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gothsusie
Ranter
Joined: Oct 24, 2005
Posts: 522
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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 Posted:
Mar 20, 2007 - 11:14 AM |
 
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| Post subject: Travelling to Guilin and Yangshuo |
I'm thinking of going to Guilin with some friends for 3 to 4 days in mid May. I'm looking for recommendations on hotels, travel tours, experiences from ppl who have gone whether they recommend doing this trip and so forth.
Also I've been looking online on elong and ctrip and return tickets are above 2000 rmb. That seems a bit high to me... Is that a normal price to pay?
Has anyone gone in May before? How is the weather, was it rainy (I read that it's the beginning of the rainy season) and was it too hot to do the bike and hiking comfortably?
Thank you in advance for all comments! |
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samuelo
Ranter
Joined: July 18, 2004
Posts: 579
Status: Offline
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Mar 20, 2007 - 12:57 PM |
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Check out Spring Airlines. Not sure how good/safe/reliable they are but they are a "budget" Chinese carrier. They fly to Guilin and tickets as low as RMB 800 return. Significantly cheaper than flying with one of the big carriers. Ticket prices in China generally are a rip-off due to the lack of competition.
Haven't been to Guilin or Yangshuo so can't be of more help. |
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elenaelena
Reacher
Joined: Dec 14, 2006
Posts: 293
Location: Shanghai, Jing'an
Status: Offline
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Mar 20, 2007 - 02:17 PM |
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I really advise u to go to Yangshuo...one the greatest places i have see...really nice...and i am going in end of april with some tourist again...so Gothsusie...if u PM me than i can tell u in details what you want to know.... |
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tommaddox
Squeeker
Joined: Feb 24, 2006
Posts: 14
Location: Nanjing, Jiangsu
Status: Offline
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Mar 20, 2007 - 02:29 PM |
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I went to Guilin and Yangshuo last October. I flew from Nanjing, and the ticket was 1300RMB return with China Southern Airlines, the flight was really quick, less than 2 hours in fact. The bus to Yangshuo from Guilin is quick and cheap. I'm not sure what type of accommodation you're looking for, but I stayed at a cheap guest house (100RMB per night for 2 people) called Monkey Jane's Guest House. Jane is the owner, and she speaks English, and serves up some great western food. The address is 28 lian feng zhong xiang (莲峰中巷). The weather wasn't too hot in October, but I'm not sure what it'll be like when you go. If you want to rent small electric bikes there's a good place just by where the bus from Guilin drops you off, we rented some and took them out to see the scenery. Yangshuo is a beautiful place, and you won't believe how many foriegners there are! You can check out photos at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=6343&page=2&id=618580423 Hope this helps. |
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suamei
Reacher
Joined: Dec 11, 2004
Posts: 279
Status: Offline
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Mar 20, 2007 - 04:05 PM |
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Sounds like it'll be a fun trip, gothsusie!
Couldn't see your album, tommaddox.
Along this thread, has anyone ever traveled to Guilin with small children-- and are any accommodations recommendable? |
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'Some people crave baseball. I find this unfathomable, however, I do understand how someone could get excited about playing a basoon.' -Frank Zappa |
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gothsusie
Ranter
Joined: Oct 24, 2005
Posts: 522
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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Mar 21, 2007 - 09:57 AM |
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Thank you for the many responses to my post. I definitely find all the information very useful!
Samuelo... I checked out the website for Spring Airlines and it's really much better the fares than what I've seen out there so far. They didn't have a flight for Guilin but I have to email them and see if they have something next.
elenaelena... I will try to remember to PM you at the end of April to see how your trip went and any advice that you would have for my upcoming trip. Have you already booked your tickets (if so who did you use and how much) and do you have a tour package or just arrange everything once you are there?
tommaddox... How did you book your flight ticket? Was it through elong or ctrip? That sounds like a really good rate! Did you book the guest house in advance or did you just go and end up there once you were in Yangshuo? Also I can't see you pictures but would really like to be able to take a look at them.
suamei... I'm really looking forward to doing this trip but hope that the weather in may is not too hot and that the rainy season won't have started by then. The best time to go is really right now or in april from what I have heard....
Thank you again for the posts and please anyone with tips keep on posting! |
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aquagirl
Veejay
Joined: May 02, 2005
Posts: 2094
Location: in a gumdrop house on lollipop lane
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Mar 21, 2007 - 11:06 AM |
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i was there two summers ago. the weather was hot and humid, but not bad. these would be my suggestions:
-don't spend any time in guilin. it's a tourist trap and a pit. do not trust taxi drivers there. they will swindle you the first chance they get.
-i reluctantly took the boat trip from there to yangshuo. it was actually pretty cool. overpriced, but maybe worth it if you have time. if not, spend all your time in yangshuo.
-there are plenty of cheap places to stay in yangshou. there was a super nice place outside of the town called.... mountain side retreat or something like that, for about 200 yuan a night. incredibly quiet and peaceful. but, there is nothing else there, so it depends on what you like.
-two rivers. names escape me. the big one through town is a bit dirty and full of boats and people. bike out and go to the other river. beautiful clear water. you can swim in it.
-take the hike to moon mountain.
-rent a bike the first day you get there. get a tourist map and go.
-cheap places in town abound. i stayed at.... i can't remember. lucy's house or something. it was a restaurant and hotel. decent, nice people. but even cheaper options exist if you need them. when you come into town a whole wave of guys will come up to you with pictures of their hotels. agree on a price and check them out.
-western food is cheaper than chinese food. i never figured out that one. lots of little places to get pretty good food and enjoy some yunnan coffee. lots of little cafes. the people selling postcards and such are annoying though.
-english students. they are everywhere. and everyone will want to practice english with you. this will most likely become annoying. most of the talking is speaking at, not conversation. do not be afraid to excuse yourself. if you go somewhere alone, take a book or ipod or something.
-parks. there are a bunch of nice little ones with moderate hiking trails. nothing exciting, but a nice change from shanghai.
-tourist crap. cormorant fishing and light shows. baaah. the fishing thing i found upsetting. but that could have been because i watched the fisherman's son kick a cormorant and no one seemed to think that was a problem except for me and another traveller. i would say avoid these things....
-bars. lots of bars and cafes that are worthwhile. the aforementioned monkey bar is great. just a rooftop bar in a building. great view of the city and for stargazing. can't remember any other places of note.
-3-4 days is not much time, but good enough for a short break there. then again, after more than five days you might start to not like it so much. |
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sinned69
SuperStar
Joined: Sep 01, 2004
Posts: 1511
Location: China, Middle East, Asia Pacific
Status: Offline
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Mar 21, 2007 - 12:46 PM |
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have a very good contact at the YHA in Yongshuo if you're interested...just PM me. Yongshuo is a nice town... if not overly touristy and commercialised, still worth it though. everyone has differences, so its pretty subjective... i stayed in guilin and Yangshuo for a month a few years back and enjoyed both, but it does depend on contacts and interests...
good airline prices can be had with ctrip, if you happen to book well enough in advance and elong is ok too IMO  |
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tommaddox
Squeeker
Joined: Feb 24, 2006
Posts: 14
Location: Nanjing, Jiangsu
Status: Offline
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Mar 22, 2007 - 09:57 AM |
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I got my secretary at work to book it for me, I'm not sure how she went about it, but I'll try and find out. I just turned up to the guesthouse and there were rooms available. If you go in mid-May after the Labour Day holiday I reckon you should find rooms no problem. I'll PM you about the photos. |
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Mr Cheese |
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tnoto1
Newbie
Joined: Oct 25, 2005
Posts: 9
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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May 12, 2007 - 05:29 PM |
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anyone have a link for spring airlines?? google and yahoo come up with nothing but some 'spring travel' chinese travel agency. |
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Benoist_Shanghai
Low Seater
Joined: May 18, 2003
Posts: 3057
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May 14, 2007 - 12:04 PM |
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| gothsusie wrote: |
Samuelo... I checked out the website for Spring Airlines and it's really much better the fares than what I've seen out there so far. They didn't have a flight for Guilin but I have to email them and see if they have something next.
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No tickets to Guilin?
http://www.china-sss.com
去程 2007-05-21 （ 上海 — 桂林 ）
航班 9C8805 日期 2007-5-21 机型 A320
起飞 虹桥19:20 到达 两江21:35 经停
网上支付价
399
回程 2007-05-25 （ 桂林 — 上海 ）
航班 9C8806 日期 2007-5-25 机型 A320
起飞 两江22:20 到达 虹桥00:25 经停
网上支付价
430
= 830+60tax |
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