<p>Actually, you can just monitor online how many seats are available for each class and each train. If there are abundant seats, don’t worry.</p>
<p>Usually 2nd class sells out first, but 1st class is easier to get.</p>
<p>We traveled to China in 2008 when my daughter was teaching in Shenzhen and I planned the whole trip. We flew in and out of Hong Kong since that was not too far from Shenzhen and a good price airport. We spent one night there than crossed the border into mainland China and met our daughter, spent a night or two there and then took a flight to Guilan. At Guilan, I had made arrangements to be picked up at the airport through this hostel: [Yangshuo</a> Outside Inn in Yangshuo, China - Find Cheap Hostels and Rooms at Hostelworld.com](<a href=“http://www.hostelworld.com/hosteldetails.php/Yangshuo-Outside-Inn/Yangshuo/13466?sc_sau=sfab&sc_pos=9]Yangshuo”>http://www.hostelworld.com/hosteldetails.php/Yangshuo-Outside-Inn/Yangshuo/13466?sc_sau=sfab&sc_pos=9) We stayed in a family suite here and had our own bedrooms and bathroom. It was cheap and really neat. While in Yangshuo we rented bikes, did a lot of walking, took a boat ride down the river, took a raft down the Yangshou River, did the light show [Impression</a> Sanjie Liu (Evening Showtime) - Yangshuo County - Reviews of Impression Sanjie Liu (Evening Showtime) - TripAdvisor](<a href=“http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g303712-d1741379-Reviews-Impression_Sanjie_Liu_Evening_Showtime-Yangshuo_County_Guangxi_Zhuang.html]Impression”>http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g303712-d1741379-Reviews-Impression_Sanjie_Liu_Evening_Showtime-Yangshuo_County_Guangxi_Zhuang.html) It was really, really fun!</p>
<p>After Yangshuo we traveled by air to Xi’an and stayed at another family hostel. I can’t find the name of it right now, but it seems like there were several options there. I would choose a place close to food street. We stayed there 2 or three nights before taking a sleeper train to Beijing. That was surprisingly relaxing and enjoyable.</p>
<p>In Beijing we stayed here [Very</a> unique - Review of Maoer Hutong B&B, Beijing, China - TripAdvisor](<a href=“http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g294212-d640864-r15186096-Maoer_Hutong_B_B-Beijing.html#REVIEWS]Very”>http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g294212-d640864-r15186096-Maoer_Hutong_B_B-Beijing.html#REVIEWS) in the Hutong section. This was incredibly unique and I would highly recommend staying here. I hired a private guide for Beijing for two or three days and that was so helpful. She came in the mornings to the B&B and took us all over the place. I’d be happy to PM you our guides name. I’m pretty sure I can find it. We visited just about all of the major historical places in the city and it was really handy having a guide when we went shopping at the Silk Market because she knew the end prices so our haggling was much more effective. We also took a trip to the Great Wall but entered at Mutianyu, which is slightly less crowded. </p>
<p>After Beijing, we had to get back to Shenzhen, so didn’t make it to Shanghai. I’m pretty sure we flew there. We spent two days with our daughter in Hong Kong and stayed here: [YMCA</a> of Hong Kong](<a href=“http://www.ymcahk.org.hk/main_e.html]YMCA”>http://www.ymcahk.org.hk/main_e.html) Which was incredibly expensive but averaging out the very low priced hostels, I felt it was worth it. </p>
<p>In general, we all were very glad that I did the trip planning. I find the planning a huge part in enjoying a trip. I like to make the decisions on what we do and where we go and don’t see the point in paying someone to do that. The challenge for China was that I didn’t really know the country so there was a learning curve just figuring out what we really wanted to see and than logistically making it work. I would encourage you to go for it!</p>
<p>OP here. Thanks for all the input. I will be looking into many of these ideas. For those of you who picked group tours, what companies did you pick. I can still see my husband and I putting together a partially independent/hired guide tour but my oldest d and her husband also want to go (probably at a different time than us) and they would do much better with a guided tour. Has anyone done the groupon getaways? They seem to have good deals but I have never met anyone who has used one.</p>
<p>Hotel recommendations
In Shanghai, if you like nostalgia and art deco, the 100 year old Peace Hotel is a must, it is right on the Bund and there is ball room dance party down stairs, you can experience the 1940’s music and authentic English tea treat. In the breakfast room, you can oversee the Yangtze river traffic 10 stories above. It will be a life time experience. A little expensive, but worth every penny of it.</p>
<p>Regarding tour operators</p>
<p>You can compare prices and comments online for that tour operator, AS LONG AS the tour operator is operating their own tours using their own tour guides and No forced shopping</p>
<p>OP here to give an update and to thank all of you who shared their wisdom; especially walkinghome. We had an wonderful trip to China. I planned in all. We flew in to Beijing and spent just two days and then caught the bullet train to Shanghai. In Shanghai, we met up with our youngest dd and went all over the city. We also did a water town. We then caught a plane and flew to Yangshuo which was an incredible place. We actually stayed outside the city in a tiny village. We flew back to Beijing and flew home the next day. This was one of our best family vacations and I am so pleased that I did it myself and that it went incredibly smooth, Again, thank you all.</p>