Just returned from China on Saturday. We climbed the wall at Mutianyu, it was amazing. We went in the afternoon arrived about 1.30pm and there was hardly anyone there. We climbed right up to the heavenly stairway, one of the highest points of the whole wall, which has the most breathtaking views. In fact there were no queus for the cable cars and for most of the time we didn't see anyone else apart from our own small tour group.

It would be great to here more about your trip Tulip. Puddleducks report was fascinating.

Asiagirl, we visited Badaling recently. There was just me and my hubby and our guide, we took the north route (left at the main entrance) and we got lots of piccies of the wall without any other people on it. There are a few sellers on the wall itself flogging t-shirts, hats etc. but these, like the tourists who can't make the steep climb drop off the further you walk.
Badaling has been restored and the wall there is well kept. The north way is steep in parts but is definitely not crowded, like the other way. The south part is more popular as there is a cable car down.

It really depends on what you want to get out of your visit as there are parts where you can hike and stay in one of the old watchtowers overnight but we felt a couple of hours on the wall was enough.

You mentioned Guilin, this site here is the Guilin website where you might find some ideas of things to do - http://www.guilinchina.net/
I know it's not cooking etc, but while you're there I would recommend a visit to the Reed Flute Cave, it is amazing.
There is also a nightly water fountain show on the lake there and a chinese opera.
I assume that you'll be doing a Li River Cruise? If on an organised tour when you arrive in Yangshou you don't have long before they bus you back to Guilin but if I would recommend spending the rest of the day there and going to the show on the lake in the evening. It's really different.

Hope that helps.

Hello Fiona I am intending to write a report on our amazing trip but since we got back unfortunately I have been on night duty (no rest for the wicked, no time even to get over the jet lag) finished and now on rest days, so will try and write a report over the weekend. Puddleduck it seems your trip was all you hoped it would be and more, isn't China the most amazing place to visit!

Thanks for all who replied. Any further tips/suggestions if you also visited Shanghai, Beijing and X'ian would be very welcome as I a week on Saturday - can't wait. Does anyone know what the weather is like in October to ensure I pack the right clothes.

Also if you have any tips on shopping these would also be very welcome.
Will add an update once I get back.

Puddleduck it seems your trip was all you hoped it would be and more

It was Tulip, it really was

Asiagirl - you can read my trip report here - http://holidayforums.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=85325 as we visted all the places you mentioned. It'll give you a flavour and get you more excited!!

Shopping tips -
1) If you're at a market, barter, barter, barter. Have an idea of the price you want to pay, start at about 1/3 of the price they say, decide on what you'll go up to and stick to it. Often if you walk away, they'll come after you Make sure you have small notes.
2) Are you after electrical goods? We bought a new camera in Xi'an - there's a chain store called Yollo (it's all yellow outside) and is like Dixon's. They often have fab sales on and luckily they had an offer on while we were there and our camera, lens, and 1GB memory card cost £370, over here it would cost over £500 for that package.
3) Don't necessarily wait to go to Shanghai - if you think you've got a good price and are happy with it, get it. We were told Shanghai was great for electricals but the same camera package was nowhere near the price there as paid in Xian.

If you want to be a little bit adventurous, I recommend you can hike from Jinshanling great wall section to Simatai section.