Scenic China

China's National Day is October 1st, so everyone gets some time off. (Exactly how much time depends on your situation; some people have an entire week off while others have Wed-Sun off. Though if you get the full week off you're probably working this weekend to make up for it. Just how it works here.) Pretty much everyone travels during this time, either to go home or just somewhere new. I'm told it's super hectic pretty much anywhere you end up.

Anyways, was checking out places to go, and read up on Nanjing since it's close-ish to Shanghai. Taken directly from my guidebook:

"The other sight by Gulou is the Dazhong Ting (Great Bell Pavilion), immediately northeast of the junction behind the China Telecom building, sitting on a well-kept garden and also home to a pleasant teahouse. Enter just south of the McDonald's."

How romantic. That passage just got Nanjing booted out of my plans. Think I'm going to head to Guilin/Yangshou (Li River) or Sichuan (Pandas). Inner Mongolia's a dark horse in the race too.

Update: If anyone cares, I decided to go to Sichuan.  Leaving Friday night, back on Thursday.