Canon 14mm II for "Yangshuo, China"

[Dylan777]

My next business trip to HK & China is in mid Sep. We going to have a weekend off in China, my co-workers and I are planning visit “Yangshuo, China”. You can see Yangshuo landscape in their $20 bill.
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yangshuo_County#Landmarks
 
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1345&bih=583&q=Yangshuo&oq=Yangshuo&gs_l=img.3..0l10.75248.75248.0.76672.1.1.0.0.0.0.143.143.0j1.1.0....0...1ac..23.img..0.1.143.0--rVoPFPVg

For the gear, I’m going heavy this time:
1. First body - 5D III + 16-35 II or 14mm II + 24-70 II backup
2. Second body - 5D III + 70-200 f2.8 IS II
I never hand on 14mm II before and I would like to rent it for couple weeks for this trip. Are there any cons compared to 16-35 II?


For those “been there & done that”:
1. Are there places in “Yangshuo” that you recommend for landscape photos?
2. Activities that you would recommend?
3. Since my co-workers and I don’t speak Chinese, do we really need a tour guy? We prefer our own paste, however, we still want to know the historical of Yangshuo.
     
Look forward to have your feedbacks.

Thanks
Dylan

[JPAZ]

Be prepared for haze and smog which may obscure the views, but also can impart an eerie feel to the landscape.  If you can, go to Guilin and take the river boat to Yangshou for some great scenerie en route.  When there, there is a mountain whose name I cannot recall, which is a popular and relatively easy climb for views (snag allowing). Also, you will see Comorant fisherman and that will present some interesting photo opportunities.  I don't know if a CPL would be of use but wonder if it will help with the haze. 

At night, try to see the "light show" if it is available.  This is a remarkable production using lights on adjacent terrain and hundreds of locals in costumes.  This was originally produced by the same guy who did the opening ceremonies for the Beijing Olympics, to give you an idea of what I am describing.

It has been a few years, but I think we hired a local guide through the hotel.  Everything we did while in Yangshou was accessible by walking except the mountain and for that we rented crappy bicycles from the hotel (fine for what we did). 

As far as the 14mm is concerned, I have the Samyang variety and not the Canon, but the wide angle might be interesting to use while there.

Sorry to perseverate on the smog but this was a huge issue just about everywhere I went in China.

[Dylan777]

Thanks JPAZ

Since we only have the weekend there, my co-workers and I are working a plan to get as much as posible. See our plan below. I'm not sure it do able or not. We can switch things around of course.

[kaihp]

I would suggest you look into getting an English speaking tour guide/translator - very few speak (any) English.
This could be a local person, not just an official tour guide. Perhaps an English speaking employee from the Hotel who is off duty and willing to help you out for a payment.

[JPAZ]

Thanks JPAZ

Since we only have the weekend there, my co-workers and I are working a plan to get as much as posible. See our plan below. I'm not sure it do able or not. We can switch things around of course.

Looks like you've got it covered.....the river trip, moon mountain and the show.  Do find a local guide with some English (unless your associates include someone with language skills). Have a good trip.

[Random Orbits]

I like the 14mm II and TS-E 17 better than the 16-35 II, but the 16-35 II is hard to beat for travel like this.  The 14 II is prone to CAs and does not take filters, but it has better IQ than the 16-35 II, is wider and is more compact.  Unless you plan on using the 16-35 II at 16mm exclusively, I wouldn't consider the 14mm prime.  And the 14mm feels a lot wider in usage than the 2mm difference from the 16-35 II may indicate.

If I had the choice and had sufficient time, then I'd consider the TS-E 17 over the 16-35 II.  The shift will help for architecture/landscape shots, and it can help get you some nice panoramas.  But it is MF only.  In this case, the 24-70 would be the primary, and the TS-E 17 would be for the special shots.  If you're going to be crunched for time, then the 16-35 II offers good IQ but is much more versatile.

[Dylan777]

Thanks kaihp

[Dylan777]

Thanks Random Orbits

I had 16-35 II before. 99% of my photos were taken @ 16mm f8 to f16. I still have 82mm B&W CPL filter for it. I like the sharpness of my 24-70 II. It just not wide enough for certian shots. 

[lion rock]

Dylan,
Hope you will have a great trip to HK/China.
My experience with tours in China is that if you join a tour group, a fair part of the time would be spent on shopping.  I went to two of these tours and they hurry you up so they can take you to shops.
My friend and his family went for a trip and hired a "private" car with an English speaking driver/tour guide thinking that there would be no shopping.  It still did, but finally my friend insisted that they did no more shopping.  The attitude of the driver changed to one that was indifferent to my friend and his family.
I would not know how the tour guides would treat a Westerner, but being Chinese tourists, we're not treated well in this respect.
If you're into wines, order bottles that are mid price, not the top price --- they can be "fake".  Drink bottle water and make sure the seals are new.
Otherwise, have a great time and show photos you shoot there.
HK is great to spend a few days, too, if your schedule allows.
-r

[cliffwang]

Angles of view for 16mm is 108 degree and for 14mm is 114 degree.  If you are going to rent 14mm, I will suggest you leave your 16-35mm at home.  24-70mm + 14mm will be used probably 95% of the time.

[minim2]

Even if you take a boat from Guilin to Yangshou, Do the bamboo  boat rafting in Yulong river. Bamboo boats are available in Li river too but not worth it in my opinion as too many motorized boats run through it but Yulong river has something special.. baby waterfalls kind of thing (many of them) and your bamboo boat falls in it.. it is fun and very safe. I was sitting on it with my 5DII and 24-105

Yangshou also has  one night show and it is performed on Li river as a stage during night (they focus lights on nearby mountains making it really beautiful). show was directed by the same person who did it for Olympics in Beijing is what I heard. You may have to book this one in advance.

Don't forget to take a bicycle ride in countryside of Yangshou... if you are not in shape then book/hire a car if your budget permits.

I forgot the name of the hill but there is one hiking place (can be done in an hour) and view from there in the morning or evening is wonderful.

Guilin has one cave (reed flute or something like that)...small but worth going, it is really colorful and they have a lighting in there to make those colorful rocks look really nice.

There is also a place called longi rice fields.. we visited that during our return journey from Yanshou to Guilin.

Guilin is commercialized but you will meet great country people in Yangshou.

I am an expat living in HK and been to many places in China. Guilin/Yangshou was one of my favorite, I may visit that place again. I think I stayed in Li River Retreat and they were wonderful.

[minim2]

Depending on what you want to do.. if you want to explore countryside on bicycle then taking a guide maybe worth as not many may speak english, but then it could be fun too.

[sanj]

I think the 14mm shots will produce more interesting shots.
I wonder why you taking two bodies when you will have all the time to change lenses.
Wish you a great trip and do post your masterpieces.

[Dylan777]

thanks lion rock,

I travel to HK & DongGuang, China 3-4 times a year. We have contract manufactures there. I know HK quite well. I can travel around HK by myself without any problem. China is little dif

[Dylan777]

Angles of view for 16mm is 108 degree and for 14mm is 114 degree.  If you are going to rent 14mm, I will suggest you leave your 16-35mm at home.  24-70mm + 14mm will be used probably 95% of the time.

Yeap...either or