u/lazy_lotus

I’m planning my first trip to China and I’m trying to work around the National Day Golden Week.
My current idea is to arrive in either Hong Kong or Beijing on October 4, and then continue travelling around China (possibly heading to Zhangjiajie around October 7).
I’ve read a lot of posts saying Golden Week is incredibly crowded, but I’m struggling to understand whether arriving on October 4 is still a bad idea, or if the worst of it is mainly during the first few days (October 1–3).
For those who have travelled during Golden Week:
Is arriving in Hong Kong or Beijing on October 4 manageable?
Will attractions and transport still be overwhelmingly crowded, or is it tolerable with advance bookings?
Would you recommend delaying the trip until after October 7 instead, even if it means losing a few days?
I’d really appreciate hearing from people with first-hand experience. Thanks!

I’m planning my first trip to China and I’m trying to work around the National Day Golden Week.
My current idea is to arrive in either Hong Kong or Beijing on October 4, and then continue travelling around China (possibly heading to Zhangjiajie around October 7).
I’ve read a lot of posts saying Golden Week is incredibly crowded, but I’m struggling to understand whether arriving on October 4 is still a bad idea, or if the worst of it is mainly during the first few days (October 1–3).
For those who have travelled during Golden Week:
Is arriving in Hong Kong or Beijing on October 4 manageable?
Will attractions and transport still be overwhelmingly crowded, or is it tolerable with advance bookings?
Would you recommend delaying the trip until after October 7 instead, even if it means losing a few days?
I’d really appreciate hearing from people with first-hand experience. Thanks!

Hi!
I started learning Mandarin recently and I was using HelloChinese. I really liked it at first and felt like I was progressing quite well, but after a while I realised it starts locking lessons behind a paywall.
I just wanted to ask if
Is it worth subscribing, or are there better alternatives?
I’m around HSK1 level (I already know basic vocab like numbers, days, family, etc.), so I’m mainly looking for something that can help me continue without constantly hitting paywalls.
So far I’ve also looked at Duolingo, but I’m worried I’ll run into the same issue again halfway through.
If anyone has been through this, I’d really appreciate recommendations for apps or resources that actually work well for Mandarin
Thanks!
☺️