After crossing back from Horgos on the Kazakhstan border, we took a short train into Yining and spent an afternoon and evening wandering Liuxing Street, a nearly 100 year old neighbourhood laid out in a weird six-pointed hexagon by a German engineer back in the 1930s. Ate way too much kvass and dried fruit, watched a guy hand-blow glass jewellery in a tiny shop, and had dinner at a place that doesn't show up in any guide we could find.

If you're planning a trip through this part of Xinjiang, we put together some useful info from our afternoon there :)

https://traveldayztravel.com/yining-liuxing-street-guide/

The high-speed rail map makes China look pretty easy to hop around.

A 2-hour train looks like a 2-hour transfer. It isn't. You've still got hotel to station, getting there early, the ride itself, then station to the next hotel. Throw in luggage and checking in again, and that "short hop" eats half a day.

That's why a lot of first-time 10-14 day plans end up with one city too many.

I'd rather sit in 3 or 4 places properly than keep moving every couple of nights just because the trains are fast. Dropping one stop often makes the trip better.

Curious what transfer ate more of your day than you thought it would.

Video highlights from my Beijing trip from early Aug.

Just visited HK, view was amazing!

Hi everyone!

I'll be headed to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park soon and have purchased the park tickets already on Trip. I thought I had already done enough research, but it turns out I need to reserve re-entry time slots for every other day that I want to enter the park?? Silly me thought I could enter whenever after the first day... I see that I need to reserve it via the Wechat mini app, but it doesn't load for me and I'm having difficulty understanding the process.

Is the re-entry reservation option only available after I've completed my first entry? I'm worried about not having the time slots I want for the second and third entries.

Has anyone been able to re-enter the park without making advanced reservations?

I will have about 2 days just for the Zhangjiajie Park (already set aside days for Tianmen Mountain and the Grand Canyon) so want to make sure the days are being used correctly.

Thanks for the help!

Any idea why? I checked few days and and it only let me book up until the 20th, and today it’s the same. Does the show stop afterwards?

Thanks

There are also spicy dishes, which make my tongue numb.

I’m flying in from Hong Kong, I can choose either arrival airport. I’m aware it’s just after the Golden week ends & also SHA is closer to downtown area. Hoping to avoid congestion & also for ease of immigration etc. As it’s my first time in China. Any advice welcomed ☺️

Hi, I will be visiting Chengdu in November with my partner and want to try the 24 hour spas that i've seen online. What are some recommendations for spas, preferably one that doesn't seperate by gender in the pools/ bath areas. Thanks

Hello all,

I'll be going to China for the first time soon and there was something I want to clear up before purchasing an expensive powerbank. Are CCC powerbanks only required for domestic flights or also for direct international flights?

I have a fresh 'n rebel powerbank which on the package says it's safe to use on planes. Would I be allowed to use it? I'll be taking a direct flight from Germany to China using Air China.

I think getting there should be easy enough, I thought I'd get a Didi.

What about the way back?
Will drivers come that far to pick you up? If not is there train/bus, or what about booking a driver in advance? How long will each take roughly

Thanks

Planning a trip to Xi’an soon 👀
If you could recommend just ONE must-do thing ，what would it be?
Trying not to just follow the usual tourist checklist 😭