Chloe and I are thinking about taking a three-week trip to China in late September. We'd spend some time in Shanghai (she has family there) and check out some other places in China. We'd love to meet some Skritter users in Shanghai, so if you're over there, let's meet up! I'll post again about details a little closer to the trip.

We also were hoping to visit a couple Skritterers elsewhere in China, because it's cooler to travel when you know somebody in the area rather than being a tourist. Hence the point of this forum post--we're trying to figure out where to go! Let me know, here or with email, if you think it'd be fun to host the two of us for a couple days and show us the China you know.

Haikou! In tropical Hainan! We have a guest room you are totally welcome to stay in.

Hi Nick,
Yes I would be very happy to see you and show you around in Shanghai!
Let's stay in touch!

Awesomeness, I should be living in Shanghai by then!

Well isn't it a shame I'll be in the states! Otherwise I'd love to show you around Xi'an...

I'll be living in Beijing again by that point, and would be happy to meet up. Its a great city if you have interests in history, modern architecture, or seeing live music in small/dingy (but great) bars/venues, and September is a good time, weather-wise.

You're welcome to come by Wuhan, but I can't really recommend it... It can be a cool place to live to see a more cultural and developing side of China, but there's not much to see if you're just popping by for a day or two.

I'm back in China now, so come visit me in Nanning! I can take you to karst mountains and Zhuang villages. I know my way around Yangshuo as well.

I'll be in Beijing. Give me a heads up if you drop by!

Nicki, we'd love to take you up on the offer to visit in Haikou! Will be in touch when we know more. I'll look up everyone in Shanghai before we get there; awesome.

I think as far as Beijing and Shanghai go, we'll probably stick to Shanghai for this trip and not make it out to Beijing, but you never know.

Chris, I hope you're still kicking it in Nanning when we get there, because that sounds like a lot of fun. Looks like we'll take a southerly route this time.

I can't offer a guest room, but still welcome to Guangzhou!

Excellent. We have two sweet friendly dogs, 包子 and 摩卡, hope that's alright!

Off topic, but my family (wife + 7-year old kid) is making plans for Beijing and Qingdao this summer. We did a three-month stay in Beijing back in 2010 so have hit most of the major tourist attractions, but tips about any lesser known spots would be welcomed. And restaurants too; always looking for good, cheap food. Any any information about Qingdao would be great -- that's entirely new territory.

I live in beautiful Yangshuo. If you come this way, I would love to meet up, or take you on a little bicycle tour.

北京欢迎你 !

I would welcome you out to Gansu, but it's a bit off the beaten path and there isn't much in my city that makes it worth it. Not many people come out here.

Zhangye is on the way to Dunhuang, which has AMAZING buddhist caves that were singled out for protection by Zhou En Lai during the cultural revolution. Absolutely amazing place, and it's an over night train ride from Zhangye.

If you're interested let me know!

EDIT: The Buddhist caves (莫高窟 I think) are right next to the National Park for the Gobi desert. Incredible sand dunes that look like a movie set, with camel rides to go up the dunes. One of my best trips in China was going there.

I just arrived in Erdao Baihe near the Changbai mountains. I shall be staying here for at least a year, most likely 2.

Please let me know if you come this far north. Definitely worthwhile for the scenery! We can arrange a trip to the mountains. I can also offer you a guest room, though the mattress is not very soft ;)

@ atdlouis: Don't sell Gansu short. It was actually the first province I ever travelled around in China (not counting short stints working in Beijing and Guangzhou) and I had an amazing (if frustrating) time, and for someone who can actually speak Chinese (which I couldn't back then) I'm sure it would be ten times better. Nick, my husband's blog posts on that trip are here if you're interested: http://blogs.bootsnall.com/NickWendy/first-adventures-in-gansu.html
http://blogs.bootsnall.com/NickWendy/buddha-hopping-across-gansu.html
http://blogs.bootsnall.com/NickWendy/blue-sky-days-snowy-peaks-and-the-great-wall.html

Actually, he has several posts on other parts of China there as well.

Hi Nick,

When you're in Shanghai let me know! If you and Chloe need a place to stay I have a guest room with a comfy sofa bed!

Oz

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