Classic China Train Tour from Hong Kong

Welcome to Hong Kong, a highly prosperous free port and an international metropolis. Your wonderful China 10-day tour will start here. 

Today, our guide will hold your name sign and wait for you at the airport at a conspicuous place, and then you will be transferred to your hotel. On the way to the hotel, the guide will tell you some interesting stories and useful travel information about Hong Kong. If you have any questions, you are free to ask your guide. Then you will check in and have a good rest. 

As a highly prosperous free port and international metropolis, Hong Kong is the world's third-largest financial center, important international financial, trade, and shipping center, as well as international science and technology innovation center. New York, London, and Hong Kong are called "Nylonkong". And Hong Kong is also one of the most competitive cities, enjoying a high reputation in the world.

Free time suggestion: In the evening, you can go to Temple Street. It is a distinctive street in Hong Kong and also the most famous night market in Hong Kong. Temple Street is known as the shopper’s paradise, with various kinds of delicious food, such as Wonton Noodles and Egg Puffs. Wonton Noodles are made of wontons, noodles, and boiled soup. Wontons have a smooth and elastic taste, leaving people with endless aftertastes. The noodles are more elastic and chewier. Hong Kong Egg Puffs can be selected as the most popular snack in Hong Kong. Once you smell it, you will love it. It smells slightly milky and eggy and tastes super good. You will find many stores selling Egg Puffs in Hong Kong.

This morning, after having breakfast, we will first go to visit Wong Tai Sin Temple. The Wong Tai Sin Temple, built in 1945, covering an area of 18,000 square meters, is one of the most famous temples in Hong Kong, and it enjoys a great reputation both locally and overseas. Visitors are all free to go to the temple, and people feel free to donate to the temple. Besides, there is free incense in the temple, and each person can get nine incense sticks. According to legend, Wong Tai Sin was known for practicing medicine to help the world. Local people believed that he is "responsive to every request", therefore numerous people come here to pray.

After visiting the Temple, we will go to Victoria Peak, which is a premier tourist attraction in Hong Kong. It is a must-visit destination for sightseeing, entertainment, and shopping in Hong Kong, attracting millions of visitors both at home and abroad. The scenery of Victoria Peak has been printed in millions of postcards. Upon arrival at the peak by the Peak Tram, you will enter the Peak Tower, where you can enjoy an invincible view full of fascinating city scenery in the most advantageous geographical position in Hong Kong-the Sky Terrace. Besides, Peak Tower is also a shopping center where you can choose kinds of souvenirs. If you are a history lover, don’t miss the photo exhibition in Peak Tower. It will tell you more about the development of Hong Kong.

This afternoon, we will first take you to Repulse Bay, located to the south of Victoria Peak on Hong Kong Island. Beside the mountain and the sea, the bay is in the shape of a crescent, known as the "No. 1 Bay in Hong Kong", and it is also reputed as the "Hawaii of the East". The place is open all day all year round without charge. The most suitable season for visiting is from June to August. I am sure you will enjoy the fine beach and cozy sea breeze here. In addition, there are lots of restaurants and supermarkets around the beach. The restaurants facing the sea are good places to enjoy the sun sinking in the west and the sound of the waves beating the shore.

Then we will go to the Stanley Market. Located at the southern tip of Hong Kong Island, Stanley Market is well known overseas and popular with tourists. It is a place permeated with a leisurely seaside style. Strolling through it, you can enjoy the pleasure of bargain with petty dealers and choose your favorite special goods. It will make you appreciate the charm of Stanley Market. After visiting the Market, the first day’s trip will come to an end, and we will take you back to the hotel to have a good rest.

Victoria Peak

Repulse Bay

This morning after having breakfast, we will drive to Lantau Island. Lantau Island is the largest island in Hong Kong, China, with an area of 141.6 square kilometers, equal to two Hong Kong islands. The main peak of Lantau Island is 935 meters above sea level, which is the second-highest peak in Hong Kong.

You will take the Ngong Ping Cable Car up to the mountain. The 5.7-kilometer-long cableway connects Tung Chung Town Centre and Ngong Ping on Lantau Island. During the 25-minute pleasant Ngong Ping Cable Car ride, you will enjoy a panoramic view of the South China Sea and the verdant North Lantau Country Park, enjoying the bustling downtown blocks and also indulging in the quiet and harmonious natural landscape. 

Getting off the cable car, you will visit Ngong Ping Village. Covering an area of 1.5 hectares, it is a famous sightseeing spot on Lantau Island. All the buildings here are in a local architectural style which is very distinctive. There are many shops in the village where you can buy all kinds of souvenirs. If you are lucky, you may encounter the street performances, such as kung fu shows and acrobatics.

Next, we will go to take a look at the Big Buddha, which is the largest outdoor bronze seated bronze Buddha in the world. Built in 1993, it has attracted many visitors from Hong Kong and abroad ever since. The Big Buddha is majestic and solemn but its kind face and smile make people feel friendly. There are many round bumps on the head of the Buddha. From a distance, it looks like the hair of the Big Buddha, but it also acts as a lightning rod. The Buddha itself is 26 meters high and sits on a mountain at an altitude of 482 meters. This makes it likely to be attacked by thunderstorms. To prevent thunderstorms from damaging the Buddha, the researchers put the lightning protection device on the head of the Buddha. This is both beautiful and practical.

After visiting the Big Buddha, we will go to the Polin Monastery. It is located in the western part of Lantau Island, at an altitude of 460 meters above sea level. Built in 1906, at the beginning it was a place for monks devoting themselves to the study of Buddhism. Over a hundred years, it has become the most famous monastery as well as a popular attraction in Hong Kong. After visiting these attractions, we will take the cable car down the hill, and take you back to the hotel to have a rest. 

Lantau Island

Polin Monastery

This morning will be free for you. And after lunch, you will go to Chongqing. You will take the estimated train: G320 14:49／22:20

Still, our guide will hold your name sign and wait for you at a conspicuous place in the train station, and then you will be transferred to your hotel. Our guide will tell you some interesting stories and useful travel information about Chongqing on the way to the hotel. Then you will check in and have a good rest. 

After having breakfast and checking out from your hotel in the morning, you will visit Ciqikou Ancient Town, located at the bank of Jialing River, Shapingba District, Chongqing, which is a famous Chinese historical and cultural town. Built in the Song Dynasty (960AD-1279AD), covering an area of 1.5 square kilometers, it has a unique landform of "one river, two streams, three mountains, and four streets". There are many snacks and souvenir shops in Ciqikou Ancient Town. If you are a foodie, do not miss the Hot and Sour Rice Noodles which are very delicious and very popular among the locals. Fried Dough Twist is another local delicacy that is very crispy. You can choose sweet flavor and salty flavor.  

Then we will go to visit Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum (closed each Monday). It was established in 1951, covering an area of 30,000 square meters. There are more than 100,000 cultural relics in the collection, including more than 100 pieces of Han Dynasty painted stones and bricks, more than 4,000 pieces of ceramics, and more than 5,000 pieces of famous paintings and calligraphy. Among them, you will see a Breastfeeding Pottery Figurine. It is from the Han Dynasty with a total height of 20 cm. The main body of the pottery figurine is the mother who is breastfeeding her baby. The mother has a headscarf wrapped around her head, and she is wearing loose clothes, with a very kind expression on her face. 

After lunch, you will visit the Yangtze River Cableway. It has a total length of 1166 meters, a running speed of 6 meters per second, and a one-way running time of 4 minutes and 30 seconds. The glass window area of the cabin is 19.2 square meters. You can enjoy the spectacular view of the Yangtze River and the city view of Chongqing from the glass windows. 

After that, we will take you to Hongya Cave, it is a key landscape in Chongqing, with a construction area of 46,000 square meters. The main scenic spots are stilted buildings and antique commercial streets. Hongya Cave is composed of several floors. The first floor is mainly used to display the classic houses in Chongqing-style with grey bricks and stone tiles. There are many craft shops here. The food court is located on the 4th floor and the road is paved with bluestone slabs. Here gather all kinds of Chongqing cuisine. Exotic Street, located on the 9th-10th floors, has restaurants with international cuisines, and cafes with river views. It is close to the riverside, where you can enjoy food and watch the river view. 

Then you will go to Chengdu. You will take the estimated train: G8632 17:36/19:05

Our guide will wait for you at the train station at a conspicuous place, holding your name sign, and then take you to the hotel.

Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum

Ciqikou Ancient Town

This morning, after a buffet breakfast at the hotel, we will go to visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. With an area of about 247 acres, the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, as a world-renowned giant panda ex-situ conservation base, a public education base, a scientific research and breeding base as well as an educational tourism base, is noted worldwide for its protection and breeding of endangered giant pandas and red pandas. There are a lot of well-distributed buildings and areas for giant pandas, such as the delivery room, feeding area, hospital, and scientific research center among the mountain forests. There are two kinds of delivery rooms, including the Sun Delivery Room and the Moon Delivery Room. Both of them are places for baby pandas. And the pandas born in the day will be taken care of in the Sun Delivery Room while the pandas born at night are in the Moon Delivery Room. When you see the baby panda, you will be surprised to find that the baby panda is not black and white, but gray and white. As time goes by, the pandas grow up, and their gray hair will turn black. From the panda's chubby body, it can be found that they are sleeping lovers. So, if you see a panda playing in a tree or eating, you must take photos without hesitation. The panda's favorite food is bamboo. You will see pandas grabbing the bamboo with their front paws, peeling off the outer skin of the bamboo with their sharp teeth, and then enjoying a delicious bamboo meal. If you want to get some souvenirs here, you can buy the panda dolls from the gift center. 

After lunch, you will go to visit the Jinsha Site Museum (closed on each Monday) which covers an area of 300,000 square meters. Composed of a relic hall, exhibition hall, cultural relic protection center, and garden area, Jinsha Site Museum is aimed to show the Jinsha culture and ancient Shu Kingdom (221-263) culture. The discovery of the Jinsha Site has advanced the urban history of Chengdu to 3000 years ago, which is regarded as the beginning of the urban history of Chengdu. There are a total of 2,235 cultural relics in the museum of gold, bronze, jade, stone, lacquered wood, pottery, ivory, etc. Among them, the Golden Mask and the Sun Bird are the most eye-catching.

After that, we will take you to the next destination - Kuanzhai Alleys. It is composed of Kuan Alley, Zhai Alley, and Jing Alley. There are some buildings from the end of the Qing Dynasty in Kuan Alley, and this is also a good place to experience Chengdu Folk Life. The Zhai Alley is occupied by some exquisite bars and specialty restaurants. This is a gathering place for trendy young people. There is a background wall suitable for taking pictures in Jing Alley. If you like taking photos, don't miss it. After that, we will transfer you back to the hotel.  

Jinsha Site Museum

Kuanzhai Alleys

Today after having breakfast, you will go to Beijing from Chengdu. You will take the estimated train: G574 10:21/19:58.

According to your schedule, our guide will pick you up at the train station and then take you to the hotel.

After breakfast, we will go to visit Tian’anmen Square. Located in the heart of Beijing, Tian’anmen Square is the world's largest city center square, which is 880 meters long from north to south, 500 meters wide from east to west, with a total area of 440,000 square meters. Such a grand square can accommodate 1000,000 people for grand gatherings. Built in 1417, Tian’anmen Square used to be a royal square that common people cannot visit. And now it has become a public square and many important activities are held here. 

Then you will go to visit the Forbidden City (Closed on Mondays), also known as Palace Museum. It is the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in China, with a history of more than 600 years, located at the center of the central axis of Beijing. As one of the largest and best-preserved ancient wooden structures in the world, it was listed as a World Cultural Heritage in 1987. Covering an area of about 720,000 square meters, with more than 70 palaces and more than 9,000 houses, the Forbidden City in Beijing is centered on three main halls that are Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Central Harmony, and the Hall of Preserving Harmony. When you visit the Forbidden City, your guide will tell you many interesting stories that happened here.

After enjoying lunch, you will go see the Temple of Heaven, which is in the south of Beijing, covering an area of 2.73 million square meters. The Temple of Heaven was first built in 1420 of the Ming Dynasty, with a history of more than 600 years. It was the place in which the emperors offered sacrifices to heaven and prayed for good harvest and prosperity. In ancient China, emperors were regarded as the sons of heaven. Therefore, they were endowed with the right to talk to the god of heaven. The Temple of Heaven complex is representative of Chinese ritual architecture. Its main buildings include the Hall of Prayer of Good Harvests, the Circular Mound Altar, and the Imperial Vault of Heaven. Your guide will introduce the function of each building and you will know more about the Chinese ritual activity. 

Then you will reach the Summer Palace. Located in the western suburbs of Beijing, the Summer Palace is 15 kilometers away from the city center. It covers an area of 3.009 square kilometers, about three-quarters of which is the lake. The two major sightseeing points here are Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill. Besides, you will also see the Long Corridor, Seventeen-Arch Bridge, Bronze Ox, and some other small attractions. Enjoying the beauty of ancient Chinese architecture while appreciating the natural scenery, it will give you a nice afternoon. 

Then we will take you back to the hotel and have a good rest.

Forbidden City

Temple of Heaven

This morning, after enjoying breakfast, you will visit Mutianyu Great Wall. The Mutianyu Great Wall is located in the northern Beijing, Huairou District, 73 kilometers away from the city center. It will take about 1.5 hours to get there. The Mutianyu Great Wall boasts a total length of 5400 meters; it is the longest Great Wall in China. Taking a cable car up to the Great Wall, you will see the Bacon Towers and crenels. As a military project in ancient China, the Mutianyu Great wall plays an important part in guarding Beijing. You will see that there are crenels on both sides of the Great Wall which means soldiers can fight on both sides. As for going down from the Great Wall, you can choose to take a cable car or the toboggan which is much more exciting. 

Lunch will be served near Mutianyu. After lunch, we will visit the 798 Art Zone. The 798 Art District was originally the location of some old factories. Later, some artists and art institutions settled here. Some old factories have also been transformed into various galleries, art studios, design companies, characteristic restaurants, and bars, etc. Art exhibitions will be held here from time to time. Walls of graffiti and industrial-style buildings make this a must-see for many travel enthusiasts.

Then today’s journey will be an end; we will take you back to the hotel and you can have a good rest. 

Mutianyu Great Wall

798 Art Zone

Today is the last day of your wonderful China tour. Our guide and driver will pick you up at the hotel and transfer you to the airport according to your flight schedule. Thank you for choosing and believing us. We sincerely hope you have harvested happiness on this trip and wish you a pleasant homebound journey. We are looking forward to meeting you again

Editor: Jiao Chen

Proofreader: Betsy He