Here's the skinny:

My wife lives in Luzhou. I have very little money to my name. I'm trying to plan a trip to be with her for February.

Last year I flew to Chengdu then took a bus to Luzhou. This year, that same trip would be about $400 more. This is money I don't have.

Flying to Guangzhou seems to be the cheapest route. But how do I get to Luzhou? I'll take a plane, train or bus. I don't care. I just need a good price and to get there before the 8th (for the New Year).

It seems like everyone here has an SO that lives in a big city that's easy to get to by plane.

I'm not that fortunate. So, any help would be appreciated.

Anyone?

Thanks.

Michael

Hey there Mike, I am heading to china in Feb also.. flying from JFK to shanghai.. When are you going and where will you fly from?
Just curious..

I haven't figured all that out yet.

All I know is that I need to be there before the 8th. So, I guess I'll have to head out the first couple days of February.

And I'm leaving out of Miami.

You know any good travel agencies/websites I can check out? I've been all over the place trying to plan this trip but it's been a nightmare.

I'm trying to find a way to go straight to Luzhou from anywhere in China, but I can't get flight schedules or prices from anybody.

I called two China travel agencies (in America) and neither one of them knew Luzhou even had an airport.

This isn't fun.

Have your SO check things on the local level.

Local travel is much cheaper if you buy in China.

I've traveled on the "hard seat" train before.

SFO to Shanghai is one of the cheapest flights.

Good Luck.

Call FLYCHINA.COM as they are based in Flordia.

Check this page out from CTRIP:
http://english.ctrip...ight/flight.asp

Going for the Chinese New Year?

If you are, you better go a week before.
All of China will be on the road at that time.

It is a commute that is beyond western comprehension.

From where you are: to save money, I would do the following:

1. take the train from FL to NYC
2. take the direct air china flight from NYC to Beijing
3. get on a hard seat train from Beijing West Train Station to Chengdu
4. take a bus to LuZhou

Slow, but the cheapest way you can manage it.

Yes, dont forget the Chinese New Year. We will have our chinese wedding on the 8th of Feb... my Lao Po tells me everything will be closed down.. hmmmm... seems like all would be open to accomidate the travel of all tourist...

Check out flights on NWA.com (Northwest airlines just won several routes directly to China, and is offering introductory discounts) Check either CAN or HKG ...

If its Hong Kong, take the train to GZ .... subway to the main GZ train station.... If its Canton, no problem ~!

Book a hard bed ---- NOT A SEAT ---- this trip will be much too long for that!!! Still, it will be cheap. Probably will have to connect to Luzho through ChongQing...

I and my honey are living in Yangshuo (south of Guilin). About 3 hours by bus from luzhou.

My suggestion is fly to Guangzhou. Then take a sleeper bus direct to Luzhou or train to Guilin then local bus to Luzhou. Your honey should be able to help you with the details from Guangzhou.

Other suggestion pick up a lonely planet China book (backpackers bible).
Helped me alot before I could speak.

The trip should cost depending on what you take about 300 yuan. I included the 15 percent price increase for the festival.

I have done the trip from gz many times and was fairly easy.

I would suggest you do this before the 8th. Like the 3rd or 4th the latest. China will be a travel nitemare if you wait to travel on the 8th or during the next few days after.

good luck

Woooow ~!

We may have a miscommunication going on here!

... the Luzhou I'm refering to is SW from ChongQing, and much longer than a 3 hour bus ride from Yangshuo......

Try to you get all the flight , train and bus tickets as soon as possible.The traffic will be very crowded in Feb because of spring festival in china.it might be hard for you to get a ticket when u get here.In some cities,like shanghai,poeple have already booked Feb tickets...so,hurry up..

--ghostrider, on Dec 30 2004, 03:30 PM, said:

Hi Micheal, I'm Doug. 1st thing were going to need you to do here is run down to the store, grab a 40 and dime bag. It will be OK. 2nd thing is kick back and throw some Bob Marley in the 8 track. Your volume is about a 9 and a half. If you can you turn it down to about a 6 or 7 that would be be great. Techinically New Years isn't until the 9th. It lasts for about a week. So you have some flexibility there. Ok Micheal? Your already married, so what's all the fuss about? ahhh I get it. The cheetos are almost out. I hate when that happens. Buttons getting a little sticky on the keyboard huh?

With about 5 minutes of searching I could see that there is a airport in Luzhou. Civilain too, not Military. That's a good thing.
luzhou-airport

Ok enough of my sarcastic sense of humor. (I'll get back to it in a minute.)
You want to go from Miami, FL - International (MIA)
To Luzhou, China (LZO) That's only a measily 9000 MILES!
You will need to fly into Guangzhou, China (CAN) 1st and then get a domestic hop over to LZO or DMZ ...where ever. You'll need to switch carriers. Normally it's not a problem. Not too expensive either.

Here's the deal. I can give you the # for my Travel agent. Very nice Chinese lady. She can work unbelievable magic. Your looking at about 900 to 1100 bones though. Here's what I saw...
http://www.orbitz.com - forget them, you don't want to know.

On www.flychina.com about $900

Round-Trip from Miami FL (MIA) to Guangzhou China (CAN)
for travel on Feb 07 Departure and Feb 14 Return
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northwest
$884 USD per adult
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air China
$902 USD per adult
connecting in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Beijing
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
China Southern
$985 USD per adult
connecting in Los Angeles

Call the travel agent back again and explain to them this is what needs to happen. Internationally you need to go from A to B switch planes Domestically over to C.
A. Miami, FL - International (MIA)
B* via Guangzhou (CAN)
C. Luzhou, China (LZO)

B* Beijing, China (PEK) can also be a point for a layover.

You can do it my brother. (unless you ain't got the cash, then your screwed.) Hope I was able to help.

http://us.i1.yimg.co...ns6/67.gifPeace out!!

I was going to write some more stupid stuff in here but it took me too long already. I like your humor. Cracks me up.http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/emoticons6/24.gif

I have been to Luzhou 10+ years ago. I was studying in the college that time, so my budget is tight. I had trip in my summer vacation, first to innermongolia, then to Sichuan via Beijing. I took train+bus the whole journey. On the trip from Chengdu to Luzhou(i can only take a bus, no train ROUTE), We had to climb a moutain (Er-lang Mt.) It is a huge mt, very high, took us almost half day to get over. Now they build a tunnel so no long have to travel half day in the mountain.
The best solution may be flying out of FL to GZ/Chengdu. I would advise you to be very very careful, Luzhou is on the edge of Qinghai-Tibet plateau, so it is very cold esp in winter times. The road condition could also be a little treacherous, when there are snows. So get ready earlier, and give yourself a few more days margin if possible. I know it is a little bit inconvenient to visit a small place.
Pls dont assum it is a warm place just because it is located in the south, it is located on a plateau, very cold weather. I was frozen there in July!

--sawadee, on Dec 31 2004, 03:04 AM, said:

I was in that area too.

It is beautiful, but the elevation is more than 5000m high! There are glaciers even in June when I passed through.

However, to go through GZ is silly! The costs are too high.

If he wants to minimize the cost, take the train from FL to a major city which flys directly to China. This means that you *must* go to NYC, as it is far closer than the others.

From NYC, the cheapest way to go to China is the *direct* flight to Beijing. I have priced this many times.

From Beijing to Chengdu, there are many hard seats available to Chengdu, including the direct to Chengdu train, the to Kunming Train, and in parts via the to Xian and then onto Chengdu/Kunming train (where Kunming is past Chengdu).

Then take the bus to Kangding. This is that last Han city along the trip. This takes 5 hours.

Then take a bus the *same* day to Litang. This leg currently takes about 8 hours in the summer where only the pass at 5500m is still likely to have snow (I only traveled it in the summer).

From here, there is only one bus a day west to where you are wanting to go, so you have to catch the bus whenever it comes. Maybe it is possible for *her* to meet you in Litang (the last city), or better yet in Kangding (since the average elevation in Litang is at 4800m, and you will get altitude sickness if you miss the bus and have not had a week or so to adjust).

Good luck!

ps. to those quoting going through GZ or flying to LZ, you can not! You are talking about the *wrong* LZ! This one does not even have a train station, never the less an airport! If you were ethnic chinese or could speak very well, you could take the backdoor road through XiZhang, but there are many police there, and unless you can convince them that you are Chinese, they will arrest you and turn you back. If you are fluent and look Chinese, send me a PM and I can tell you about this option to travel there.

Trust me on this, take the train in the US, it will save you cash...

There is a non stop flight from Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles. After a 2 hour layover there is a non stop flight to Guangzhou. Total time about 23 hours. This is via Delta and China Southern.
Ken

Just wanted to give a big THANK YOU to everyone that's posted helpful info for my desperate cry for help.

I sincerely appreciate it.

Doug, can you PM me the phone number for your travel agent? By the way, my sense of humor has been finely honed through years and years of a life of suffering (and watching Mystery Science Theater 3000).

Just to be clear, the problem that I'm having is finding out info for domestic flights in China. I mean, I think I can get tickets online to Shanghai/Beijing/Guangzhou for about $700 - $800.

But I cannot (so far) get info about the Chinese domestic flights. I haven't found anyone yet who can tell me flight schedules or prices. And, like I said before, it didn't help that Chinese travel agents I called and websites didn't even know Luzhou had an airport.

So, for me to plan this trip, obviously I need to know what flights go to Luzhou, what times they fly, how much do they cost and if there are any seats left. Whether it's from Beijing or Guangzhou or Shanghai or even Hong Kong. That's the information that I haven't been able to get so far.

And, yes, it looks like I'll have to head out the first day or two of February to beat the Chinese New Year travel rush. I may not have a lot of money but at least I have time, so I'm lucky for that much.

Anywho...

Thanks again to everyone for taking the time to reply and help me out.

Michael

I found the following flights listed on Expedia out of GZ. Their price is $283 RT. You probably could do better if you purchase the ticket when you arrive in China, but you always risk not getting a seat, esp as you get close to the New Year. I tried Beijing and Shanghai but I could not find flights from these cities. Doesn't mean they don't exist, I just can't access them through a US travel agent. I also checked flychina.com but they don't list Luzhou.

Fro To- Date- Deprt Arrv- Flt- Airline
--- --- ----- ----- ----- ---- ------------
CAN LZO 02-01 12:50 14:40 4352 Air China
CAN LZO 02-02 07:30 09:30 4352 Air China
CAN LZO 02-03 12:50 14:40 4352 Air China
CAN LZO 02-04 07:30 09:30 4352 Air China
CAN LZO 02-05 12:50 14:40 4352 Air China
CAN LZO 02-06 07:30 09:30 4352 Air China

Hope this helps!

Try Flychina .com

Ft Lauderdale to Chengdu:

Feb 4 leave Feb 20 return

$998.00 R/T Connecting in San Fran, Los Angeles and Beijing

$1074.00 R/T Connecting in Seoul, Korea

$1151.00 R/T Connecting in Beijing and Shanghi

$1201.00 R/T connecting in Los Angeles and Guangzhou

This Site has in China Flight Schedules. I don't know if there are any add on prices.

I got married in Louzhou in Guangsxi. You can buy a round trip ticket from Guangzhou to Louzhou for a $100 (actually 1,000rmb) from any travel agent in China. I think they fly everyday. The airport is in the middle of nowhere so you can take a taxi or bus I took a taxi. I think it was 70rmb.

I think some people are confused.

I'm trying to get to the city of Luzhou in the Sichuan province.

There's another city called Liuzhou which is in the Guangxi province.

I think some people who've posted messages here are confusing the two cities.

Just thought I'd point that out.

Who is on first? What is on First? No, what is on third? Who is on third? No, who is on First?

--ghostrider, on Dec 31 2004, 12:21 PM, said:

Same story with my wifes home town of Quzhou. Big difference between the two cities.

I sent travel agent infor to you. I called her, but got a message that she'll be out until the 2nd. You still have pleanty of time. Do it tommorrow, later, later...Why get done today what you can put off doing until tommorow?
Happy New Years!!!
http://chinesecultur...ppynewyear1.gif

I only got you to Chengdu lol

Well, if you ever want to go to Liuzhou in Guangsxi, I'll be your guide.

--ghostrider, on Dec 31 2004, 02:21 PM, said:

I am not.

All of the information that I posted was to get to the one in Sichuan province.

I have been through there before.

It is beautiful

But, seriously, if you want to go cheaply, follow through my suggestions.

1. train from FL to NYC
2. direct flight from NYC to Beijing (on Air China, it is only 700)
3. go by airport bus to the WEST TRAIN STATION (not the main train station)
4. get a hard seat to Chengdu. If it is full, get a hard seat to Xian, and there, get a hard seat to Chengdu, or get a hard seat to Taiyuan, and from there get a hard seat to Chengdu. Or if they all fail, get a hard seat to Kunming, and just abandon the train in Chengdu
5. Get a bus to Kangding
6. Get a bus the SAME DAY to Litang
7. from there, there is only one bus west, so there are no more choices!

enjoy the trip...but if I were you, I would have her meet me in Chengdu or Kangding, given how far away everything else is!!!

Yeah,

I've got the right place too....

Anyway you figure this its a looooong trip...

So you have several distinct options to consider.... Fly to Beijing or Guangzhou, and catch a domestic flight to ChongQing ... (Chengdu involves backtracking....) perhaps a bus from ChongQing to Luzhou if there is no train...

Or, as Fei assures me ---- there is train service from Guangzhou to ChongQing --- long but cheap --- and if you book a hard bed train, you can probably sleep for a substantial portion of the trip... Your SO should be able to weigh the domestic part of the travel for you ----- price and time ----- surface transportation from Beijing vs. surface transportation from Guangzhou...

--oregonknl, on Dec 31 2004, 06:10 PM, said:

You can take a hard seat (and get little sleep) or a hard sleeper (greater cost by about US$40) but getting some sleep from *either* of Guangzhou or Beijing. The only problem is that you are traveling in *high* season, and there is *only one line* from Guangzhou to Chongqing. However, there are 3 lines from Beijing to Chengdu, so you give yourself more options (although the only cheap option to get there involves *not* flying from florida).

It is a tough call.

Good luck, and ask her to meet you at either Chongqing or Chengdu. I think that Chengdu is more pretty, and ask to go see Juizhaigou when you are there.

lele, any idea about how much longer the train trip is from Beijing to ChongQing vs. Guangzhou to ChongQing? --- It looks like its about a third further....

I always sleep like a lamb on a hard bed, but never get any sleep at all on a hot seat train... matter of preference, I guess....

Also GR --- a quick check at Travelosity suggests that airfare from Guangzhou to ChongQing will be substantially less than from Beijing, if you chose to go by domestic air...

--oregonknl, on Dec 31 2004, 06:56 PM, said:

I completely agree with you!!

I *always* travel hard sleeper. However, I was trying to help him to cut the costs.

Well, it depends on the rail line. I happen to know (since I have been on the train) that the Beijing XiZhan (west train station) has a 160kph train that goes from Beijing to Kunming, stopping in Chengdu. However, I am not sure if the one from GZ is a 160kph or only a 120kph (I think it is the slower, but am not sure).

The big advantage to the Beijing to there though is that it stops along the way at Pingyao, Datong, and Xian, all worthwhile seeing (but since he is not looking to do that, I am not sure if that adds any advantage).

For me, the only time I have ever been able to sleep in a hard seat is when we were forced to take one, but luckily after a few hours we were able to upgrade to a hard bed!!!

Also, the prices for domestic air are *MUCH CHEAPER* if purchased in China. No matter where you go, get out of the airport and someone on the street (usually near any train station, bus station, or university) will gladly sell you the "discount" version. However, even purchasing it at the airport will be far cheaper than here.

The train trip from Beijing XiZhan to Chengdu should be about 19-24 hours, depending on how many stops the specific train makes and how fast it is. That is not *too* long, imho, especially if she meets you at the train station (hint hint! so that way you can see something fun while you are there...if you want suggestions, I have traveled through Sichuan for about 25 days, so just send me a PM).

Good Luck!!!

--johns, on Dec 31 2004, 12:45 AM, said:

OOOPS!!!!

Sorry I thought you meant LIUZHOU..

very far from LUZHOU!!!

dui bu qi!!!

Gosh, One letter off in the Pingying can be a nitemare.

Sorry I am the person to lead more confusion! The city I was referred to in my previous post is about Lu-ding, instead of Lu-Zhou, I have never been to Lu-Zhou. Lu-ding is also located in Si-chuan Province, very near Tibet.
Sorry for the confusion!

--sawadee, on Jan 3 2005, 06:50 PM, said:

Ha Ha, That's awsome. Dude is on his way from Miami to GZ and ends up in Tibet (in Febuary). You could make a movie or a TV series about that one. That's great! Take away everything but the man's clothes, drop him off in Tibet and tell him to find his way back home to Miami. Too funny. http://us.i1.yimg.co...oticons6/24.gif

Just thought I'd update this thread since it's finally been resolved. And just in case anyone else finds themselves walking down my path in need of some helpful experience.

So, here goes...

I originally wanted to fly to Luzhou (Sichuan province) because that's where my wife lives.

The problem was that it's a small city and, at the time of this writing, the only way to get there is through Guangzhou. Also, the travel agents and websites I contacted didn't even recognize Luzhou's airport.

The next problem was that I wanted to get there the first week of February so that I could be with my wife for the new year celebrations.

So, after I found out that I could only get to Luzhou through Guangzhou, I then found out that all the tickets were supposedly sold. Mind you, this is an entire month before. That didn't make any sense to me.

The situation was looking grim and I told my wife what I found out. So, she called some travel agents in China and found out that "they" locked all the tickets from Guangzhou to Luzhou from January 25th through the second week of February. She also read in the newspaper that "they" were going to do this and that "they" were going to add new flights. So, that's why I (and everyone else) couldn't get tickets from Guangzhou to Luzhou.

However, since the newspaper article said that they were going to be adding flights, I figured that I could wait about a week and then I should be able to get a ticket.

But, somehow, even though the tickets were supposedly locked and nobody could buy them for that time frame, I was still never able to buy a ticket. My guess is that somebody bought a lot of the tickets to later resell at a premium.

So, I decided to just forget about this option and try to get a flight to Chengdu. From Chengdu, I could take a 3 hour bus trip to Luzhou.

This is what I did last year but this year that same ticket was coming up at about $1300 everywhere I looked. After checking every website and calling numerous travel agents, I was finally able to get a ticket for $1000 from a woman named Star who works at a New Jersey travel agency. ($300 is a LOT of money, when you don't have much to begin with.)

I highly recommend this lady for your travel purchases because not only did she get me a great price but she worked over several weeks to find a good itinerary for me. (PM me if you want her contact info.)

So, the moral of this story is that, if you're planning on traveling domestically in China anytime around the new year celebration, just forget it. At least, that's been my experience.

And, if you need to get to Luzhou and you can't get a direct flight from Guangzhou, the best way is to just fly to Chengdu and take the bus to Luzhou. It's actually a nice bus. They have big, comfy seats and monitors so you can watch a movie.

Maybe they'll show "The Road to Morocco."

The End.