Train Lover’s Tour of China

Excursion to Huanghuacheng Great Wall this morning. 75km north from city center, Huanghuacheng is a lakeside Great Wall with part of the wall is under water and becomes submerged at high tide, which make its nickname "Water Great Wall". The scenery here is unique and will surprise you. Unlike Badaling and even Mutianyu, this section is a non-crowded Great Wall with breathtaking views. You will take a picnic lunch on the Great Wall. Transfer back to downtown in the afternoon, you will spend some leisure time at local Hutongs at Houhai area. Hutongs were first established in the Yuan dynasty and expanded in the Ming and qing dynasties. These narrow street or alley connects traditional courtyard residences – Siheyuan. You will have chance to take a pedicab tour or a bicycle tour in Hutongs and visit one or two courtyard family to learn more of their buildings, architectures, folk customs and histories.

Meal: B, L

Morning visit to China Railway Museum (Dongjiao Exhibition Hall). In the exhibition hall, more than 50 locomotives were displayed, and their manufacturing ages spanned from 1881 to 1993. Among them are the earliest existing locomotive in China, No. 0 steam locomotive, Mao Zedong locomotive and Zhude locomotive named after the great man, and various types of steam locomotives manufactured in Britain, the United States, Japan, Russia and Belgium in different periods. The diesel locomotives include the first generation of "Dongfeng" electric drive trunk freight locomotives made in China and the first generation of "Shaoshan" electric locomotives made in China. After the visit, transfer to train station for high speed train to Shenyang.

Located in Northeast China, Shenyang is an important central city of this area. It is also a famous historical and cultural city. As the birthplace of the Qing Dynasty, it is known as "the birthplace of one dynasty, the capital of two generations of emperors". In 1625, Emperor Taiji built a prosperous capital city and established the Qing Dynasty. This was a turning point in Shenyang's history. From a small military sanitary post, it became one of the two capital cities of the Qing Dynasty, named Shengjing Huangcheng, and began to become the central city of Northeast China. In After the founding of New China, Shenyang has become an important heavy industry base in China, mainly in equipment manufacturing industry. Due to its importance in both politics, economy and military, the railway in northeast China developed fast since 1891, when the Qing government built the railway inside and outside Guanzhong. It’s a must visit place for a ferroequinologist.

Upon arrival in Shenyang, you will be met and transfer to hotel check in.

Meal: B

Full day excursion to Tiemei Diaobingshan Steam Locomotive Museum today. The museum is located at Tieling city, 95km north to Shenyang. It is one of the biggest steam locomotive museums in China. Opened in 2004. The museum has 113 kilometers of railway main line and 101 kilometers of station track. There are 21 steam locomotives in the museum, including 4 types of the locomotives China have produced. Once a year, a 3-day international steam locomotive photography and tourism festival hold in Tieling city, attracting over thousands of locomotive lovers from all over the world. The date of manufacture varies from 1943 to 1999. After the visit, transfer back to Shenyang and take a stroll at North Market.

Meal: B, L

Before taking train back to Beijing, you will visit Shenyang Imperial Palace and Qing Zhaoling Tomb. Shenyang Imperial Palace is the only existing royal palace in China outside of the Forbidden City in Beijing. The main structure was built in 1625 when Nurhachi was in power. It was finished in 1636 by his son Abahai (Huangtaiji). Nurhachi and Abahai were both founding emperors of the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911). The palace covers an area of more than 60,000 square meters (about 71,760 square yards), is one twelfth the size of the Forbidden City in Beijing. It consists of more than 300 rooms, formed around 20 courtyards. Zhaoling Tomb is the mausoleum of Huang Taiji (Emperor Taizong) of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and his queen Bo'erjijite. Huang Taiji was the eighth son of Nurhachi, a great leader who established the Later Jin State and laid the foundation of the Qing Dynasty.

Upon arrival in Beijing, be met and transfer to hotel check in.

Meal: B

Pick up at the hotel and transfer to rail station for high speed train to Shanghai. Experience the fastest high speed train in China. It takes only 4.5hrs to run 1318km, and highest speed is 350KPH.

Upon arrival, you will be met at the rail station and transfer to hotel check in. After a rest in hotel, meet the guide again and transfer to take a cruise on Huangpu River and followed a walking tour at the Bund, Shanghai's famous waterfront to see new-erect modern skyscrapers and aged buildings of the colonial period.

Meal: B, L

Go to experience the Maglev Train between Pudong Airport and Longyang Station this morning. The train is the first maglev train used in business in the world with the function of transporting, displaying, tourism and sightseeing. The whole line was 30km long with the speed of 430km/h, and takes only 8 minutes for a single way ride. After a round-way journey, continue to the Former French Concession and Xintiandi area for a troll. Visit the historical buildings and visit a couple of small museums like the Propaganda Poster Art Centre. In the afternoon, you will visit Yu Garden. It used to be a private garden with 400 years' history and features traditional architectural style of Yangtze Delta. The Shanghai Old Street near the garden is a good place to learn local lifestyle of Shanghai people.

Meal: B, L

Visit Shanghai Railway Museum in the morning. The museum was built on the former site of Shanghai Railway Station, which was built in 1901 in classic English style. It shows the history of Shanghai and East China Railway since the railway entered China in the 1870s. The No. 26 locomotive in this museum is one of the only three “narrow-gauge railway” locomotives left in China. The No. 641 KD7 model locomotive was one of the steam locomotives provided by UNRRA (the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration) as an aid to help China’s rebuilding after World War II. These steam locomotives were the last that China imported from USA.

Transfer to train station for high speed train to Xian in the afternoon.

Meal: B

Morning excursion to the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum, one of the most important archaeological finds in the 20th century. Back to down town in the afternoon and transfer to hotel for a rest. At around 5pm, you will be met by the guide again and transfer to meet your guide for a shared food tour by tuktuk. Get whisked through Xian’s streets and alleys by tuktuk to eat the most authentic food where the locals eat. The tours visit the most traditional eats you’ll find in the hidden corners of the famous Muslim Quarter, plus a few more favorites as we explore the entire city center and cruise by the ancient city walls. Unlimited food and beer/drinks plus your local guide are all included. Get back to hotel on your own after the tour.

Meal: B, L

Visit the fortifications of Xi'an, also known as Xi'an City Wall after breakfast. It is was first built in the beginning of Ming Dynasty, and is now one of the oldest, largest and best preserved Chinese city walls. You can rent a bike to ride on the wall. And then, go to Big Wild Goose Pagoda, which was first built in Tang Dynasty for the storage of Buddhist scriptures taken from India by Monk Xuanzang, and now it is regarded as the city emblem. After lunch in local restaurant, visit Bell Tower at the city center. There are several large bronze-cast bells from the Tang Dynasty in the tower. Head to Grand Mosque to finish today’s visit. The Great Mosque is built in a Chinese architectural style and most of the grounds are taken up with gardens, except for some Arabic lettering and decorations, the mosque has neither domes nor traditional-style minarets. It's still an active place of worship and several prayer services are held each day.

Meal: B, L

Pick up at the hotel and transfer to rail station for high speed train to Chengdu. Upon arrival, you will be met and drive directly to Leshan (2hrs). Visit Leshan Giant Buddha park in the afternoon. Walk along the thrilling plank road around the Buddha to get close to the Buddha and take awesome photos. Overnight in Leshan.

Meal: B, D

Transfer to Jiayang National Mine Park at Jianwei by private car (1.5hrs) to experience the narrow-gauge railway riding specially designed for railway enthusiasts. Learn its history. Built in 1958, this rail is only 762mm wide, which is about half of the standard gauge at 1435mm. It is the only passenger train under normal operation. The whole journey is 19.8Km with 5 stations. You can get off en route for pictures. Visit a mine pit before taking the return train back.

rive to Chengdu in the afternoon and overnight.

Meal: B, L

Visit Giant Panda Breeding Research Base in the early morning when pandas are having breakfast and playing together. Afterwards, you will go to visit a local wet market, in which you can see how Chinese people purchase the cooking materials for their foods. You will have chance to learn spring rolls or wonton making in the market. After lunch, take a stroll in Kuanzhai Alley and visit Chengdu People's Park. In the park, you can Teahouse in the People's Park. Take a tea tasting in local teahouse like local people, and you can learn the most popular Mahjong game in the park.

Meal: B, L

Pick up at the hotel, your guide and driver will escort you to the airport for your flight back home or to another destination. Your 15 days China tour for train lovers ends. 

Meal: B