Where to go that is ESSENTIAL in Asia?

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nateliu99

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Joined: Sep 14, 2009
Posts: 26

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Posted: Sep 15, 2009 - 06:10 PM
Post subject: Where to go that is ESSENTIAL in Asia?

Hey everyone, new to Shanghai, don't know how much time I'll be in Shanghai before I got to go back to the U.S. but definitely less than a year

I have a 30 hour a week job here, so i can't always take off immediately

My questions, what places and/or experiences are absolutely essential before I go back?

Here is my list so far:

1. Shanghai, clearly by living here i am taking care of this
1a. Zhujiajiao the water canal town, kind of a one day trip i think tho
1b. Suzhou, don't know much about it, just everyone says it is worth it, seems like there are a lot of shrines and gardens

2. Beijing, absolutely necessary being the capital and all. I can see T1annamun square.

3. The Great Wall, not sure exactly where the best place is to see this but i think this can be combined with number 2, beijing

4. Sichuan region, might be taking care of this during the October holidays, all i know is it is very naturey and there are pandas, and spicy mapo tofu

5. I've heard that Yunana province is the place to be for beautiful scenery

6. t¡bet and Lhasa, one of my friends went here on a bike and said it was the most beautiful place he had ever seen. However this will probably be the most problematic and expensive part of the journey

7. Might go to Tianjin by train just to visit a friend of mine, maybe this can be combined with #2 and #3

8. Nanjing? Maybe see the Nanjing Massacre Memorial. Dont if this is necessary though.

9. Harbin International Ice Festival? I've just heard this is pretty kick ass

10. I'm also interested in out of China travel, like Thailand got some friends going there in December or January

11. South Korea, never been too interested in Korea, but I might as well if I am here right?

Ok, so what do you think, and you got any other ideas?

It looks like I'll probably work until just after winter or something and travel straight up for like several weeks before heading back.

Would love any other opinions of absolutely essential things in Asia

p1atl10

Shanghai Royalty

Joined: Mar 18, 2005
Posts: 8585
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline

Posted: Sep 15, 2009 - 06:23 PM

Outside China
- Hong Kong...easy weekend trip
- Hanoi. If you are going to Bangkok...cheap flights (AirAsia) to Vietnam.

Much as I love Korea (especially the food!)....would put this at the bottom of the list.
Interesting....but not much to see in Seoul except the markets.....

Inside China

- Qingdao.
- Xi an
- Yangshuo. Best scenery in China!
- If finances allow....t¡bet/Lhasa. Go now!....before the Han take over ALL the city and the culture.

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nateliu99

Lurker

Joined: Sep 14, 2009
Posts: 26

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Posted: Sep 15, 2009 - 06:43 PM

wow thanks for the help! I looked up Qingdao earlier today on Wiki, cuz a couchsurfer is gonna go there for October holiday, I didn't see anything about it that really looked unique besides the fact that Tsingtao beer is from there, what is so great about it?

By the way, what website or what airline gives the best prices for flights within Asia?

leidelaohu

Board Lord

Joined: June 11, 2007
Posts: 5745

Status: Offline

Posted: Sep 15, 2009 - 06:55 PM

p1atl10 wrote:

Inside China

- Qingdao.
- Xi an
- Yangshuo. Best scenery in China!
- If finances allow....t¡bet/Lhasa. Go now!....before the Han take over ALL the city and the culture.

Plates, you forgot Dongguan ! Almost any KTV, the nicest girls in China for the best prices and hundreds of them from which to choose. Probably THE highlight of China.