Rocket Chinese Community

I am off to China in December, starting off in Hangzhou and travelling to the surrounding cities (those within 1-4 hours away by train). I am a little worried about things such as buying tickets at some places where you can only speak Chinese and obviously the culture shock, but these have also brought about some excitement as well. Does anyone have any recommendations about where to go around that area. At the moment I have down Shanghai which is the obvious choice, what about the smaller cities?

Hi, I'm from Australia and spent six weeks in China in 2006. Flew into Shanghai via Singapore and spent a few days in Suzhou (a 2500 year old city dubbed The Venice of the East and famous for its silk production)and Hangzhou (gardens and tea plantations) before flying to Beijing for a few days. Then went by train to Xian (ancient capital of China and famous for the terra cotta warriors and start of the silk road) and into northern Tibet, southern Mongolia and by small bus right across the Gobi desert to places such as Xiahe, Lanzhou, Jiayuguan, Dunhuang, Turpan, Korla, Kuqa, to Kashgar. When in Kashgar we saw the start of the Gobi Desert section of 'racing the planet'. Then flew to Urumqi for a few days and went up into the mountains which has scenery very much like that of Canada. As one proceeded westward the language changed as did the food as we were entering a more Muslim society. Very contrasting types of scenery and cultures. Many had not seen Caucasians before. Some of the art painted on grotto and cave wall dates from before Christ and a Buddha carved in the rock face 200 feet high. Also the museum at Urumqi is extremely interesting. I would recommend if you can get to China to get well out of the big coastal cities into the far flung areas and see the real China.