Holiday tour of China - advice please

I can't answer all your questions but would say a few things.

2-3 nights is probably too long in Xi'an, once you've seen the Terracotta Army all that's left is a big busy polluted city with little character.
Trains in China are very efficient, fast and new. You can book sleeper cabins which have air con and are very comfortable so taking an overnight train is the way to go. It also means you'll have lots of Chinese people approach you, offer you food and tea and conversation- for me some of the best times I had in China were spent on long distance trains journeys talking and laughing with locals. You won't ever experience that if you fly everywhere.

Consider visiting the karst limestone hills of Gullin or nearby Yangsho. The scenery there is just spectacular and it's a welcome relief from the busy Chinese cities you'll encounter. Google 'Gullin china' and click Images and you'll see what I mean.

If you want a Buddhas then Thousand Buddha Mountain might fit the bill. For a truly huge Buddha go to Leschan where there is one carved out of rock in a cliff face. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leshan_Giant_Buddha

Double, if not triple, your time in Beijing. 'The sights' are the Great Wall, the summer palace, the forbidden city, tianamen square, the temple of heaven, the Ming tombs, the Olympic stadiums. Beijing is MASSIVE. Just getting from a) to b) takes an hour or two.

Xian -two days are fine. Terracotta warriors, giant goose pagoda, definately rent a bike and cycle the city wall.

Chengdu - two days should be ample if it's just the giant panda research base you want to see.

Not too sure about visas etc to Tibet but tell hubby Everest Base camp would take 11 days min by itself so it's unlikely you could do it and everything else in 5.

Have you considered a tour of china? Intrepid do good guided tours of china and sometimes they work out cheaper than doing it yourself.

Finally, definately pick April over July. July is peak summer and stinky hot. 40 degrees plus - they were cooking eggs on the pavement when I was there in July!!!

Batgurl wrote: »

Have you considered a tour of china? Intrepid do good guided tours of china and sometimes they work out cheaper than doing it yourself.

Really?? I'd love to see an example of that. Intrepid tours I've looked at work out at between double and quadruple what I'd do it for independently.

OP, two weeks is very short for your proposed itinerary. I'd be inclined to leave Tibet out as it's a pain to organise.

+1 on staying longer in Beijing. I've been there 4 times totalling about 4 weeks and there's still lots of new things for me to see.

Also, in your limited timeframe you'd be better to fly or take bullet trains although I'd agree that overnight trains are a great way to travel in China.