Me Time!
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MrsKiasu\" post_id=\"1933579\" time=\"1567571984\" user_id=\"43981:
We usually book our own travel and accommodation, then book full- or half-day tours to see things that are not within easy reach. That gives more flexibility than following a fully guided tour. Most hotels will have a tour desk where you can book tours, or there will be travel shops in most tourist areas. We also try to choose a hotel near at least some of the main sights so we can see them on our own.
going there on own like so difficult to see those nice scenery de..only see modern buildings
Beijing went many years ago, a nice place or maybe we follow tour then so know where to go? I need to apply visa this wk..
But for BJ, we did go on a tour from the city we were living in. It seemed easier as we didn't have many days and there were so many things to fit into the time. The places they bring you to are very standard and will be covered by most tours.
Why do you need a visa for China? Or are you planning to stay longer than 14 days? -
slmkhoo\" post_id=\"1933589\" time=\"1567574149\" user_id=\"28674:
yes for longer this time round..guess I need to check out some places to go..just very free and easy will do.
We usually book our own travel and accommodation, then book full- or half-day tours to see things that are not within easy reach. That gives more flexibility than following a fully guided tour. Most hotels will have a tour desk where you can book tours, or there will be travel shops in most tourist areas. We also try to choose a hotel near at least some of the main sights so we can see them on our own.MrsKiasu\" post_id=\"1933579\" time=\"1567571984\" user_id=\"43981:
going there on own like so difficult to see those nice scenery de..only see modern buildings
Beijing went many years ago, a nice place or maybe we follow tour then so know where to go? I need to apply visa this wk..
But for BJ, we did go on a tour from the city we were living in. It seemed easier as we didn't have many days and there were so many things to fit into the time. The places they bring you to are very standard and will be covered by most tours.
Why do you need a visa for China? Or are you planning to stay longer than 14 days? -
slmkhoo\" post_id=\"1933589\" time=\"1567574149\" user_id=\"28674:
Same same. If I can’t get there on my own, or the place that I want to visit is quite far out, I’ll book a local day tour. China is not really that difficult to tour once you know how.
We usually book our own travel and accommodation, then book full- or half-day tours to see things that are not within easy reach. That gives more flexibility than following a fully guided tour. Most hotels will have a tour desk where you can book tours, or there will be travel shops in most tourist areas. We also try to choose a hotel near at least some of the main sights so we can see them on our own.MrsKiasu\" post_id=\"1933579\" time=\"1567571984\" user_id=\"43981:
going there on own like so difficult to see those nice scenery de..only see modern buildings
Beijing went many years ago, a nice place or maybe we follow tour then so know where to go? I need to apply visa this wk..
But for BJ, we did go on a tour from the city we were living in. It seemed easier as we didn't have many days and there were so many things to fit into the time. The places they bring you to are very standard and will be covered by most tours.
Why do you need a visa for China? Or are you planning to stay longer than 14 days? -
For F&E, high speed rail tickets will have to be either purchased or collected (if booked online) in person with passport for foreigners. Give yourself some time to exchange online bookings for physical tickets as the queues are sometimes long.
China is one of the places where you can quite easily book day tours, or hire a driver, or just discuss with a cab driver to book him for the full day, if you are going further out. I use the Didi app too for certain point to point trips of say, less than 30km. I’ve not had to navigate the public bus system as yet.
Has anyone been to Harbin and/or Shenyang and the surrounding areas? -
slmkhoo\" post_id=\"1933587\" time=\"1567573727\" user_id=\"28674:
OK, understand... Sometimes got to sync with husband's leave too.
Wrong end of the country, and my kids were in school. Since I refused to travel during the Golden Weeks (which was when they were free to travel), that didn't leave much time to sightsee. We did visit Beijing, Xi'an, Kunming, Guilin and Hainan over the years.
For attractions within a city, I usually take taxi. But there're subways in Xiamen and Hangzhou now, so you can access the above Xiamen attractions. As for attractions in the neighbouring counties, better make a private vehicle booking with your concierge, klook or ctrip.com.
From Xiamen, you can take a ferry to Kinmen (ROC territory) for a day trip.
Hangzhou, Suzhou, Wuxi, Nanjing, Zhouzhuang, Shanghai should be done together, cos the flight to SouthEast China is like 4-5hrs. Hangzhou alone isn't worth your airtickets. Of course Westlake is very beautiful in autumn, esp. at night, the pubs, cafes, light shows, cruise and all. But other than Westlake, there's only Duan bridge, Yue Fei Temple, Lingyin Temple and Qinghefang ancient street that I fancied.
Or do a water town trail separately. There're about 6-10 historic water towns that had been carefully conserved by the heritage board. Zhouzhuang and Wuzhen used to be quite dilapidated 20+ years ago when I visited then with my parents. But now, they're super idyllic, just like some restored ancient towns in Japan. Stay at least a night or two in the inns by the canal. -
I have to say the tourist sites in China (water towns or mountains for example) are properly done up with proper toilet facilities and all but they are extremely commercial and touristy. Wuzhen is one of the larger water towns I think - there are two sides but I could complete them in a day trip. I didn’t stay overnight as I still prefer to lodge at major cities.
I was at Mount Hua (Huashan) earlier this year and while it was super grand and majestic and awesome, it was really a very very very noisy mountain. It must be the crowds + chatter + echoes of the mountain ranges. I felt zero peace on the regular trails. And there were a ton of people quarreling to take photos at the 华山论剑石碑. -
doodbug: see Harbin thread.
Huashan - Too tiring. -
Zeit - I paid through my nose for the least tiring way to see Huashan. But even if you pay for every piece of equipment/ride to help you, one cannot escape the multiple transfers (especially if you take the high speed rail from Xi’an). You won’t believe it - at West Peak base cable car bus drop off point, I even paid to ride the I don’t even know what it is called, this amusement park like thing, that brings you up to the cable car station and saves you about three-quarters of the steps.
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early dismissal today followed by term break. I m looking forward…plan to borrow library books for dd2 to occupy her.
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MrsKiasu\" post_id=\"1933723\" time=\"1567645485\" user_id=\"43981:
daughter has early dismissal today. mum is meeting her at orchard for lunch.
early dismissal today followed by term break. I m looking forward..plan to borrow library books for dd2 to occupy her.
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