The Days Ahead
Eight stops. Sixteen days on the ground. Below: each city in sequence, with the assignments within reach and the brigade's standing commitments. Open any entry to study the dossier and file your own.
Hong Kong
3 daysArrive. Kowloon Walled City Park, dim sum, Manakamana, Crystal Jade XLB. Day-trip Shenzhen Window of the World if curious.
Sat 10/17 to Mon 10/19. Group unlikely to add a night here.
Changsha
1 dayDetour to Zhangjiajie (Hallelujah Mtn / Tianmen / Glass Bridge / Bailong Elevator) - 4h HSR. General Tso's Tomb, Mao head.
Compressed to 1 day to fit firmed-up bookends.
Luoyang
2 daysLongmen Grottoes, Shaolin / Flying Monks. Optional: Spring Temple Buddha (largest statue), Guoliang Tunnel.
Held at 2 days for Longmen Grottoes; may shift if Beijing slides.
Pingyao
1 dayOld walled city itself = the highlight. Optional Yuncheng salt lakes day trip.
Compressed to 1 day; arrive Beijing Sat 10/24.
Beijing
3 daysForbidden City, Great Wall + slide, 798, Hutongs, Hanging Temple + Yungang Grottoes via Datong (overnight), Tianjin Binhai Library day trip, Tianzi Hotel photo stop.
Sat 10/24 to Mon 10/26. May slide a day later depending on Week 1 + Mason's family time.
Yantai
1 dayCoast / Penglai / Fushan Tunnels day trip.
1-day squeeze between Beijing and Hangzhou. At risk if Beijing slides.
Hangzhou
2 daysWest Lake, Anji Bamboo, Tianducheng (Mini Paris), Longjing tea villages.
Wed 10/28 LOCKED - Nick's Hilton Free Night is booked at Qiushui Villa, West Lake. Thu 10/29 still TBD (Nick pushing for 2 nights; may collapse if a Suzhou day-trip wins out of Shanghai instead).
Shanghai
3 daysBund + Sightseeing Tunnel + Ultraviolet (book NOW), Quarry Hotel (one night), Propaganda Poster Centre, Mossy City as add-on if time.
Fri 10/30 to Sun 11/1. Possible +Thu 10/29 night if Suzhou day-trip is added.