China Trip Help Needed!

[michaely]

Hi Bro & Sis

I'm planning to go on a 1-week trip to China (Dongguan, Xiamen & Ningbo) after Chinese New Year.

I'm on a shoe-string budget so will be taking budget airlines to China. As I've set aside 1-week for this trip, I don't mind taking trains between cities, but of course domestic flight is still preferred if the price of train and air is not too big.

I've done some research on AirAsia (sorry no Tiger Air for me), they fly to both Guangzhou and Hangzhou, so my starting city could be either Dongguan or Ningbo.

Hope forummers who are expert in China can give me some advice.

Thanks in advance!

 

[po2wq]

wat advice u r looking 4, actually? ...

 

[michaely]

wat advice u r looking 4, actually? ...

Sorry, I was thinking which is the better options:

1) Fly to Guangzhou, first city Dongguan and move north, last city Ningbo and fly back from Hangzhou

2) Fly to Hangzhou, first city Ningbo and move south, last city Dongguan and fly back from Guangzhou

Just wondering which option is more economical.

Thank you.

 

[Robert Half]

Sorry, I was thinking which is the better options:

1) Fly to Guangzhou, first city Dongguan and move north, last city Ningbo and fly back from Hangzhou

2) Fly to Hangzhou, first city Ningbo and move south, last city Dongguan and fly back from Guangzhou

Just wondering which option is more economical.

Thank you.

Domestic flights in mainland usually cost RMB 450 ~ RMB 550 in single trip. But near Chinese New Year a single trip air-ticket may cost RMB 800 ~ RMB 1000.

(1) Guangzhou to Dongguan - by bus should cost around RMB 200 on one trip

(2) Guangdong to Zhejiang - by flight cost around RMB 800 now

(3) Ningbo to Hangzhou - by bus should cost around RMB 200 on one trip

 

[michaely]

Domestic flights in mainland usually cost RMB 450 ~ RMB 550 in single trip. But near Chinese New Year a single trip air-ticket may cost RMB 800 ~ RMB 1000.

(1) Guangzhou to Dongguan - by bus should cost around RMB 200 on one trip

(2) Guangdong to Zhejiang - by flight cost around RMB 800 now

(3) Ningbo to Hangzhou - by bus should cost around RMB 200 on one trip

Thanks bro for your help

 

[singveld]

it is best to go to japan than china, and avoid cheap flight like the plague.

 

[VIBGYOR]

Hi Bro & Sis

I'm planning to go on a 1-week trip to China (Dongguan, Xiamen & Ningbo) after Chinese New Year.

What is there to see in Dongguan? It's all factory...

You meeting some factory girls?

 

[allanlee]

Domestic flights in mainland usually cost RMB 450 ~ RMB 550 in single trip. But near Chinese New Year a single trip air-ticket may cost RMB 800 ~ RMB 1000.

(1) Guangzhou to Dongguan - by bus should cost around RMB 200 on one trip

(2) Guangdong to Zhejiang - by flight cost around RMB 800 now

(3) Ningbo to Hangzhou - by bus should cost around RMB 200 on one trip

Be prepared to queue for hours if you have not bought your tickets in advance. The transport system there is jam packed for the duration of the Lunar New Year with the working population travelling home for the festive season.

Once I was stranded in Guangzhou and had to spend 2 nites there because I couldn't get any connecting flights / buses / trains to Yangshuo. I finally managed to buy an overpriced train ticket to Guilin after waiting in line for 2 days..... and had to stand in the packed train all the way to Guilin for the 16 hour journey.... and from Guilin hired a van to bring me to my destination in Yangshuo. :(

I learnt not to do any travelling to China during their holidays.

 

[sammydaddy]

Their train and bus stations during this period will be like fish market.

 

[VIBGYOR]

 

[lifeafter41]

Hi Bro & Sis

I'm planning to go on a 1-week trip to China (Dongguan, Xiamen & Ningbo) after Chinese New Year.

I'm on a shoe-string budget so will be taking budget airlines to China. As I've set aside 1-week for this trip, I don't mind taking trains between cities, but of course domestic flight is still preferred if the price of train and air is not too big.

I've done some research on AirAsia (sorry no Tiger Air for me), they fly to both Guangzhou and Hangzhou, so my starting city could be either Dongguan or Ningbo.

Hope forummers who are expert in China can give me some advice.

Thanks in advance!

Travelling in China on the 1 week before and after CNY is a no no. Unless you are on international trip such as Sin-Guangzhou-Sin, or Sin-Shanghai-Sin, in between cities will be a nightmare, whether by flight or trains as it will be jam packed.

Nevertheless still in time to look for alternate places, except China, unless absolutely necessary.

 

[Cestbon]

Be prepared to queue for hours if you have not bought your tickets in advance. The transport system there is jam packed for the duration of the Lunar New Year with the working population travelling home for the festive season.

Once I was stranded in Guangzhou and had to spend 2 nites there because I couldn't get any connecting flights / buses / trains to Yangshuo. I finally managed to buy an overpriced train ticket to Guilin after waiting in line for 2 days..... and had to stand in the packed train all the way to Guilin for the 16 hour journey.... and from Guilin hired a van to bring me to my destination in Yangshuo. :(

I learnt not to do any travelling to China during their holidays.

Never never try to travel to China during China long week holiday. Because all transport will be crowded( Train/bus/air/illegal taxi will be fully book).
CNY is the worst due to snow delay all type of transport.
Mistake that will regret for like. And many pick pocket will be active because easy to prey on victim.

 

[michaely]

Hmm, seems like going to China during CNY period is a no-no, maybe I should go in either Jan or Mar then.

Thank you all for your great help

 

[Robert Half]

What is there to see in Dongguan? It's all factory...

You meeting some factory girls?

Have you been to Changping Town ?

 

[Robert Half]

Be prepared to queue for hours if you have not bought your tickets in advance. The transport system there is jam packed for the duration of the Lunar New Year with the working population travelling home for the festive season.

Once I was stranded in Guangzhou and had to spend 2 nites there because I couldn't get any connecting flights / buses / trains to Yangshuo. I finally managed to buy an overpriced train ticket to Guilin after waiting in line for 2 days..... and had to stand in the packed train all the way to Guilin for the 16 hour journey.... and from Guilin hired a van to bring me to my destination in Yangshuo. :(

I learnt not to do any travelling to China during their holidays.

You are right bro .. if you have not bought your tickets in advance. Likely you will stranded there.
Transportation cost is very pricy during Lunar New Year period.

Imagine thousand of PRC queueing up railway stations for tickets :(

I prefer to go China in May