monicapileggi

Hi fellow fodorites,

I know there are several people traveling to China in October, so I'd like to see if anyone is available for a GTG. I already know one person that will be in Yangshuo the same time as me and we'll be planning one evening for dinner together.

Here are my travel dates:

Beijing, 10-15 October
Shanghai, 15-19
Hangzhou, 19-21
Xian, 21-23
Chengdu, 23-26
Yangshuo, 26-30
Hong Kong 30- 3 Nov

If you're not in the cities the same time as me, you might find others to meet up with.

Thanks!

Monica

Syl

Oct.11-15 Beijing (Park Plaza)
15-17 Xian (Royal Garden)
17-20 Yangshuo (Li River)
20 Kunming (New Era)
21-23 Lijiang
(Minimal Lounge)
23-25 Zhongdian (Songtsam)
25-28 Shanghai (Jingan)
Monica, we're going to Mutianyu on the 14th.

monicapileggi

Syl, let me know if you want to plan dinner one night - we're at the same hotel. I'm planning to go to the wall on the 13th, but also plan to see how the weather will be. The 14th may be my back up day.

Monica

Shanghainese

Monica -- Sorry, we are arriving in Shanghai 10/31 so I'll post later for November GTGs. And forgive me for "hijacking" your post by talking to Syl.

Syl -- I like your hotel choices (I've been "working" with Monica on hers), and we've stayed at the Jingan in the french concession in the last decade, lovely place in a leafy area, DM lives 2 blocks west. There are wonderful bakeries/cafes/restaurants within a block in every direction, DM goes weekly to Bifengtang (Safe Harbor) on the corner and her new fav is Maodou Ayi (Aunt Soybean)on Changshu Road. Across the street is the Old House lane inn, not my cup of tea. Walk north 2 blocks to the south entrance of Jingan Park and enjoy/join the locals for some taichi or ballroom dancing. Nanjing Road West is at the north entrance of the park where you can catch the Metro at the Jingan Temple station, next to the Jiuguong mega mall.

Could you tell why you chose the Minimal Lounge say instead of the Moon Inn or others, please?

moremiles

We'll be in Shanghai Oct. 16-23rd, first at the Ramada Plaza then just me at the Royal Meridien the last two nights.

Jackie

monicapileggi

"hijacking"

There's no such thing as highjacking on fodors...in my opinion. We're all here to help each other!

Monica

monicapileggi

Hi Jackie,

You certainly have a nice long visit in Shanghai. Maybe we can meet up for dinner one night.

Are you doing any day trips to the water towns?

Shanghainese, is the hotel the Jing An Hotel at 370 Huashan Lu? I am still looking at various hotels in the French Concesssion, although right now I'm booked at the Bund Hotel.

Monica

moremiles

Hi again,

Yes, we probably will do a day trip to Suzhou and Tongli at least-other days, French Concession, museum, Bund and lots of walking the neighborhoods and eating dumplings! It would be fun to meet up.

monicapileggi

Hi Jackie,

Email me and we can talk about getting together in Shanghai!

Put your name and "Shanghai" in the subject line.

mjpileggi@ comcast.net

Monica

Syl

Shanghainese,
Thanks for your feedback on the Jingan Hotel.It was recommended by a Chinese travel agent & received an excellent review on TA by an American tourist.I was advised to stay in the old section only.It seems to be an unknown hotel on the travel boards as TA only has 2 reviews.As per the Minimal Lounge Boutique Hotel in Lijiang, Ellyse on TA, Lonely Planet, etc.stayed there in Jan.& rated it #1 choice for her. I later confirmed Ellyse's feedback with a Lijiang resident.As it has recently opened,is in a quiet section of the old city,good amenities & the price is right,I booked it through Hostelbookers.

Shanghainese

Monica -- Jingan Hotel is on Huashan Road, I included it with the Ruijin Guesthouse and others in the french concession in earlier posts and e-mails. I'm fond of the area since I grew up there. For comparison to the Bund Hotel area, it's Central Park West vs. Times Square.

Syl -- Thank you for the Lijiang boutique input, we are leaning towards the New Era in Kunming too. Have a great trip!

Syl

Shanghainese,
Should we be worried about Yunnan aftershocks? News that 5 died in Yunnan as a result of this weekend's earthquake raise my anxiety.

monicapileggi

Shanghainese, Yes, I remember now you mentioning it. It's also listed in my Fodors book. Thanks for the description: "Central Park West vs. Times Square."

Monica

Nutella

Syl, I see you're staying at the Songtsam in Zhongdian. I hope you love it even half as much as I did! I thought I really was in Shangri La and didn't want to check out

Syl

Nutella,
How were you with the Zhongdian altitude?

Shanghainese

Syl -- We are not going to Yunan till early Nov, in a wait and see mode right now.

Nutella

Syl, the altitude wasn't too bad. I had prepared by taking herbal remedies beginning a week in advance, so maybe that helped. I think I remember a slight dull headache at the beginning of my time there, and I felt more out of breath than usual when doing strenuous hiking, but that went away fairly quickly.

Shanghainese

Syl -- have you checked with the Lijiang resident you mentioned earlier about aftershocks?

Syl

Yes. Two of my Lijiang sources said that everything is fine, but, to be aware that they are on a fault line &, because of their 1996 earthquake experience, this could happen again!!

Shanghainese

Syl -- I don't think Monica has changed her visit to Chengdu, and in California and other states, earthquake prepareness for the BIG ONE around the corner is part of daily life. Keep your travel plans flexible.