General Stuff to Remember...

Language -

• Bring a phrase book
• Consider buying a "Point it Book"
• Learn your numbers 1 to 10 and hand gestures
• Get used to hearing Mei Yo (don't have)
• Smile if you don't understand - you can get by on gestures.

Transport-

Booking train and bus tickets can be stressful, queues are typically long, people jump them and unless you're in Beijing or Shanghai chances are you will be misunderstood. After many frustrating experiences this is what works for us.

• Always write down where you are going in pinyan and Chinese characters (doesn't have to be perfect it will normally be understood)
• If buying in advance write the day and date in Chinese character format Western dd/dd/yy just confuses things.
• When buying sleeper tickets have the Chinese characters for top, middle and bottom bunks ready to point to.
• When travelling by train you will usually have to hub back into main stations.
• Double check your ticket, required destination and bus destination are all the same.
• Tall people should avoid the top bunk on trains and look for the last bunk on the middle row in sleeper buses.
• Book train tickets as far in advance as you can.

Hotels -

Chinese Hotels for the most part are cheap, clean and excellent value. Most have 2 beds, TV, western toilet, toiletries and towels.

• Don't be put off by Chinese hotels - most are willing to communicate in charades.
• Ignore prices listed - there is always a discount.
• Check the room, make sure air con/heating are included in price.
• If you have time look around to get feel for competition/ value for money.
• Check hot water status many hotels only have this at night.
• Always a deposit for the room key leave time for room to be checked in the morning.
• Bargain bargain bargain.

Internet Cafes

Local ones in cities are abundant and fast and cheap 1RMB - 4RMB. Filled all day everyday with online gamers.

• In Shanghai they have to scan your passport before granting you access.

Places

Beijing

Stay in or around Far East Hostel/Hotel - excellent Hutong experience. Good base, great lively area lots of restaurants, information/tours, 2 yuan beers from shop in courtyard, travelers hangout.

Great Wall - 10km hike between Jinshanling and Simatai - should be 90 RMB extra 40RMB+30RMB entry tickets you buy on wall.

Forbidden City - rent one audio guide and bring a splitter for extra set of headphones.

Eating - Most restaurants have English menus.

Train - English speaking window in Beijing station.

Accommodation - plentiful around this Hutong.

Far East Hotel - Dorm bed 60RMB each

Wanch Hotel - Double room ensuite 90 RMB // Walk up road where Far East is towards T.Square. Wanch hotel is on LHS oranage sign.

Datong

Could do sights independently in 1 day if you leave very early in the morning for the Hanging Monastery and do Yungang in the afternoon.

Yungang Buddha Caves - take the 3-2 bus it passes outsite cave entrance. Catch the bus round the corner from the Ou Yi Bin Hotel.

Hanging Monastery - Go to the long distance bus station. Touts will charge 50 RMB and put you on a bus to cost includes "taxi" to and from bus. Beware of taxi trying to charge you extra money for parking. The 50 RMB covers everything.

Tours - CITs can organise a one day tour of both Yungang caves and Hanging Monastery. Option if you are short on time.
Eating - Limited options, around the train station is best.
Train / Bus station - No English spoken, write down where you want to go. Easy to get tickets to onward destinations.

Accommodation - avoid CITs for accommodation, the hotels they take commission for booking are directly across from the train station. Walk across to the Ou Yi Bin Hotel. More upmarket and expensive if you walk out of train station turn left and go across the square.

Ou Yi Bin Hotel - Double ensuite 90 RMB

Pingyao

Entry fees - 120 RMV valid for 2 days to all sites within city walls. Get it stamped at north gate before 6pm.

Cycling - If you decide to cycle the Monastery outside town beware that the signpost points the wrong direction.
Impossible to get hard sleeper tickets to Xi'An independently even days in advance in Taiyuan train station or Pingyao train station. Guesthouses can magically get them 2 days in advance. 100 RMB + 30 RMB commission.

Eating - lots of restaurants with English menus.

Train - No English at train station.

Bus - There's a bus to Xi'an at 8am costing 180 RMB ask in bus area outside the train station for more details.

Accommodation - lots of guest houses expensive compared to other places in China, check out a few options. Outside city walls cheaper.

Yamen Hostel - Double ensuite 90 RMB (no towels)

Xi'An

Terrocotta Warriors 90 RMB - Local bus to terracotta warriors 306 bus from the train station (right hand side when you're looking at the station). 7RMB each way - stay on the bus until the very last stop. You get the bus back from where they drop you off at the bottom of the carpark.

Hit the Terracotta warriors during lunchtime when it completely empties out. If you catch the bus at 11am you'll get there in time.

Go to the film first and pit no 1 last .. it's the most impressive and you could be disappointed if you see the best first.

Xi'An history museum 30 RMB in the city is worth going to.

Muslim quarter is huge - give it lots of time.

Eating - lots of restaurants, English menus, different cuisines.
Train - English speaking window, get tickets in advance.
Accommodation - Big city, can stay down in centre near drum tower or close to train station 20-30mins walk between

Xi'An Guandai Hotel 110 RMB double ensuite

// come out of the train station there is a main road in front of you turn right and go through the next archway. You'll pass the long distance bus station on your left hand side. Cross one road and go past all the dumpling sellers (and an internet cafe if you are looking for one). On the next corner there is a hotel//

Louyang

Long man caves are more touristy than Yungang Caves outside Datong.

Expect touts to knock on your door every morning trying to get you to Shaolin Temple.

Catch bus no 81 2RMB to Longmen caves, leaves outside train station.

Eating - Close to train station is best. LP water banquet is just another restaurant with lots of soups - overrated.
Train/ Bus - easy to get tickets to onward locations no English.

Accommodation - plentiful touts around. Stay near train station.

Ren He hotel 80 RMB double ensuite (behind market and train station)

Kaifeng

Number 4 bus runs between the train station and the centre of town. Number 10 bus runs between centre and west train ticket office.

Guild Hall is worth visiting also walk down to new theme park to take a look.

Watch out for Jason - enterprising guide/rickshaw driver, good English, expects 100RMB at least per day or part there off. Negotiate fee with him prior to setting off.

Eating - Some of the best street food in China. Excellent night market 6 till late. Beers 3RMB
Train - No english spoken in train station. West ticket office charge commission but it's less stressful if you're not getting any joy from the train station counters. Train to Qingdao - buy tickets to CangKou, it's hard to find on a map but only a few kilometers away from Qingdao.

If you are really stuck look out for Jason (there in the am outside Dajintai Hotel from 11am onwards)

Accommodation- Very hard to find budget accommodation.
Dajintai hotel 100 RMB double ensuite.

Qingdao

Beer in a bag 1.5RMB

Bus 307 takes you to Beer Street. Tsingtao brewery, 60RMB for tour can be done independently.

Tsingtao tour good, complementary beer half way and at end. Ask girl at 1st bar for top ups they get stingy later on.

Local bus Bus 26 runs between Qingdao city along the beaches to the business district.

Eating - lots of restaurants
Train - English speaking counter in Qingdao station.

Accommodation - Lots of cheap chinese hotels.

She Ren Quan hotel 70RMB double ensuite. Opposite train station, road up hill to the left.

Shanghai

Acrobatic Ticket Grand Theatre - small theatre cheap back row tickets 100RMB you see the same as more expensive tickets.

Suzhou/ Hangzhou - leave early in the day, big city to get around. Buy express train tickets in advance rather than turning up at the station.

Bund lights in winter do not come until 6:30pm
Internet cafe's need to scan your passport before giving you access.

Eating - countless options

New World Buffet - great value buffet with sushi, lamb chop, crabs, unlimited beer, wine, haagen daz included. 3rd floor, Bashi Building, 398, Huaihai Zhonglu.

Train - very handy English speaking train ticket office (no commission) beside YMCA Hotel near People's Square.

Accommodation- plentiful and expensive.

Motel 168 has 8 rooms on special of 200 RMB each. First come first served basis.

Small Chinese hotel with chinese name // to be updated. //

Hangzhou

Eating - lots of English menus.
Night food market has some great stalls
Most restaurants reasonable
 
Bus - No English at west bus station
49 bus goes from centre to the west bus station
Allow 1 hour in rush hour traffic.
Huangshan bus from this bus station goes the whole way on to Tangkou.
 
Accommodation - lots around can get booked out quickly on weekends.
Renhe Hotel 98 RMB
Jiefang Lu Wuishan Lu above KFC
 
Silver Holiday Inn - good discounts more flashpackery approx 120RMB

Tangkou
 
Foot of Huangshan Mountain -  nice town.
 
Mr Hu gives honest accurate advice to travellers find him at the bottom of the main street although he'll probably find you first! He can buy bus tickets and organise accomm up the top of Huangshan in advance. Can save a lot of hassle.
 
local bus to waterfall 1RMB
bus to gate of Huangshan 10RMB
 
Eating - Lot of restaurants all have English menus.
 
Bus - buses go from end of street or up on bridge. Ask Mr Hu.
Appox 15RMB to Tunxi
 
Accommodation - lots, cheaper accomm in private houses on main street.
70RMB double room w/bathroom.

Xiamen
 
Stay on island Gulang Lu, very small picturesque.
 
Eating - lots of restaurants on mainland and on island - good seafood. Good dried fish. English menus.
 
Transport -
Bus 19 runs from train station to port
Boat to Gulang Lu costs 8 RMB return journey
Train station speaks english.
1 boat from here to HK monthly
 
Accommodation - expensive on island in region of 200 RMB ask in tourist agency about cheap Chinese hotels.
Hai Hua Lajuire Club, Zhonghua Rd 29 looks like a big colonial house
110 RMB double, bathroom, huge common balcony overlooking island.

Macau
Check out new casinos like Wynn's.
 
Ferry to Hong Kong 150 MOPs
 
Budget accommodation very hard to find best area to stay is Ave de Almeida Ribeiro
Very cheap hotels double as brothels.
Flamingo Hotel 250 MOPs double with bathroom.

Hong Kong

Free entry to most museums on Wednesdays.
Don't miss history museum - skip through prehistoric section if you have limited time. Modern day HK is excellent.
Kowloon - good for shopping and eating.
Take peak tram to see view over Victoria Harbour $33 HKD RTN
Take a trip to Aberdeen/Stanley on the number 10 bus.
 
Eating -
"Tea sets" are good value during the day
Vietnamese Forest Cafe - great food.
Curries in Chungking Mansions.
 
Accommodation
Budget accommodation in Chungking Mansions
New Brothers GH $140 HKD

Shenzhen - Special Administrative Region
 
Hong Kong to Lowu train $36 HKD
Come out of station on you LHS there is a big shopping mall full of knock off goods. Bargain hard, prices drop.
 
Sleeper buses to Yangshuo leave from Yinhu bus station 150 RMB
This webpage is an excellent source of info http://www.adventureatchina.com/arrivalinfo.html
No English is spoken at Yinhu bus station. Buses to Yangshuo take many hours longer than predicted.
 
Accommodation near Yinhu is pretty basic, not many shops or restaurants. 

Yangshuo

Watch out for touts misdirecting you to West Street - you'll know you are on West Street when you walk down a pedestrianised street with a bank and KFC on it.
 
The big supermarket is hidden away in a basement - look out for Supermarket 99 it's opposite a small supermarket.
lots of cheap internet 2 RMB/ hour
 
Shops sell knock off goods - pashminas, North Face, Gucci etc.
 
Riverboat cruise take bus to Xingping and take small boat to Yangdi - touts will follow you around.
Boats go from opposite side of the river to where the town is and should be approx 30 RMB.
 
Rent bikes and get lost - the maps are rubbish so this is inevitable.
 
Alf in Buffallo Bar has some great info on local area. Also a good spot to hit if you want to see any sporting action.
 
Eating-
There are some great eating spots in Yangshuo including the night market. Here are a few of our favourites:
"Here" - Great wood fired pizzas and lasagnas
"China Cafe" - Generally good Chinese food.
"Cloud Nine" - Upstairs, excellent Chinese food.
"Kelly's Place" - good breakfasts
"Buffalo Bar" - good burgers.
 
Accommodation -
Lots of good options. Rooms down on the river cost around 150RMB, nice rooms in town 70 RMB.
Best room - 7th Heaven Guesthouse Room 203
Double room, bathroom, huge balcony with amazing views 110 RMB.

Ping An

If coming from Yangshuo take a bus to Guilin (10RMB) to Heping (15 RMB) to Ping An (5RMB)
 
Village entry 50 RMB payable outside the village. There is a long steep climb up into Ping An village. You only need 1 day to see the terraces.
 
Eating - lots of restaurants, some overpriced. Countryside cafe was good.
Transport - bus timetable is posted at bottom of hill, check this before you climb up into the town. Nearest hub is Longsheng bus station 7 RMB away.
To get to Chengyang - take bus from Longsheng to Sanjiang 5RMB (terrible road) find mini bus area (across the river and 100 metres up the street) for minibus to Chengyang 5 RMB (bargain hard).
 
Accommodation-
Lots of guesthouses.
Huan Ying Guang Lin 80 RMB double, bathroom, aircon.

Chengyang
 
Lovely village with old style wooden bridge.
 
You pay to cross the wooden bridge, cross by concrete bridge to its left and it's free.
 
Avoid the GH to the far left across the river - they lied to us about having hot water.
In town you'll see a small restaurant and guesthouse in the middle of the road soon to be called "Yang's Guesthouse" - Yang has excellent information on the area including maps. Ask him about free music performances in the town.
 
Eating - limited food options in low season, check in some of the guesthouses.
 
Accommodation-
There is lots of accommodation tucked away in the back of town.
Yangs Guesthouse 40 RMB double with bathroom and hot water.

Zhaoxing

Charming little wooden village - well worth visiting.
 
Eating - lots of little local restaurants scattered throughout the town, english menus available
Transport - buses depart for next town Liping each morning - ask locals for time.
 
Accommodation-
Lots of cheap good guesthouses.
Medhi Guesthouse 30 RMB very good - located beside bridge at start of town.
Fanguan Guesthouse 30 RMB

Kunming
 
Nice city, good food, cheap internet and lots and lots of outdoor shops. Good quality Chinese labels.
Cheap internet good uploading speed near downtown Wallmart go down Dongfeng Xilu and follow road around.
 
Eating -
Shuncheng Je South of Dongfeng Xilu has some great kebab and noodle soup outlets. Also a huge food hall there worth checking out.
Wei's Pizzeria near above is good.
 
Transport -
Buses to Jinghong express bus 191 RMB early morning.
 
Accommodation-
Camellia Hotel double rooms older part of hotel are 120RMB incl breakfast

Jinghong
 
Chilled out city - very obvious that you're getting closer to south east Asia with restaurants and bars selling Beer Lao.
Botanical gardens are missable as Ganlamba.
 
Eating -
Food at night market is good.
Thai Cafe - excellent food and good value.
 
Transport -
Buses to Mengla (close to Laos border) 33 RMB
 
Accommodation -
Huanying Guanglin hotel - great hotel 50 RMB double room w/bathroom tv. Rooms ending in 06 have western toilets ie 206,306,406.
located on roundabout between Ganlan Zhonglu and Xuanwei Dado.

Mengla
 
Close to Laos border handy place to stay before hitting the Laos border early.
 
Eating -
Main street has lots of restaurants - don't expect English menus.
 
Transport-
If crossing into Laos buy a ticket straight through to Luang Nam Tha - there is very little onward transport at the border.
 
Accommodation-
Mengla Jin Qiao Hotel 40 RMB - cheap and cheerful.Opt for higher floors, cheaper rooms but away from KTV nightclub on floor 2. Located close to bus station

Laos Border
 
Visa on arrival is 31 USD, have money in USD exchange rates on any other currency are really bad.
 
Aim to get to the border early it's bedlam getting to the application window. Change RMB to Kip on the China side of the border - didn't see any money changers on Lao side.