How long is the trip and do you have flight evacuation insurance for medical reasons? If you are on a tour you don't have to be handling suitcases, which is a good thing. However I would imagine China has a lot of uneven ground, and many steps to climb. I do know that there are suppose to be golf carts at the warriors in Xian you can use. Save your energy when you can. I guess the bottom line is ...only you know how you feel and what your limitations are.

Thanks, the trip is 12 days. And yes, I do have flight evacuation insurance. I think it's very unlikely I'd get that bad, though. Walking is pretty easy - i'm just a tad slower than my normal pace but definitely can walk at an average pace (usually I'm a very fast walker).
The pain is more in my legs than in my back. They're sore as if I've over-exercised.

While you are puzzling this through, my attention is drawn to Julie who is a strong resource as you make this decision. She knows you well and how you function while traveling (tastes, preferences, customary activity level, ability to handle stress and setbacks, etc.) You and she also know what kind of partnership you have on these trips. Are the two of you likely to do well or poorly together if you need to curtail your activities while abroad? I can imagine different outcomes depending upon the kind of person she is and the sort of relationship you two have.

On a more practical level, as Karen said above, you would fortunately have the resources of the tour personnel to help you with moving luggage,making modifications for less strenuous activity at times, selecting stationary vantage points from which to enjoy an area when rest is needed, and so forth.

I imagine that a candid conversation with Julie will help to move this decision making process along. Good luck and let us know what you decide.

Generally speaking, having traveled extensively in Asia independently and having left China yesterday, I find it the most difficult country. I could not have done the trip feeling in the least unwell. However, you will have the support of the tour company which may or may not be useful, and your daughter. But travel can be difficult at the best of times. Given you can reschedule I'd take advantage of that fact and not waste a trip on which you may feel less than your best.

My daughter (30) is very caring and supportive. She's taken good care of me twice before (hysterectomy and shoulder surgery to repair torn rotator cuff). She'll certainly help with things as needed. We get along extremely well for the most part (with occasional normal mother-daughter bickering). I'm 55 and, except for this back/leg issue, in good physical condition - no other problems. (If you click my screen name you'll see a pic of me jumping at the Taj Mahal.)

One thing I worry about is getting in a large crowd with people pressing around me. It would be very painful if someone pushed me from behind - and could possibly make the injury worse. I'm definitely doing better than I was a few weeks ago, but I'm not fully healed. Still, I can do most daily activities without a problem - grocery shopping, short walks, etc.

go for sure and deal with things day to day as they may arrive.

The tour company, by the way, is no frills. This is one of their "comfort tours" - but it's not upscale by any means. I do think there will be help with luggage and so on, so I shouldn't have to worry about that. My daughter is pretty low-key - she enjoys sleeping in and taking it easy. I'm usually the one who is the hard-charger, so she won't mind at all if we take things a little slower.

Althom - i remember your prior reports and the wonderful time you had in india. I am sorry to hear that you are considering canceling this trip, but I'm not sure I'd want to be in a country where I could not get the best medical treatment if things deteriorated, even knowing I had trip evacuation insurance. You'll also be restricted and unable to see many of the sites such as the Great Wall, as you say you are unable to climb steps. As disappointing as it would be to postpone the trip, perhaps you would be better off letting your body heal and traveling when you can fully enjoy yourself. Whatever you decide though, I wish you a speedy recovery. We will be leaving for china on oct 8. Which your are you planning to go on?

Oops - see you mentioned the tour company. Congrats on the new man in your life!

China is not a place to be if being bumped into is a problem. It can be a free-for-all. But you seem to have made up your mind. Good luck.

How much walking can you comfortably do, and how much time can you be on your feet? There is a lot of walking around, even on a bus tour. Some sites in Beijing had me on my feet for 2-3 hours at a time. You will not be able to use the subway for sightseeing in your free time. They are very easy to use, but are very crowded. You will not be able to climb the Great Wall as the steps are uneven. You probably could see the Terra Cotta Warriors in about one hour on your feet. The decision is yours and I do not know what I would do if I were in your place. Just know that if you go now, you will probably miss out on some significant sightseeing. Hope you feel better soon.

Is this something which will heal? If so, I would be inclined to postpone rather than risk making it worse. I haven't traveled with G Adventures, but I believe they are similar to Intrepid, and as best I remember on a comfort level Intrepid tour I had to handle my own luggage. Also, how are you getting around? Are you flying, or taking trains and buses?

Some sights won't require you to deal with stairs, but shelleyk is right about the Great Wall.

I have traveled when less than 100% fit, but only because I got injured while traveling. Given the option I wouldn't do it!

I'm about 50-50 on my decision right now. I"ll see how the next few days go and decide by Tuesday (supposed to fly out on Friday).

The tour is a combination of flying, buses, and trains, I believe. The Great Wall trip is to Mutianyu, so I was thinking I could take the gondola to the top. I can spend a good part of the day on my feet and do a fair amount of walking as long as I don't have to walk too briskly or do significant hill climbing.

Thanks for all the viewpoints. I'll let you all know what I decide.

It's my understanding that even with the gondola, one has to do quite a bit of climbing to get to the top of the wall.

Is it the Best of China comfort tour? If so, it says soft sleeper for the night train, which should be OK. However, I imagine you'd need to skip the bike ride, and just getting to the top of the Great Wall won't help unless you just want to stand there - it's not flat on top.

Karen, so sorry to hear of your injury. I know this is a tough decision, and I wish the best for you whatever you decide.

If by Longsheng you mean the rice terraces, no one has mentioned that's all steep hills and long flights of stairs, things you say are difficult.

This thread reminds me of the infamous wedding dress discussion where the answer was clearly in the negative but the OP had made up her mind already and was just hoping for confirmation which she did not get. It's always difficult postponing something you've looked forward to but if you can imagine traveling to these places and not feeling you can fully participate, or worse, then you must also see the advantage of waiting until you're 100%. And of all the many places where I've spent time China is one that requires 100%. And lastly, I think it's asking too much of your daughter and tour company to pick up the slack that you already know is a real possibility.

don't wake julie early

We had a similar discussion on the Europe board recently. The OP eventually decided to postpone the trip.

I am currently in Shanghai after traveling to Xi'an and Beijing. I was concerned about making the trip due to a recent case of tendonitis in my ankle. I was able to visit the Terra Cotta Warriors and Great Wall but it was very challenging. The long distances to walk (no carts were available in either direction at TCW),the uneven stone pathways and steep inclines left me extremely sore and exhausted. This is not an easy country for anyone with a disability. Good luck if you decide to make the trip.

One other word: On my last trip I found the hard beds left me with an aching back in the morning. This time I am traveling with an air mattress so I can get a good night's sleep.

Yes, it's the Best of China Comfort Tour. I figured at the Longsheng Rice Terraces I could take a chair sedan. I'd never do such a thing under normal circumstances, but I've already realized I'll have to put my pride on the back burner if I go. I've actually had a really good day today and am feeling like I'm getting better, but yes, maybe i'm just trying to convince myself. The post about the wedding dress and the OP's mind already being made up made me wince - there's probably a kernel of truth there. Your comments are giving me pause. Perhaps I've underestimated the difficulty of China. Thanks, everyone.

I hate being negative when you have your hopes up. I'm sure you will make the right decision for yourself.

Thanks. I appreciate the candor - I don't see it as negative, just helpful. I just called Julie (and realized once again how fortunate I am to have such a wonderful, caring daughter). She said it needs to be totally my decision and she'll be flexible either way. If we go, she'll help take care of me if needed - and she's willing to take it easy with me. If we decide to wait, she can work that out and reschedule her vacation for spring. She said even if I say yes tomorrow and on Wednesday change my mind, she'll understand and that'll be fine. So China or not... I sure am lucky.

And yes, this will heal and I should be fine probably in the next month or so. I'm going to call my doctor tomorrow and discuss the possibility of having a (second) cortisone shot this week and get his opinion on the trip in general given how I'm currently feeling. Will also call G Adventures and tell them my situation and see what they say.

Bob - LOL, definitely won't wake Julie early if we go! You remembered!

People tend to underestimate the level of fitness when traveling in China, especially N. Americans, many of whom aren't used to walk that much, especially stairs. Here are a few examples, some expected and some not.

1. My parents traveled with a group of elderlies across the Lowu border between Hong Kong and China. Usually, no stairs involved, but this day an escalator broke down. Majority of these elderlies simply cannot handle their luggage up the stairs, so it was down to the guide and my parents making multiple tri

Sorry, hit reply too early....

..., so it was down to the guide and my parents making multiple trips up and down the stairs to help everybody.

2. Forbidden City. Yes, everybody knows it's a big attraction, but do you know that it's another half a mile from where you're dropped off to the main entrance? Worse, even longer walk amid chaos to find your bus at the rear exit of the Forbidden City, when your tour guide would likely hurry you through the crowd?

3. When I was in Beijing last summe, Olathe organizer took us to supposedly a good restaurant in the area we were. Well, it's a new building, but no elevators. Worse, the steps to the third floor were ridiculously steep - won't pass any building code in the US o Europe, but this is China.

The fact is that local tour guides and operators often cannot understand the importance of accessibility and short distance. Take the example of the restaurant. The guide probably never realize there is a problem with thise stairs - it's just the norm there. Or they may not understand how someone with mobility issues will travel around the world. Unfit people simply stay home.

It's not the "big things" like the Great Wall that will kill you, it's the small stuff like getting from the coach to your lunch.

I totally agree with rkkwan, unless your doc has been to China, he won't know the small inconveniences that add up and make you frustrated and exhausted, especially towards the end of the tour. Since your DD has the flexibility, that's a big plus. Hate to see you not enjoy your trip 100%.

As some of you surmised, my mind was largely made up. I went and I had a great time. Yes, there were small inconvenience some of which were difficult for me, but I managed. I'll post a trip report and some pictures in a separate thread.

Great to hear that, will wait for the TR and pix!

Glad to hear you enjoyed yourself! Looking forward to your TR.

So glad you enjoyed yourself. We are in china now. Trip report to follow upon our return. Looking forward to reading yours.