car ride)
  • Return to Tai’an for dinner

Day 08  Tai’an 泰安/ Qufu 曲阜

  • After breakfast, depart Tai’an for Qufu
  • Tour in Qufu including Confucious Temple / family residences and etc.
  • Stay at Queli Hotel  

Day 09  Qufu 曲阜/ Zhujiayu 朱家峪 / Jinan 济南/ Shanghai 上海(overnight train to Shanghai)

  • Bus to Jinan
  • On the way, stop by in Zhujianyu village. Walking tour of village and lunch. Then proceed to Jinan by coach
  • Depart Jinan for Shanghai by overnight train 

Day 10    Shanghai 上海

  • Stay at  Boadway Mansions Hotel Shanghai for 2 nights
  • Visit the Bund and East Nanjing Road / Xin Tian Di area. 

Day 11 Shanghai 上海

  • Old Town
  • Yu Garden
  • The Shanghai Museum
  • Wander the French Concession. 
  • Acrobatic show in evening

Day 12 Shanghai 上海 / Moganshan 莫干山

  • Depart Shanghai by bus to Moganshan in Zhejiang Province
  • Stay at Jianquan Shanzhuang for 1 night
  • Afternoon hiking 

Day 13 Moganshan 莫干山 / Hangzhou 杭州

  • Depart Moganshan for Hangzhou by bus
  • Stay at Sunny Hotel Hangzhou
  • Afternoon tour on West Lake

Day 14 Hangzhou 杭州/ Shenzhen 深圳 (overnight train to Shenzhen)

  • Morning at leisure. 
  • Depart Hangzhou for Shenzhen by overnight train

Day 15 Shenzhen 深圳/ Hong Kong 香港 (Tsim Sha Tsui 尖沙嘴)  

  • Shenzhen to Hong Kong by bus
  • Stay at the YMCA Salisbury House
  • Night tram to Victoria Peak

Day 16 Hong Kong 香港/ USA 美国

  • Free day at leisure. 
  • Depart HKG for USA by air

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agodwin
January 10, 2009, 02:13 PM

Dai,

I don't know if Dalian would fit in to your itinerary, but if you can make it it would be great to see you. Even if you don't, I might have to try to come say hi...

Keep me posted.

Adam

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lululucylucy
March 01, 2009, 01:07 PM

strongly recommend:杭州!

so,,u‘ve made a  great decision

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tvan
March 01, 2009, 08:59 PM

Daizi, you're covering a lot of territory in just a couple of weeks.  Have you considered breaking up the coast?  Maybe Korea to Beijing, Beijing to Shanghai, Shanghai to Hong Kong, or Hong Kong to Vietnam?  

Given the time of year, the northern part sounds the best; however, I've only flown over that part of China, so I don't have any specific suggestions.