Discover China by Rail

22 Days | Group Tour | Classic Tour | From £5,090 per person

Explore China’s iconic sights and hidden gems on this fully inclusive rail adventure with Wendy Wu Tours. Travel between destinations aboard China’s impressive high-speed trains, discovering everything from Shanghai’s dazzling skyline and Beijing’s imperial treasures to the Terracotta Army and the dramatic landscapes of Zhangjiajie.

Beyond the famous landmarks, experience sunrise above the clouds on Yellow Mountain and discover the traditions of Zhaoxing, one of China’s most beautiful Dong minority villages.

Tour Highlights

• Explore Shanghai’s historic streets, gardens and waterfront.
• Travel on China’s high-speed bullet trains and Shanghai’s Maglev.
• Stay overnight on Yellow Mountain and experience its spectacular sunrise.
• Discover the ancient architecture of UNESCO-listed Hongcun.
• Ride the Bailong Elevator among Zhangjiajie’s towering sandstone pillars.
• Cruise the picturesque Li River to Yangshuo.
• Explore Zhaoxing’s traditional Dong village and nearby rice terraces.
• See giant pandas at Chengdu’s Panda Conservation Base.
• Marvel at Xian’s remarkable Terracotta Army.
• Visit Beijing’s Forbidden City, Summer Palace and the Great Wall.

What’s Included

• International flights and current taxes.
• 20 nights in four-star accommodation.
• Domestic transportation, including rail journeys.
• Guided touring and entrance fees.
• 20 breakfasts, 19 lunches and 20 dinners.
• Li River and Huangpu River cruises.
• Cultural experiences and activities detailed in the itinerary.

Maximum group size: 28 travellers
Physical rating: 2 — walking, some steps and extended periods on your feet.

Special Experiences

Traditional Batik Workshop
Discover the ancient art of batik, a living tradition in Guizhou’s mountain villages. Learn how to wax, dye and finish your fabric, creating a personal souvenir to take home.

Chinese Reflexology
Enjoy a traditional foot reflexology session in Yangshuo, with pressure and massage applied across the soles, arches and heels.

Bailong Elevator
Ride the world’s tallest outdoor lift up Zhangjiajie’s dramatic cliff face, emerging above the treetops to panoramic views of its extraordinary sandstone pillars.

Your Itinerary

Days 1–2: Fly to Shanghai
Fly overnight to Shanghai, often known as the “Paris of the East”. Depending on your arrival time, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to begin exploring the city.

Meals included: Dinner.

Day 3: Explore Shanghai
Discover Shanghai’s blend of traditional culture and modern architecture. Visit Yu Garden, a silk mill and the old town before admiring the colonial buildings along the Bund. Experience the high-speed Maglev train, then enjoy an evening cruise along the Huangpu River.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 4: Yellow Mountain
Take the bullet train to Huangshan City before ascending Mount Huang by cable car. Spend the afternoon exploring this UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its granite peaks, ancient pine trees and swirling mist. Stay overnight on the mountain.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 5: Mount Huang Sunrise
Rise before dawn to witness sunrise over Yellow Mountain’s spectacular landscapes. Later, descend by cable car and visit Tunxi, where cobbled streets are lined with traditional shops selling local snacks, tea, crafts and wood carvings.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 6: Hongcun Village & Dumpling Making
Visit Hongcun, a 900-year-old UNESCO-listed village celebrated for its well-preserved Hui-style architecture. Learn about its distinctive layout and water systems before joining a cooking class to make local pouch dumplings.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 7: Bullet Train to Changsha
Travel by bullet train to Changsha, a lively city with a history stretching back three millennia. This evening, stroll through its bustling night markets.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 8: Changsha & Zhangjiajie
Visit Yuelu Academy, a historic centre of learning at the foot of Mount Yuelu. Continue by road to Zhangjiajie, ready to discover its extraordinary mountain scenery.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 9: Discover Zhangjiajie
Explore Yuanjiajie’s towering sandstone pillars and misty valleys. Ride the Bailong glass elevator up the cliff face and admire views of the First Bridge under the Sun and Hallelujah Mountain. Continue to Emperor Mountain before descending by cable car.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 10: Tianmen Mountain
Ascend Tianmen Mountain by scenic cable car and admire Tianmen Cave, also known as “Heaven’s Door”, above its famous 999-step staircase. Those feeling adventurous can experience the glass skywalk known as the “Walk of Faith”.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 11: Bullet Train to Guilin
Board a bullet train to Guilin, travelling from Zhangjiajie’s dramatic mountain scenery to another of China’s most beautiful regions.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 12: Li River Cruise
Cruise along the Li River to Yangshuo, passing limestone peaks, lush countryside and traditional rural scenes. Explore Yangshuo’s cobbled streets and lively markets before relaxing with a Chinese reflexology massage.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 13: Yangshuo Countryside
Explore the countryside surrounding Yangshuo, where limestone cliffs rise above a patchwork of paddy fields. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 14: Zhaoxing Village
Return to Guilin by road and take a bullet train to Zhaoxing. Receive a traditional welcome ceremony in this beautifully preserved Dong village, then spend the afternoon exploring at your own pace. See the village illuminated after dark.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 15: Rice Terraces & Batik Making
Visit the stepped rice terraces near Zhaoxing and walk between scenic viewpoints. Depending on the season, admire their vibrant colours or reflections of the sky. In the afternoon, take part in a traditional batik workshop.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 16: Train to Chengdu
Travel by bullet train to Chengdu, a city known for its teahouses, spicy cuisine and relaxed atmosphere.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 17: Giant Pandas & Xian
Visit Chengdu’s Panda Conservation Base to see giant pandas and learn about their care and conservation. Afterwards, take the bullet train to Xian, the historic starting point of the Silk Road.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 18: Terracotta Army
Discover the extraordinary Terracotta Warriors, created to guard the tomb of China’s first emperor. Visit a workshop to see how replica warriors are made, then stroll along Xian’s ancient city walls. Enjoy a beer tasting at a local brewery, followed by a dumpling dinner and Tang Dynasty dancing show.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 19: Train to Beijing
Board the train to Beijing, China’s historic capital.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 20: Imperial Beijing
Visit Tiananmen Square and explore the Forbidden City’s impressive halls, palaces and gardens. Wander through Beijing’s traditional hutong neighbourhoods before enjoying a dinner featuring Peking duck.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 21: The Great Wall
Walk along the Great Wall of China, with the opportunity to climb to a watchtower if you wish. Visit a jade factory before exploring the gardens of the Summer Palace.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 22: Depart Beijing
Transfer to the airport for your flight to the UK, arriving the same or following day.

Meals included: Breakfast.