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Hi me and my buddy want to go to china for the christmas holiday I want to spent a max of $1200 dollars roundtrip on my flight I live in colorado . What city is the cheapest to depart from that won't take to long on a greyhound or/amtrack to get to for my price range also do u think the prices will get lower closer to christmas
Prices will only get higher.
Your best bet for cheap tickets is LAX or possibly Vancouver.
Try non-US travel sites like ctrip.com or asian airlines specific websites.
If you are a US citizen, you will need a visa to enter China (PRC). You will need to apply at the nearest Chinese Consulate several weeks in advance at the minimum (the sooner the better) and send them your passport so they can paste the visa onto a blank page in your passport before sending it back to you. The cost is around $130 for a tourist visa.
Taiwan (ROC) allows US passport holders to stay without a visa for up to 30 days. I much prefer to visit Taiwan as they are both a 1st world country and they maintain more traditional chinese ways than do the mainlanders.
For most/cheapest flights it's LAX easily, distant second SFO.
Depending on where you go it can be pretty darn cold in China in December. I'd recommend mainland China over Taiwan for a visit, there is far more to see and much more diversity. If you do decide Taiwan, check EVA's website they are almost always among the cheapest when I'm pricing trips out of Cali to Asia.
I believe Beijing has far more things to see and do that are of historical interest. You can stroll thru Tiananmen Square and watch the National Flag get raised in the morning, walk across the street to tour Forbidden city and look up at where Chairman Mao declared that the founding of the PRC , take a day trip to the Great Wall, tour the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace, wander the hutongs. There is just tons to do for a visitor you will easily fill a week up.
Shanghai is neat, loved the Bund on the riverside, but there just wasn't as much to see. I think it's strength as a tourist destination would be some of the nearby cities like Suzhou or some of the other beautiful smaller canal towns.
Maybe others have different opinions and certainly everyone is interested in different things so I'd be interested to hear from others, but I can tell you we were in China just winging it around the country and Shanghai didn't keep us long (we ended up taking a taxi all the way to TongLi after a few days) but we extended our hotel stay in Beijing twice.
Also = if you have the time maybe fly to Xian. Terra Cotta warriors are unforgettable in person, plus really cool Muslim vibe.
Hm, disagree on Xi'an, there's not much there besides the teracotta warriors (<1 day worth) and the sex industry (unplug your hotel phone at night). There's some good food tucked down various alleyways, I suppose, and a few historical buildings scattered around town, but it's really far out of the way for little benefit unless it's along a leg of a larger journey.
I'd second the motion for Beijing, even though I don't like the city at all. There's certainly a lot to see; the great wall, the rusting olympic complex, forbidden city, hutongs, summer palace/lake, etc. December will be bitterly cold, though. The smog should be better than in the summer (sometimes you practically can't see your hand in front of your face) but I can't remember when the season for sandstorms is.
Beijing is scam city, so watch yourself, especially at the airport, if you try to take a cab, or go anywhere foreigners congregate. Just because they're wearing a uniform or lanyard with badge doesn't mean they're legitimate.
Shanghai is fun, more modern, and easier to navigate, but there's less of historical interest in the city itself. You can try exploring the surrounding countryside--like taking a trip to Huang Shan mountain--but it'll be tough if you don't read/speak Chinese. Unless you cough up for a package tour.
I was thinking of a solo trip to China, would Beijing be the best destination or Shanghai? It would only be a week, solo male 40.
I hear both are great. My husband's friend lives in Beijing. He loves it and Shanghai as well. He's always asking us to come out to see him.
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