Hello!

In mid-September I will be doing a solo-trip through Asia for a couple of months and right now I have planned up to Kyrgyzstan/Kazakhstan, then, I would like to visit China (using also the 15 days visa-free I have this year).

I'm still planning the itinerary for China, and that's what my main question is about.

My initial idea was to visit Beijing, an intermediate city (maybe 2), and end in Shanghai, from where I would fly back to Europe (or maybe to Japan, I'm still not sure).

The thing is that I was looking at flights and the route Kazakhstan-Beijing costs me the same as from Europe, back home, while for example, there're flights Kazakhstan-Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), which are cheaper and direct.

I don't really have a special interest in Kuala Lumpur, but it could be interesting to spend a couple of days there.

From Kuala Lumpur, there are many other flights (cheap and direct) to Hong Kong, Nanning, Jinjiang, Guangzhou, Guilin, Kunming, Shanghai...

In the end, combining flights would cost me a similar price than Kazakhstan-Beijing , but I could make a short visit to Malaysia, and start my journey through China from the southern area instead of Beijing.

What do you think? Ultimately, it's a very subjective question, but I would like to hear some opinions.

Is it better to start from the south and end in Beijing or the other way around? Should I include Beijing in that 15-day itinerary if I start from the south or better explore that area more?

I don't know, any recommendations?

Another idea, although very uncertain, could also be to do something similar, but with Indonesia, Vietnam or Thailand instead of Malaysia and perhaps extend the trip for a week or so in one of those places without moving too much around the country.

For this trip in I would be interested in seeing a city like Hong Kong or Shanghai (lights, crowded, modern...), something more historical/cultural/traditional, and ideally, some unique landscape that I can't see in Europe. I suposse that I could also try to add a tropical visit in China (Zhangjiajie?), idk.

One advantage of starting in Hong Kong is that the visa wouldn't start counting until I enter mainland China (right?), so I could stretch those 15 visa days a bit if I skip the Shanghai visit.

China is such a huge place, quite overwhelmed by the possibilities and diversity.

I suposse that I would need to go back hahahaha

Thank you! 🙂

Hello!

In mid-September I will be doing a solo-trip through Asia for a couple of months and right now I have planned up to Kyrgyzstan/Kazakhstan, then, I would like to visit China (using also the 15 days visa-free I have this year).

I'm still planning the itinerary for China, and that's what my main question is about.

My initial idea was to visit Beijing, an intermediate city (maybe 2), and end in Shanghai, from where I would fly back to Europe (or maybe to Japan, I'm still not sure).

The thing is that I was looking at flights and the route Kazakhstan-Beijing costs me the same as from Europe, back home, while for example, there're flights Kazakhstan-Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), which are cheaper and direct.

I don't really have a special interest in Kuala Lumpur, but it could be interesting to spend a couple of days there.

From Kuala Lumpur, there are many other flights (cheap and direct) to Hong Kong, Nanning, Jinjiang, Guangzhou, Guilin, Kunming, Shanghai...

In the end, combining flights would cost me a similar price than Kazakhstan-Beijing , but I could make a short visit to Malaysia, and start my journey through China from the southern area instead of Beijing.

What do you think? Ultimately, it's a very subjective question, but I would like to hear some opinions.

Is it better to start from the south and end in Beijing or the other way around? Should I include Beijing in that 15-day itinerary if I start from the south or better explore that area more?

I don't know, any recommendations?

Another idea, although very uncertain, could also be to do something similar, but with Indonesia, Vietnam or Thailand instead of Malaysia and perhaps extend the trip for a week or so in one of those places without moving too much around the country.

For this trip in I would be interested in seeing a city like Hong Kong or Shanghai (lights, crowded, modern...), something more historical/cultural/traditional, and ideally, some unique landscape that I can't see in Europe. I suposse that I could also try to add a tropical visit in China (Zhangjiajie?), idk.

One advantage of starting in Hong Kong is that the visa wouldn't start counting until I enter mainland China (right?), so I could stretch those 15 visa days a bit if I skip the Shanghai visit.

China is such a huge place, quite overwhelmed by the possibilities and diversity.

I suposse that I would need to go back hahahaha

Thank you! 🙂

Hello!

In mid-September I will be doing a solo-trip through Asia for a couple of months and right now I have planned up to Kyrgyzstan/Kazakhstan, then, I would like to visit China (using also the 15 days visa-free I have this year).

I'm still planning the itinerary for China, and that's what my main question is about.

My initial idea was to visit Beijing, an intermediate city (maybe 2), and end in Shanghai, from where I would fly back to Europe (or maybe to Japan, I'm still not sure).

The thing is that I was looking at flights and the route Kazakhstan-Beijing costs me the same as from Europe, back home, while for example, there're flights Kazakhstan-Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), which are cheaper and direct.

I don't really have a special interest in Kuala Lumpur, but it could be interesting to spend a couple of days there.

From Kuala Lumpur, there are many other flights (cheap and direct) to Hong Kong, Nanning, Jinjiang, Guangzhou, Guilin, Kunming, Shanghai...

In the end, combining flights would cost me a similar price than Kazakhstan-Beijing , but I could make a short visit to Malaysia, and start my journey through China from the southern area instead of Beijing.

What do you think? Ultimately, it's a very subjective question, but I would like to hear some opinions.

Hong Kong or Shangai? Is it better to start from the south and end in Beijing or the other way around? Should I include Beijing in that 15-day itinerary if I start from the south or better explore that area more?

I don't know, any recommendations?

Another idea, although very uncertain, could also be to do something similar, but with Indonesia, Vietnam or Thailand instead of Malaysia and perhaps extend the trip for a week or so in one of those places without moving too much around the country.

For this trip in China, I would be interested in seeing a city like Hong Kong or Shanghai, something more historical/cultural/traditional, and ideally, some unique landscape that I can't see in Europe.

One advantage of starting in Hong Kong is that the visa wouldn't start counting until I enter mainland China (right?), so I could stretch those 15 days a bit if I skip Shanghai.

Another interesting thing to consider when following this alternative plan, including Southeast Asia, would be to include a tropical destination.

Having traveled through Central Asia and planning to visit mainland China, I think it would be an addition that I wouldn't see if it wasn't included. I suposse that I could also try to add a tropical visit in China (Zhangjiajie?), idk.

I would love to see some rainforest during my trip, perhaps taking a tour or something (I'm a big fan of exotic flora and fauna). However, maybe adding that could be too complex for a short visit to the region (without moving that much, and without spending time travelling and exploring the area).

China is such a huge place, quite overwhelmed by the possibilities and diversity.

I suposse that I would need to go back hahahaha

Thank you! 🙂

Hello!

What would be the best way to travel from Ulaanbaatar to Beijing? Ideally avoiding flights. Is the train railway for the transmongolian route currently operational? I heard it was closed due to the pandemic, but it seems like it will be reactivated this year.

I read that the train journey takes about 31 hours and costs 1,310 CNY. A flight would be close to the same price, I think, but since I will be taking several flights around those dates, I'm interested in the train option. Has anyone here taken this journey? Is it worth it as an experience? (quite subjective, but I would like to hear opinions)

Thank you!

Hello!

I'm organizing a 2-month trip to Asia, starting around this August 2024.

I'm still planning different things, but I wanted to post it and see if anyone could give me any advice, idea or suggestions.

-The first stop would be Istanbul (Turkey), where I would spend 3 or 4 days.

Quite interested in listening some traditional turkish music, and check the architecture of the city.

-Then, a flight to Kyrgyzstan, where I'm thinking of spening about two weeks.

Bishkek, Burana Tower, Karakol, Song Kul...

I'm a big fan of nature and hiking, and it seems like an ideal place to visit.

I would like to ride horses, hike, see some eagle hunting, staying in a yurt...

-Later, my idea is to travel to Mongolia from the Almaty airport, crossing from Bishkek to Kazakhstan (where I could perhaps spend 1 or 2 days).

In Mongolia, I would stay for about 10 days, approximately a week in a homestay and the rest, exploring UB and nearby places, if possible.

-Departure from Ulan Bator to Beijing.

This is still one of the least planned parts of the trip. I would like to do it by train, but I don't know its current status, and if the direct route is already enabled after the COVID issue. If not, I could do it by plane.

-15 days in China (using the new VISA free entry that we have this year for tourists with Spanish nationality).

I'm still not sure of the itinerary yet, but I think that I would end it in Shanghai, from where I would take another flight to Japan.

If anyone has any suggestions for the eastern part of China, it would be very welcome.

-Sepending around 10 days in Japan, in the Tokyo and/or nearby areas.

-Afterwards, a flight back to Europe.

In total, it would be about a 2-month trip.

It would be a solo backpacker-style trip, trying to keep it as budget as possible, and trying to get as close as possible to local life.

ESPECIALLY INTERESTED IN:

• Turkey: Culture, music, and architecture.
• Kyrgyzstan: Nature.
• Mongolia: Culture, especially nomadic communities.
• China: A bit of everything. I would like to see more rural areas and big cities like Beijing or Shanghai.
• Japan: Art, city landscapes and kinda like a nostalgia trip hahaha Probably Tokyo area, maybe also Kyoto or Osaka.

Regarding budget (very approximate) (and excluding flights), I estimate roughly this:

Turkey-> 40€/day

Kyrgyzstan-> 30€/day

Mongolia-> 45€/day

China-> 37€/day

Japan-> 37€/day

I still have a looooot to research and plan, but for now, this is the itinerary I have in mind.

Will update the information on anothter post once the trip is more developed. Also, I might write a blog or report about the trip and the experience, on my return.

Oh, also, I would like to hear advice about flights and transportation between countries, as this is my first time in that part of Asia.

Should I book all flights and transportation in advance?

Accommodation worries me less, but with flights, I'm not really sure about how is best to proceed.

Thank you for reading! 🙂