I haven't made travel plans as of yet just sent away for my passport it will be back in 2 weeks but I need to get a plane ticket and a China Tourist Visa, anyone that may have info on the best and cheapest way to go there from Atlanta, Georgia to Kunming china, or even hong kong, beijing or shanghai, I can always catch a train or connecting flight to the city from there, please let me know thanks for your time.

Eddie...

Since Atlanta is one of Delta's hubs, I would start checking there first. Delta doesn't fly to China, however they will have partners that do.

United isn't bad. Will most likely go through San Francisco and then direct to Shanghai. Avoid Northwest like the plague . . . they are always late and the service is terrible. Not that United is great but at least they are usually close to schedule.

You can also take a look at ANA or JAL. You will have to sly through Narita but if you don't mind that you may be able to find a good fare. A lot of people have been using Air Canada lately because they are offering some good deals. Usually direct through Vancouver.

Asiana is another choice. Flights through Korea. Have heard nothing but rave reviews from everyone who has flown. Will fly from either New York or the West Coast.

If you don't mind going through HK, then Cathay Pacific usually has some great deals. You will either have to connect out of New York or California. Direct to HK. However, if you are looking to save money, then make sure you take transportation and hotels into account should you stay in HK because it is more expensive in many ways than mainland China.

Chinese tourist visa . . . there is a Chinese Consulate in the southeastern US. Should be able to get it in a day with expedited service but if you don't need it right away then there is no need to pay for that. You do not need your visa prior to booking your tickets. You don't officially need your passport to book the tickets either . . .

Do some searches, call some airlines and see what deals you can find. Generally speaking, flights are less expensive if you travel on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.

Don't forget Korean Air Lines! They can sometimes be the cheapest route across the Pacific.

KAL flies direct from Atlanta to Seoul (sometimes nonstop, sometimes via Chicago or Los Angeles) and from Seoul to Kunming. I have a feeling this might be your best option.

You should probably visit travel agents in Chinatown -- does Atlanta have a Chinatown?? -- to get the best deal on the flight. In New York City it's impossible to find really cheap China tickets online because only the Chinatown agents get access to them.

Finally: I guess you already know this if you've looked at a map, but you should be aware that Kunming is VERY far away from Beijing, Shanghai or Hong Kong. The train from Shanghai would take you a couple of days -- I know because I've done it.

thanks everyone for all the very useful infomation, a better deal means the more money I will have to spend on traveling around inside China.