Advice/travel buddy for china trip

Most nationalities need a visa for each entry into mainland China. Are you sure you want to do a lot of separate trips into mainland China? That could prove to be quite expensive as visas go.

Well, double entry isn't too much more, is it, and then you get a bit more flexibility? What's your potential budget like? Can you afford to fly, and how many stops? What's your language level? A lot of people insist you can get around in China even not speaking Chinese, but I think it could be very difficult especially if you got "off the beaten path" although these are some of the more delightful places. I'm not sure what you really love to see, but I'd suggest that at some point a big city is a just another big city and some smaller places are worthy of consideration. Ellyse may differ with me, but if I had to choose between Shanghai and Xi'an, I'd take Xi'an. One sample itinerary might be to take the train from HK to Beijing (27 hrs?), stay there x days, then take the overnight train to Xi'an, then fly to some other place like Chengdu (Panda preserve) or Lijiang, fly to Guilin and go see Yangshuo, then train back to HK. Check out the site http://www.bikechina.com for a close-to-the-earth type tour experience with an English speaking guide.

Ok then. What are you (usually) more interested in seeing/doing/experiencing while on travel? What's your budget like? Are you travelling alone?

I'd say Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an plus a couple of sidetrips from Shanghai. This is a well-trodden tourist trail so your lack of Mandarin shouldn't be too much of a problem. Feel free to drop me a private message if you'd like to work out things in further detail. I've travelled extensively in China and always happy to help out fellow travellers. :) I was going to meet up with Meiguoren the last time I was in Guangdong province, but it was a pity that I missed it in the end. :( Next time! :)

I would second ellyse's advice - Beijing and Xi'an are great places to visit with no need to speak Mandarin (Shanghai and Guilin too I assume, but I haven't been there). You could get a package tour, but it would be just as easy to get a flight/hotel package and organise day or half-day trips when you get there.

If you like travelling alone, or in remote areas, or are a little nervous, arm yourself with a GSM cell phone [buy a used/unlocked one on ebay]and have some numbers of friends who speak Mandarin. Or even the number of a large hotel with English speaking people at the counter. You can buy a SIM card at any China Mobile store in the PRC...EZ.

You can relax and be pretty much anywhere in China and have a translator at the push of a button. This is how I travel in China. Also great for calling home from China at a cheap price. As for where to go. The possibillities are endless. Just follow your interests, whether they be medicine, snakes, doll making, exotic food, art, political unrest, theatre, botany...There is a place in China for just about anything. My advice would be to get out of HK asap...too expensive. I am just one guy with adventurest taste. You may prefer small organized tours which can be arranged at any front desk at any major hotel. That is another nice way to go without being locked into some tightassed tourist company schedule. AVOID tour groups that want to take you to various silk, carpet, and pearl factories and all that sort of fake crap. Go and have an adventure and a good time.............