Trip reports forum

How much time do you have before your flight leaves for Cairns? and what are the places you want to visit.
Did almost a same like trip with some extras around it.
Thailand, Laos and Vietnam all depends on what you want to see. you can cross every country in 2 days if you want but of course you want to see some stuff. It's just a matter of finding it out when you are there and if you suddenly realise you got less time left, you move further to the places you should be(bus, train, plane).

For china: I'd suggest you get to Yangshuo after vietnam (if you don't want to go to Hong Kong), spend a few days there, check out the peaks and then take the train to Xi'An (actually I don't know if there are trains in Yangshuo, if not, go down a little bit to Guangzhou and take the train there). you'll be on the train the whole night and the next day until the evening. everything is sleeper and food is supplied if necessary. I went from Xi'an to Shanghai, then to Beijing (cause the trains to Beijing where booked for 2 days) So make sure if you go to Beijing from Xi'an to book your tickets on time at the train station.

From Beijing to Shanghai there's an high speed train going every night (takes about 8 h ), make sure to book on time as well to get a sleeper (you'll need it, I had a seat for the whole night and they didn't serve beers on this train at the time so it was fucked). Shanghai is expensive, more expensive as back home for me (Belgium). Do check out Barbarossa bar: nice atmosphere and relaxing (if you got some extra cash to spend).