Hi, I'm planning my 3rd trip to china last-minute, and need advice on the itinerary.
I have already visited the following In Beijing - 5 days, Xian - 3 days(mised Huashen due to bad weather), Zhangjiajie - 3 days (missed Fenghuang due to bad weather), chengdu 5 days, chongqing - 4 days, all of Yunnan - 2 weeks, guangzhou - 3 days, shenzhen 3 days, hk - 4 days, Yangshuo - 5 days, shanghai - 5 days
This time, I want to focus on more norhtern/higher elevation regions to avoid hot weather since I'm visiting in June.
I considered visiting Tibet, but decided that long guided group tours aren't for me (I like walking a lot, walk fast and get really annoyed when I have to walk slowly with a group). And I am not inthe finantial state where I could afford a full-on solo guided tour
This is my preliminary itinerary:
- Arrival + Xian
- Sat, May 16th
- Land in PEK at 5-5:30am, 5h50m layover, fly to Xian - Considering replacing the layover and 2nd flight with a train or earlier flight
- Grab lunch, visit city wall again, visit Shaanxi museum, visit light show, grab food at muslim food street
- Sun, May 17th
- Day trip to Huashan
- Retire early back in xian
- Sat, May 16th
- Amdo Tibet Loop
- Mon, May 18th
- 7:30am flight to Xiahe airport + bus to Labrang Monastery
- Considering replacing this flight with sleeping in Lanzhou and taking the bus to Labrang
- Slowly explore Labrang monastery while acclimating
- Tue, May 19th
- Full day in Xiahe / Sangke Grasslands
- Hiking around the high-altitude meadows
- Wed, May 20th
- 7:30am direct bus to Langmusi (4h)
- Check in and visit the Serti and Kirti Monasteries
- Thu, May 21st
- Hike the Namo Gorge
- Visit the nearby forests and maybe the sky burial
- Fri, May 22nd
- Morning bus to Hezuo, transfer to Xining
- Stay near Xining HSR station for early start next day
- Mon, May 18th
- The Two Lakes
- Sat, May 23rd - Sun, May 24th
- 2-day/1-night shared car/tour to Qinghai Lake and Chaka Salt Lake
- Return to Xining Sunday evening
- Sat, May 23rd - Sun, May 24th
- The Silk Road
- Mon, May 25th
- Morning HSR to Zhangye (2h)
- Afternoon/Sunset visit to Zhangye Danxia (Rainbow Mountains)
- Tue, May 26th
- Visit Pingshan Lake Canyon and Matisi Grottoes
- Rely on taxi/private driver shared with others from hotel
- Wed, May 27th
- HSR to Dunhuang
- Sunset at Mingsha Shan (Singing Sand Dunes) and Crescent Moon Lake
- Thu, May 28th
- Visit Mogao Grottoes
- Visit Dunhuang Museum and Night Market
- Fri, May 29th
- Last look at Dunhuang;
- flight to Chengdu
- Mon, May 25th
- Sichuan
- Sat, May 30th
- Rest day
- Sun, May 31st
- HSR from Chengdu East to Huanglongjiuzhai Station (~1.5h) + shuttle to Jiuzhaigou
- Mon, June 1st - Tue, June 2nd
- Two full days exploring Jiuzhaigou National Park
- Wed, June 3rd
- Morning shuttle to Huanglong National Park (calcite pools)
- Evening transfer to Songpan Ancient Town
- Thu, June 4th
- Explore Songpan city walls and market streets
- Fri, June 5th
- HSR from Songpan back to Chengdu (1.5h)
- Sat, June 6th
- Something in chengdu / buffer day if I need to move stuff
- Sun, June 7th
- Shopping, 8pm flight back home
- Sat, May 30th
I had to move my vacation days multiple times due to work stuff, so I'm planning everything last minute so I would be very grateful with any input/recommendations