My friends and I will be heading to Guizhou for the May holiday week. Our tentative plans are to depart Shanghai (plane/train) on 29/4 (Sat) and be back in Shanghai by 7/5 (Sun) night, or at the very latest, early morning 8/5 (Mon).

1) What are your best recommendations for sightseeing in Guizhou?
1a) Ideally, we'd like to visit a Miao village, a Buyi village, a Shui village and a Dong village, without any repetition. I don't mind missing out Buyi and Shui villages due to time constraints, especially if they're not very photogenic... any opinions?
1b) We'd also like to see 1 waterfall, 1 group of caves and enjoy 1 rafting experience. I've thought about going for Huangguoshu Waterfall, Zhijin Caves (instead of Longgong Caves) and the rafting at Maling River Gorge... any opinions? I've heard that the Zhijin Caves are not very well-run... If visiting Huangguoshu Waterfall, I'd ideally leave it till the end of the holiday week when there should be less tourists there.
1c) It seems that northern Guizhou isn't very interesting, so I'm skipping that. Any other recommendations for the rest of Guizhou will be welcome!

I am hoping to take a train from Guangzhou to Chengdu in late May but I don't seem to be able to find a way to buy a ticket in advance. Does anyone know if this can be done. If not, would I be able to buy a hard sleeper ticket from Guangzhou to Chengdu on the same day I arrive from Hong Kong or should I plan more time to get the ticket once in Guangzhou? Thanks for your help.

Help please!  Arrived here from Australia three weeks ago to teach at Dali University.  The support I expected hasn't eventuated so in dire need of someone to talk to.  Please advise me where I can meet an English speaking person / people?  Cheers  Rosie

Help please!  Arrived in Xiaguan three weeks

Can some one please let me know website of Kai Yue Hostel in Qingdao?

Also any other hostel/hotel can you please recommend that is in the city centre with around 100-150 yuan price range with attached bath/toilet?

Thanks in advance.

I'm currently studying in Shanghai Conservatory of Music and I've travelled widely in China for the past 2.5 years. I can help travellers with finding suitable accommodation (in Shanghai or elsewhere in China), buying train/plane tickets as well as airport/train station transfers. I don't do this for a living, politeness and good manners are very much appreciated. Please email/message me at ellyse99ATyahoo.com (substitute @ for AT, thanks) if you're interested. Thank you!