shanghai train trip

Shanghai Railway Station

South railway station, hongqiao railway station, west railway station, east railway station.

• Ticket Offices
• Shanghai Travel Guide
• High Speed Trains
• A Beginner's Guide
• Train Ticket Types
• International Tickets
• How to Buy Tickets
• How to Take Trains
• Railway Map
• Beijing - Shanghai
• Beijing - Xi'an
• Hong Kong - Guangzhou
• Hong Kong - Shenzhen
• Shanghai - Hangzhou
• Shanghai - Suzhou
• Shanghai - Xi'an
• Guangzhou - Shenzhen

Shanghai Trains

Shanghai is the gathering point of many major high speed rail lines; therefore it has convenient train services for tourists to many destinations throughout China, including trains to/from Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Suzhou, Chengdu, Xi'an, Guilin, Huangshan,  and Shenzhen. They are operated at four main railway stations: Shanghai Railway Station, South Railway Station, West Railway Station and Hongqiao Railway Station.  

Shanghai Train Schedule

How to buy shanghai train tickets.

1. From TravelChinaGuide by clicking the arrival destinations in the table above or using the search box on this page top. This is the most convenient way. 

4. From the 12306.cn. This is the official website of China Railway Corporation, but it is in Chinese only. Tip: It is better to book the tickets in advance, especially during the peak travel time, such as   National Day  and  Chinese New Year . Because there is a great possibility that they will be sold out in minutes once available.

Located at 303 of Moling Road in Zhabei District, Shanghai Train Station is an integrated station which provides all kinds of scheduled trains to large numbers of cities inland,  such as Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Harbin.   It also serves the  through trains to Hong Kong ,  overnight sleeper trains to Beijing  and  overnight sleepers to Xi'an .  

How to Get from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station to People’s Square & Nanjing Road

How to Get from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station to Pudong Airport    

Major Rail Lines from Shanghai to:

• Zhangjiajie
• Zhenjiang  

Why not take a flight?

• Shanghai Flights
• Shanghai-Beijing Train vs. Flight
• Hong Kong - Shanghai Train vs. Flight

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• Travel & Sightseeing

[How To]: Buy Train Tickets in Shanghai

China has one of the world's greatest rail networks. The days of the green and yellow sleeper trains and five-day journeys across the country are long gone, with the high-speed rail network now connecting almost every corner of the country . The trip to Suzhou has been cut to less than 30 minutes, and the trip to Hangzhou, which takes three hours to drive, is just 45 minutes on the bullet train. There's no stopping China's infrastructure expansion, and there shouldn't be: the country is newly accessible and convenient in a way it's never been before. But how to get into the network? There are two parallel worlds at the moment, unfortunately. If you hold a Chinese ID card, a shen fen zheng , it's almost laughably easy. Go to 12306.cn or use the 高铁管家 app, buy a ticket, show up at the station and swipe your ID card to get on the train. Failing that, use the self-service e-terminals at the station. That's not on the table for those of us without Chinese ID cards. Here's the best we have.

1 Go Online

Though not the only option, Ctrip, er, Trip.com as it's now known, is probably the easiest. The English site makes sense, it's easy to search destinations and times and see how long trains will take, and payment can be done with international cards, as well as local cards, Alipay and WeChat. Tickets can also be booked through your WeChat wallet itself. Head to WeChat pay, then scroll down until you see the "Rail & Flights" option. Press this and it will link you to a website called LY.com that can be used in English and Chinese, and is basically the same process as Trip.com.

You can get your tickets delivered to wherever you want or pick them up from the ticket office at the train station using the ticket confirmation provided, but don’t leave it until the last minute. It's always best to assume there WILL be queue and you don't want to be that guy growing increasingly frantic as he inches up the line towards the counter, wondering what the hell is taking everyone else so long. One mark against Trip.com: at the time of writing, deliveries are 40rmb  per ticket  if you buy from the English website, ie., 80rmb for two tickets, but only 40rmb  per delivery  if you buy from the Chinese site. Go figure. A couple more websites that offer the same service but only in Chinese are Qunar.com and the official Chinese national railway website . Prices are the same on each platform.

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2 Pickup at Station Ticket Office

If you don’t trust the web, you can head directly to the ticket office at the station and buy one there. Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station near the end of Metro Lines 2 and 10 is where many of the high-speed trains depart. It has a big ticket office in the center of the second floor, then another smaller one in the basement near the metro ticket office. Make sure you’ve got your passport, a payment method, and bring your temporary residence permit too just in case (though you're unlikely to need it). The people at the ticket office will have varying levels of English, so, if you can, have someone write down your destination and the time you want to leave, in Chinese, to avoid ending up in Wuhu, Anhui at 1am after a 2-day slow train.

3 The Satellite Ticket Offices

The third option is to visit a local ticket kiosk in the city and get your tickets here. This will require the same process as the station ticket office but will almost definitely be more convenient — these offices are everywhere in downtown, once you know to look for them. English here will be limited again, so take measures to ensure you are going to the right place at the right time. The best way to find one is to use Google or Baidu Maps and search for this: 火车票代售处. We did that already and found a couple convenient ones: this one on Wulumuqi Bei Lu (near Mercado 505 ); 873 Zhaojiabang Lu ; 12 Dongping Lu (near the old Sasha's ); this one on Changde Lu in Jing’an; this one on Fuzhou Lu ; and 23 Zhonghua Lu in Huangpu. Click here to see our full list.

4 Where To Go?

Now that you've got that skill under your belt, where to go? Set off for the Ninghai station and go hike the vast trails of China's first national hiking route , go into the clouds in Sanqingshan or do an ancient trail outside Shaoxing . Scoot over to Suzhou to see the gardens and then stop on Jiayufang street for some amazing noodles . Head to Wuyuan in Jiangxi and see Ed and co. at Wuyuan Skywells . Stop at the Huangshan City stop and go explore the small inns that are spreading across southern Anhui . Ski on the fake slopes of Zhejiang . Or take the bullet to Nanjing and wander a 4 BILLION rmb Buddhist palace complex .

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SmartShanghai.com is an independent media publication dedicated to honesty and editorial transparency. We are for Shanghai residents, written by a team of long-term, opinionated and knowledgeable writers and editors. We never give an opinion or recommendation that we wouldn’t also share with our own friends and family.

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Everything You Need to Know to Ride the World's Fastest Passenger Train

T here are high-speed trains and then there are high-speed maglev trains. While there are plenty of examples of the former (in the UK , in Spain , in France and even in Florida ), only one of the latter is in commercial operation today: The Shanghai Maglev Train (SMT), also known as the Shanghai Transrapid Maglev Train. This unique train runs between Shanghai Pudong International Airport and the Shanghai’s financial district every 15 minutes and is the fastest commercial train in the world .

How fast is the maglev train from Shanghai airport?

Shanghai maglev train map, is the shanghai maglev the fastest train in the world.

• How much is the maglev train in Shanghai?

Is the Shanghai Maglev Train profitable?

• Where else in the world can I ride a maglev train?
• what is a maglev train?

How do maglev trains work?

Are maglev trains safer, what is one disadvantage of maglev trains, how do maglev trains stop.

On its 18-mile route between Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) and the city’s financial district, the Shanghai Maglev Train reaches a top speed of 267.8 mph and makes the trip in just eight minutes.

The Shanghai Maglev Train only runs one non-stop route: Between the Shanghai Pudong International Airport and the Longyang Road Station in the financial district of Shanghai.

Yes, the Shanghai Transrapid Maglev Train is the fastest commercial train in the world and holds the Guinness World Record for being the “fastest maglev train in regular public service”. That said, is not the fastest maglev train in the world. That title goes to the SCMAGLEV of the Central Japan Railway Company which runs at a top speed of 374.68 mph. The SCMAGLEV train is not a commercial passenger train, it is at the testing stage.

How much is the Maglev train in Shanghai?

A one-way, standard-class ticket to ride the Shanghai Transrapid Maglev Train costs $7 (50 Chinese Yuan); a round-trip, standard-class ticket costs $11.20 (80 Chinese Yuan).

A one-way, first-class ticket costs $14 (100 Chinese Yuan); a round-trip, first-class ticket costs $22.40 (160 Chinese Yuan). (First-class ticket on the Shanghai Transrapid Maglev Train are known as “VIP tickets”.)

Tickets are sold in vending machines both at the airport and at the Longyang Road Station.

Photo: Markus Mainka /Shutterstock

According to an article published in The Guardian in May 2018, Shanghai’s maglev train loses between 600 and 700 million Chinese Yuan per year, i.e. between 84 and 98 million US dollars per year.

Where in the world can I ride a maglev train?

There are maglev trains in only three countries around the world:

• China: The Shanghai Maglev Train, the Changsha Maglev, and the Line S1 of the Beijing subway system.
• Japan: The Linimo line that runs for 5.6 miles in the city of Toyota in the Aichi Prefecture.
• South Korea: The Korean Rotem Maglev that runs in the city of Taejeŏn, and the Inch’ŏn Airport Maglev that runs from Inch’ŏn International Airport to the Yongyu station, a distance of 3.8 miles.

Shanghai’s maglev is the only operational commercial high-speed maglev train in the world at time of writing. The other maglev trains noted above are low or medium-speed maglev trains.

What is a maglev train?

A maglev train is one that uses magnetic levitation technology. Instead of running along rails like regular trains, maglev trains levitate above a special-built guideway thanks to magnets.

There are two types of maglev trains: Those who use Electromagnetic Suspension (EMS) and those who use Electrodynamic Suspension (EDS). The maglev in Shanghai uses EMS while Japan’s SCMAGLEV, still at the testing stage, uses EDS.

Maglev trains that use EMS levitate thanks to electromagnets of similar poles fitted under the train and on the bottom of the T-shape guideway the train travel along. The magnets repel each other, thus creating a gap between them and allowing the train to stay suspended.

Maglev trains that use EDS levitate within their U-shaped concrete guideway thanks to superconducting magnets fitted on the side of the trains and coils set up in the walls of the guideway. When the train runs at high speed, the coils react to the superconducting magnets and generate a magnetic force that allows for the train to levitate and remain at a stable height and distance from the guideway.

EMS and EDS trains are propelled forward using very similar technology: The guideway they are in are equipped with electromagnets powered with alternating current and set at regular intervals. The poles on these electromagnets are switched between north and south rapidly, and when they react to the poles of the magnets that are fitted the side of the train, it propels the train forward. The may difference is that Japan’s SCMAGLEV uses superconducting magnets, instead of regular electromagnets. Superconducting magnets create much stronger magnetic fields than regular electromagnets.

Maglev trains are considered safer from derailment than regular trains. The magnetic force that is generated keeps the train in place in the guideway at all times, even in tight corners.

Maglev trains are costly to build and requires specific infrastructures (the trains’ special guideways, tunnels, etc.) that also cost millions, if not billions, and that are not compatible with existing ones. Countries that have an existing, well-functioning and extensive railway network are unlikely to switch to maglev trains soon.

By reversing the way the electromagnets in the guideway and in the train are used to propel the vehicle, the train slows down and stop.

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China Train 12306

交通强国，铁路先行 A strong transportation country, with railways taking the lead

Shanghai Railway Station Guide

• Station name : Shanghai Railway Station (上海站)
• Location : Jing’an District of Shanghai
• Metro links : Line 1, 3 and 4

Railway & Stations in Shanghai

Introduction.

Shanghai Railway Station is one of the main railway hubs in Shanghai (others being Shanghai Hongqiao, Shanghai South, Shanghai West), China. It is located in the Jing’an District, north of the city center. It is connected to the Shanghai Metro system’s line 1, 3 and 4, as well as many bus lines and taxis. It serves trains to and from Beijing, Kunming, Nanjing, Hangzhou, and other destinations in China.

Train Schedule

How to get to shanghai railway station.

By metro : You can take Shanghai Metro Line 1, 3, or 4 to Shanghai Railway Station. The station has two exits: North Square and South Square. The North Square exit is closer to the long-distance bus station and the taxi stand. The South Square exit is closer to the railway ticket office and the subway entrance.

You can use the official Shanghai metro  http://service.shmetro.com/en/  to plan your route.

By bus : There are many bus lines that stop at Shanghai Railway Station. Some of the bus lines that serve the station are: 13, 41, 64, 78, 104, 106, 109, 113, 117, 140, 301, 302, 308, 310, 315, 328, 329, 573, 741, 744, 817, 823, 837, 845, 927, 929, 941, 942, and 962.

By taxi : You can also take a taxi to or from Shanghai Railway Station. However, taxis are not allowed to stop directly in front of the station. You have to go to the underground taxi stop, which is located on the west side of the North Square.

Shanghai Station vs Shanghai Hongqiao vs Shanghai South

Transfer between shanghai station & hongqiao station.

Shanghai Station is located in Jing’an District, while Shanghai Hongqiao is in Minhang District, with a distance of about 20 km. The most convenient way to travel between these two stations is by taking the subway, which typically takes around 30-40 minutes.

Additionally, there are four high-speed trains running between the two stations every day, and the travel time for these trains is approximately 25 minutes.

Shanghai Railway Station – Pudong Airport

• By metro : You can take Shanghai Metro Line 4 from Shanghai Railway Station to Century Avenue Station, then transfer to Line 2 and get off at Pudong Airport Station. The whole journey takes about 80 minutes and costs 7 yuan.
• By metro + maglev : If you want to save time, you can take Shanghai Metro Line 4 from Shanghai Railway Station to Century Avenue Station, then transfer to Line 2 and get off at Longyang Road Station. From there, you can take the maglev train to Pudong Airport. The maglev train is the fastest way to travel between the city and the airport, reaching speeds of up to 430 km/h. The whole journey takes about 40 minutes, but the maglev ticket costs 50 yuan.
• By airport bus line 4 : You can also take the airport bus line 4 from Shanghai Railway Station to Pudong Airport. The bus stop is located on the west side of the North Square. The bus runs from 5:00 am to 9:30 pm, and the fare is 22 yuan. The bus stops at several places along the way, such as Hongkou Football Stadium, Wujiaochang, and Huaxia Road. The whole journey takes about 90 minutes.

Shanghai Railway Station – Hongqiao Airport

Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport is another airport in Shanghai, serving mostly domestic flights. It is located about 21 km west of Shanghai Railway Station. The easiest way to get there from the station is by metro. You can take Shanghai Metro Line 1 from Shanghai Railway Station to People’s Square Station, then transfer to Line 2 and get off at Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2 Station. The whole journey takes about 46 minutes and costs 5 yuan.

Shanghai Railway Station – Disney Land

Shanghai Disneyland is a theme park located in the Pudong New Area, about 38 km southeast of Shanghai Railway Station. You can take Shanghai Metro Line 1 from Shanghai Railway Station to Xujiahui Station, then transfer to Line 11 and get off at Disneyland Station. The whole journey takes about 70 minutes and costs 6 yuan. Alternatively, you can take a taxi or a shuttle bus from the station to Disneyland. The taxi fare is about 120 yuan, and the shuttle bus fare is 30 yuan.

Trusted Online Ticket Agents:

Option 1:   China Highlights is a reliable online agency  for China train ticketing. They get positive reviews on TripAdvisor & Trustpilot. Sharon and her team help you buy tickets & plan rail routes even deliver tickets to your hotels with a service fee.

Option 2: Trip.com   is an internatioal brand owned by Ctrip Group, China's largest online travel booking platform. Trip.com offers booking service for flight, train, hotel, activities, etc

Expats Holidays is a top proficient travel agency in China which caters not only to the expats living in China, but also for the people coming from other countries to China for leisure or business travel.

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The 7 best weekend trips with bullet trains from shanghai

High-speed rail (HSR), or bullet trains, are quite convenient for travelling destinations close to Shanghai. Have you ever heard of the destinations that Expats Holidays listed below for weekend trips with bullet trains?

Wuxi, also called the “Taihu Pearl,” is a city famous for its culture and its more than 3000 years old history. At Shantouyu, praised as “the best place to view Taihu Lake”, the great Lingshan Buddha is majestic, the air is filled with incense and the sense of Zen at Wuxi’s Nianhua Bay is strong. There are interesting and appealing antiquities with a long history contained in the Donglin Academy. Jiangnan’s famous Jichang, Li, and Mei Gardens display the exquisite garden appearance of Wuxi. Wuxi has had an abundance of quality products since ancient times and is China’s famous “land of rice and fish.” The Taihu Sanbai (“three whites”) whitefish, whitebait, and white prawn are all great delicacies of the area.

Getting There: 30 minutes by bullet train from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station.

Surround by its city wall, this modern metropolis served as the capital city of many dynasties throughout China’s existence. Home to several temples, the Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall and the former Presidential Palace, this is a city full of history. Head to Purple Mountain where you can find the tomb of the first Ming Emperor and Sun Yat-Sen’s Mausoleum. It is also the home of the porcelain tower, which is a modern style replicate from the original built in the 15th century, just like the intersection of old and new in Nanjing.

Getting There: One hour by bullet train from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station.

Once a prosperous port city, now a modern city which combined various Chinese and Western architectural styles. The town of the Jiang clan is not only famous as the hometown of Chiang Kai-shek, but also is surrounded by a beautiful natural landscape. It is located in the vicinity of Huadou Mountain’s many waterfalls and close to the beautiful Tingxia Lake. Stroll along the old Ningbo Bund and enjoy a local beer or delicacy. You can either visit the Chenghuang Temple snack market for Ningbo dumplings and cuisine, or you can go to Baisha Market or Baisha Wharf to have a taste of local seafood at the open-air stalls. Getting There: Two hours by bullet train from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station.

Hefei offers all kinds of places to meet the varying needs and desires of travelers. The waterside cloisters and balconied pavilions combined create the variegated style of Xiaoyaojin Park. The dignified hall of Black Faced Judge Bao is said to be just like a “green shell on a silver plate”. Leave the city for the ancient town of Sanhe, with its characteristic Hui-style architecture, and the two outlying forest preserves of Zipeng Mountain and Dashu Mountain. Meandering waters around Mt. Hui paint an idyllic picture of the natural landscape intertwined with a sense of culture. Getting There: Two hours by bullet train from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station.

Historically, it was known as one of the Nine Huaxia States. It is the famous hometown of emperors and the site of many ancient battlefields. Because this place has such large quantity of cultural heritage items, famous historical sites and ruins and a profound historical heritage, it is also called “Oriental Athens”. Western and Eastern Han Culture is represented by the Han Terracotta Warriors, the Han Tombs and the Han Dynasty Stone Carvings, which are particularly eye-catching. Yunlong Mountain and Quanshan National Forest Park are scenic areas combining the fierceness of northern China with the elegant beauty of southern China. Getting There: Two hours by bullet train from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station.

Wuyi Mountain

Wuyi in Zhejiang province is not only famous for its lotus seeds. Home to China’s largest reserves of fluorite, it is known for its rich mineral resources, beautiful mountainous scenery and hot springs. Popular attractions include Yanfu Temple, Mount Niutou, Qingshui Bay Hot Springs Resort, the ancient village of Yuyuan and the Dahongyan Rock. Getting There: Two and a half hours by bullet train from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station.

Yangzhou has always been a gathering place of culture and a scenic, flourishing city with many famous historical sites, ruins, and elegant gardens. The scenery of Shouxi Lake is beautiful and perfect for a peaceful day. There are countless beautiful natural landscapes like the He Garden with its reputation as the “City Mountain Forest”, as well as the Geyuan Garden known as the year-round rock garden and the remains of the residences of the emperors Sui Yang Di, Kangxi, and Qianlong. Getting There: Three hours by bullet train from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station.

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Day Trips From Shanghai

The Best Day Trips to Take From Shanghai, China

While Shanghai offers a lot in the way of a big city, it lacks the depth of cultural and historical sights that cities like Beijing and Xi'an offer. But that can work in your favor as you can combine a trip to Shanghai with one or more day trips outside the city and take advantage of the interesting places nearby.

Visit Suzhou's Ancient Gardens

Artie Photography (Artie Ng)/Getty Images

Suzhou is famous for many things: silk production, legendary temples, and its well-preserved traditional gardens . No fewer than nine of them are on the UNESCO World Heritage Site List. It's certainly worth an overnight stay in Suzhou to tick more than one of the city's renowned gardens off your list.

Suzhou also sits just about two hours outside Shanghai and is easily accessed by train but you can even hire a taxi from Shanghai to get you there. Traffic between Shanghai and Suzhou can be very congested so be sure to allow plenty of time. 

Enjoy Hangzhou's West Lake

Chinese people believe that Hangzhou is one of their most lovely cities and it's easy to understand why. Visited by Marco Polo in 1290, the Italian traveler marveled at Hangzhou's beauty. At the center of this historic town that once served as the capital of the Song dynasty is the West Lake or Xi Hu . Relatively untouched by modern (read: ugly) architecture, the whole of the lake offers views on the wooded hills around the city, pagodas, and temples.

Two hours by train from Shanghai, you can make a day-trip of it; but, it's better to make it an overnight or weekend trip so you can take it slow and see some of the surrounding attractions.

Take in a Yangtze River Water Town

Picture narrow canals, round bridges, little river boats, green willow fronds hanging leisurely down from the riverside swaying softly in the breeze. This image can be re-created in nearly every "water town" near Shanghai. Each has a claim to fame of its own but any of them make an interesting diversion from the big-city feel of Shanghai.

Water towns dot the countryside between Shanghai and Suzhou. Most take about an hour by car (book a taxi or organize a car through your hotel) from Shanghai although expect delays during peak traffic times. The best time to go is in the morning or very late afternoon. Most tour groups arrive in the early afternoon after spending the morning in Suzhou.

Relax at the Sheshan Sculpture Park

Take in modern art at the Sheshan Sculpture Park just 45 minutes outside Shanghai. Sheshan is a recreation area with golf courses and a "mountain" ( shan in Mandarin means mountain) with a church at the top. Opened in the last few years around a man-made lake, the Sculpture Park is a large area where it's very enjoyable to spend an outdoor day. Full of large-scale sculpture, walk around the park and enjoy lunch at a café there or better yet, take a picnic. Kids will enjoy the large section devoted to them including a giant jumping structure and water feature. In the summer, join the droves of Shanghai families escaping the city for the weekend at the Sheshan Le Meridien.

Discover Yixing and the Art of Clay Teapots

Yixing is a little cluster of villages about a two-hour drive outside Shanghai. Getting there can be difficult so it's best to organize a car for the day. It's not beautiful or idyllic, but if you're interested in tea , then this is THE place to buy a teapot. Famous all over China, these little clay-colored teapots are remarkably artistic and many are still fired in the traditional "dragon" kilns that dot the hills. These teapots make wonderful souvenirs, and although you can buy them anywhere tea is sold in China, it's fun to make the pilgrimage to where they are originally made.

Kunshan Faimont at Yangcheng Lake

Just outside Shanghai a little over an hour is the town of Kunshan. It is here that the Yangcheng Lake is home to locally famous hairy crabs. The grounds of the hotel have not only an extensive park, playground and swimming pool, but also a large organic garden where you can pick vegetables and extensive biking paths to get some exercise. It makes for a very nice overnight family retreat.

The Bamboo Forests of Moganshan

If it's outdoors you're after, Moganshan is a good alternative. Just over an hour with the high-speed train to Deqin station, Moganshan has a wealth of great hikes for all ages and levels. The mountain itself is not high, but the area is lush with bamboo forests and clear streams.

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• Top 12 Day Trips From...

The 17 Best Day Trips From Shanghai

On the central coast of China , sprawling Shanghai is the country’s biggest city and is teeming with things to do, ancient sites to see and restaurants to try. But if the bustle gets overwhelming, escape the intensity and head outside the city limits on one of these day trips.

Shanghai : a crossroads of east and west, the intersection of old and new China. It’s a destination exciting enough to keep you occupied for weeks, but it’s worth saving a day or two for quieter towns, fresh air and deeper cultural exploration. Luckily, travelling from Shanghai is simple, with four major railway stations and a highly developed intercity bus system. With many day-trip destinations within hours of the city, you can experience another side of China all in one day.

1. Hangzhou

Natural Feature

Natural Feature, Historical Landmark

“Above there is heaven; below there are Suzhou and Hangzhou,” so the famous Chinese saying goes. Like Hangzhou, Suzhou is famous for silk but it’s the canals that set it apart. The old town, built around a series of canals, earned the city its nickname, the “Venice of the East”, and taking to the water is a great way to see it. Spend a few hours walking along the canals and across the traditional bridges that connect their banks, then head to Suzhou’s other iconic attraction: the traditional Chinese gardens. You could spend days exploring them all but good starters are The Humble Administrator’s Garden and The Garden of the Master of the Nets. Top the visit off on Tiger Hill with cultural relics and views over the city. Getting There : 23 minutes by high-speed rail from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station, or let a local expert be your guide when you book a private day tour.

Historical Landmark, Natural Feature

Still ringed by its city wall, this modern metropolis served as the capital city of many dynasties throughout China’s existence. Home to several notable temples, the Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall and the former Presidential Palace, this is a city of history. Head to Purple Mountain where you’ll find the tomb of the first Ming Emperor and Sun Yat-Sen’s Mausoleum. Once home to a porcelain tower built in the 15th century, today a modern style replica stands in its place symbolising the intersection of old and new in Nanjing. Getting There: One hour by high-speed rail from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station, or book a guided tour with pickup in Shanghai.

Don’t have time to see the Great Wall of China? Head to little Linhai in Zhejiang province to get a taste, where there is a wall reputedly designed by the same architect as Beijing’s Badaling section. Sure, Linhai’s wall – built during the Eastern Jin dynasty (AD 265-420) – isn’t as famous, but in certain spots it bears an uncanny resemblance to the one up north. The city also features an ancient street running from its centre to Longxing Temple. If you have more than one day to explore, take a taxi to the bus station and go to Xianju, where you’ll find the charming and somewhat secluded mountain Gongyu Bei. Getting There: Three hours by high-speed rail from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station.

Despite being one of Zhejiang’s largest cities, Ningbo is still relatively unknown among tourists. But the old city, which is home to one of the world’s busiest ports, has plenty of attractions including beautiful old buildings around the central Moon Lake Park and great museums. Explore China’s oldest library at Tianyi Pavilion or wander through the city’s unmissable collection of temples. The city has strong Buddhist connections which are best experienced at the 1,700 year-old Asoka Temple, which houses the rare Buddhist relics of Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism; 1,600 year-old Tiantong Temple, known for its scenery and subtle architectural style; and Baoguo Temple, which boasts one of the best-preserved wooden structures of its type in China. Getting There: Two hours by high-speed rail from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station.

7. Changshu

Changshu flies very much under the tourist radar but has many of the best features of Hangzhou and Suzhou combined: canals, ancient houses, a lake and mountains, albeit on a smaller scale. Go to the Shanghu Scenic Area and take a gondola ride through bamboo-lined waterways or hike to the top of Yushan (Mount Yu) which is full of traditional tea plantations and has a mini Great Wall plus views over Xingfu Temple and the neighbouring forest. Explore the old-style buildings and waterways of Shajiabang or go to the Square Pagoda in the city centre. Getting There: One and a half hours by bus from Shanghai South Long Distance Bus Station.

8. Shaoxing

Best known for its Chinese rice wine, Shaoxing is fondly known as the “museum without walls” thanks to the city’s long history and preservation of ancient culture. It’s renowned for its canals and old buildings, among which are the birthplaces of influential writer Lu Xun and the ancestral home of former premier Zhou Enlai – both of which you can visit. Other attractions include Anchang Ancient Town, East Lake, Kuaiji Mountain, Baicao Garden and Orchid Pavilion. Getting There: One hour 13 minutes by high-speed train from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station.

9. Dongqian Lake

Dongqian Lake is located around 15km (9.3mi) from Ningbo city and is the largest freshwater lake in Zhejiang Province. Given its proximity to both Ningbo and Shanghai, the lake is surprisingly free from the crowds that plague Hangzhou’s West Lake, making it a relaxing getaway. It actually consists of three lakes, with North Lake being the one to see. Between the lake’s shores and the surrounding mountains you’ll find small villages, temples and even a Song dynasty (AD 960-1279) sculpture park. Getting There: Two hours by train from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station.

10. Yangzhou

A far less-touristy alternative to Suzhou, this city was built on the wealth of its salt merchants. The Ge Yuan Garden is considered to be one of the four best in China and the south entrance backs on to Dongguan Street, which dates back 1,200 years and is dotted with Ming and Qing dynasty buildings. For an interesting juxtaposition between Chinese and Islamic architecture, visit the Tomb of Puhaddin, who is said to be a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad, and its surrounding gardens. Equally worth your time are peaceful Slender West Lake, and the wooden burial chamber of the first king of Guangling at The Mausoleum of the Western Han. Getting There: One hour high-speed train from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station to Zhenjiang South Station, and a 40-minute bus from the long-distance bus station next to Zhenjiang South Station.

This small ancient water town in Zhejiang Province dates back 1,300 years, and most buildings are from the Ming Dynasty or later. Visit the former home of Mao Dun, a revolutionary writer, or relax in legendary tea house Fanglu Pavilion. Watch out, too, for scheduled performances such as acrobats on poles above the water. The town is famed for its indigo fabric dyeing, and the resulting products make for beautiful souvenirs, as does the local Sanbai rice wine . Getting there: One hour 40 minutes by bus from the bus station at Shanghai South Railway Station, or book a full day trip from Shanghai, with lunch and dinner included.

12. Chongming Island and Dongtan Wetland Park

13. zhouzhuang and jinxi.

If you’re a Tom Cruise fan this water town in Zhejiang is a must visit – the closing scenes of Mission Impossible 3 (2006) were filmed here. The town dates back more than 2,000 years, crisscrossed by nine rivers and divided into eight sections that are linked by stone bridges. Setting it apart from other water towns is its covered “corridor” which stretches about a kilometre (0.6 miles) along the bank of the river. Look out also for the alleyway so narrow that only one person can walk down it at a time. Getting there: One hour 10 minutes by bus from Shanghai South Station’s bus terminal, or join a private tour from Shanghai.

What the Lingshan Grand Buddha lacks in history, it makes up for in size. Constructed in 1996, it is the tallest bronze Buddha statue in the world, sitting at a lofty 88 metres (289 feet). The scenic surrounding area covers 75 acres (30 hectares) and also contains other Buddhist attractions such as the Five Mudra Mandala and Xiangfu Temple. The northern part of Taihu, China’s third largest freshwater lake, also stretches into Wuxi; the Star of Lake Tai Ferris wheel and Three Kingdoms Park (a TV studio set) are both great ways to experience it. Getting there: 40 minutes by high-speed train from Hongqiao station. You can also book private transfers from the station to Lingshan Grand Buddha.

16. Nantong

Blue and white dyed cloth, traditionally, was once widely used to make clothing, being much cheaper than silk. These days, the indigo-hued fabric (usually referred to as blue nankeen or blue calico) is staging a comeback. Nantong is famed for it, and known in particular for the elaborate patterns adorning the fabrics, made by blocking the dye with soybean paste and lime. A museum in the city celebrates the industry. Wolf Mountain is also worth visiting – the scenic area is famed for its importance in Buddhism and is nestled among several other peaks. Getting there: Two hours by bus from the bus station near Shanghai Railway Station. One and a half hours by car.

17. Songjiang

Historical Landmark, Natural Feature, Botanical Garden

Although it is part of Shanghai, many of the city’s residents come here to escape the city. Home to theme parks such as Happy Valley, it also boasts Shanghai’s biggest green space, the Chenshan Botanical Garden. Partially built into an old quarry, which has been flooded to create a huge lake, it is truly an impressive sight. Other attractions include the film studio which recreates 1930s Shanghai and the British Thames Town – a recreation of a traditional English town. You’ll also find some of Shanghai’s oldest religious buildings in Songjiang, including the Zhenjiao Mosque, Xilin Pagoda and Sheshan Cathedral. Getting there: Roughly one hour from central Shanghai on subway Line 9. Alternatively, there are high-speed trains to Songjiang South Station from Hongqiao Station which take 14 minutes.

Mark Andrews contributed additional reporting to this article.

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Train from Shenzhen to Shanghai

Shenzhen to shanghai hongqiao train journey information, shenzhen to shanghai train times.

Today 04:03, Mon, Apr 29

Shanghai Hongqiao

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How much does a train ticket from Shenzhen to Shanghai Hongqiao cost?

Train fares from   us$84.05.

The price for train tickets from Shenzhen to Shanghai Hongqiao starts at around US$84.05. Train ticket prices tend to vary based on a few factors, such as the type of the train, the seat class. We recommend using Trip.com to find cheap train tickets for your next journey and booking online in advance.

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How much does a high-speed rail ticket from Shenzhen to Shanghai Hongqiao cost?

High-speed rail fares from   us$84.05.

The price for a high-speed rail ticket from Shenzhen to Shanghai Hongqiao is US$84.05.

High-speed rail fares from

Is there business class on trains from Shenzhen to Shanghai Hongqiao?

Business class   not available.

Yes, there is business class on trains from Shenzhen to Shanghai Hongqiao, but not many seats are available. We recommend booking your ticket in advance on Trip.com.

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What is the shortest duration for trains from shenzhen to shanghai hongqiao, shortest duration   6h 55m.

The shortest train ride from Shenzhen to Shanghai Hongqiao takes around 6h 55m.

Shortest duration

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Direct   direct.

Yes, there are trains that go directly from Shenzhen to Shanghai Hongqiao with no transfers required.

How many trains travel from Shenzhen to Shanghai Hongqiao per day?

Trains per day   around 10.

On average, around 10 trains travel from Shenzhen to Shanghai Hongqiao per day between the times of 06:33 and 14:30.

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What train stations can be found in Shenzhen and Shanghai Hongqiao?

No. of train stations   around 10.

Train station(s) in Shenzhen: Shenzhen,Shenzhen North. Train station(s) in Shanghai Hongqiao: Shanghai Hongqiao,Shanghai.

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Yes, there are sleeper trains from Shenzhen to Shenzhen. The duration is around Shenzhen hours.

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Shanghai/Suzhou Diamond League 2024: South Africa's Akani Simbine sprints to men's 100m victory

South Africa’s Akani Simbine upset former world champions Fred Kerley and Christian Coleman to win the men’s 100m at the Shanghai/Suzhou Diamond League track and field athletics meet on Saturday (27 April).

The former African record holder showed superior top-end speed to pull away from the two men on his inside dipping in a winning time of 10.01 seconds.

Coleman’s characteristic blistering start was not enough to give him back-to-back victories and had to be content with second place with a season's best 10.04s. Kerley, who finished second behind Coleman in Xiamen a week ago, settled for third in 10.11s.

Simbine had some work to do running shoulder-to-shoulder with Kerley and trailing a flying Coleman. The Olympic finalist found the next gear chasing Coleman down to take the victory to match his season’s best from the South African national championships.

“I knew the field here would be strong but I just had to replicate what I did last week at the South African Championships,” Simbine said after the race.

“This has built a lot of confidence leading into the Olympic year. This helps build momentum, which I hope to build on further as the season progresses."

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Results from Xiamen Diamond League men's 100m, Saturday 20 April 2024:

• Akani Simbine (RSA) 10.01
• Christian Coleman (USA) 10.04
• Fred Kerley (USA) 10.11
• Emmanuel Eseme (CMR) 10.17
• Ackeem Blake (JAM) 10.23
• Rohan Watson (JAM) 10.29
• Brandon Carnes (USA) 10.35
• Kiryu Yoshihide (JPN) 10.37
• Chen Guanfeng (CHN) 10.47

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The Maya Train Will Get You to All of Yucatán’s Best Spots. But Not Yet.

In December, the train began running on its first route through Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. On a five-day journey a few months later, the author encountered enthusiasm, and scheduling hiccups.

By Elisabeth Malkin

Elisabeth Malkin has been visiting the Yucatán Peninsula for three decades.

I stepped off the platform at the gleaming new Maxcanú train station, eager to see the magnificent Maya archaeological site of Uxmal. All I needed was a taxi to take me there, a trip of about 30 miles away.

There are no taxis, said the stationmaster, as we stood on the polished limestone floors of the high-ceilinged station, which was cool and breezy despite the brilliant late-morning sun outside. And I was the third person in two weeks to get off at Maxcanú expecting to reach Uxmal, he said.

I was midway through a five-day trip to explore the brand-new Maya Train and several of its destinations in the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico . Designed to run 965 miles (1,554 kilometers) around a loop of 34 stations when completed, the train will whisk passengers in cool comfort through colonial cities, archaeological sites, splashy resorts and tropical forests.

Now I was stunned. Wrangling a taxi has never been a problem in Mexico. But the drivers gathered in the main square of Maxcanú offered only beat-up vans that hopscotch through small towns, where I might or might not find a taxi to Uxmal. The next van was leaving in 45 minutes.

Yucatán’s layers of history have long held me spellbound. During earlier car trips, I have clambered up deserted Maya temples and palaces, stepped into the cool naves of massive 16th-century churches and visited restored haciendas, testaments of the ostentation — and hardship — of the peninsula’s 19th-century plantation economy. Traveling by train, I thought, would allow me to steep myself in more of that history.

But as I found in Maxcanú, a train won’t necessarily get you to where you want to go.

During my February trip, I traveled on the only route then available, an east-west leg that opened in December and runs from Cancún to Mérida, and then south through the port city of Campeche to the Maya site of Palenque (a short route between Cancún and Playa del Carmen opened last month, with three trains a day). I encountered scheduling confusion, unfinished stations and a dearth of trains — just two operating daily each way between Cancún and Campeche, and only one to Palenque. Overnight sleepers and special dining trains seem years away.

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador considers the Maya Train his showcase development project, and wants to inaugurate the rest of the train before he leaves office on October 1. Based on my experience, that goal seems elusive.

A $29-billion route through the jungle

I started my journey in Cancún, where in the pre-dawn gloom the station hovered like a glowing spaceship. An attendant scanned the ticket I had bought online and a half-dozen more pointed me toward my tourist-class car, which was about a quarter full. I planned to go to Campeche, about 300 miles away, stopping once each day. At 120 kilometers (about 75 miles) an hour, the train covers the route in about six hours, the same as a car. (When construction is complete, the train’s speed should increase to 160 kilometers an hour.)

The car’s wide windows looked out at a wall of low jungle. The blue-green seats were comfortable and there was ample space between the rows. I bought a very good cappuccino at the snack bar, but declined the plastic-wrapped sandwiches. The rest of the merchandise was fruit cups, milk boxes and junk food.

The train will ultimately cost much more than the $29 billion budgeted so far, and it’s not the first time ambitious planners have alighted on the region. Cancún was once a tiny fishing village, selected half a century ago as a tourist hub. Last year 10 million international tourists flew into its airport, more than the airports of Mexico City, Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta combined.

But uncontrolled growth has stressed the Caribbean coast’s fragile environment. The Maya Train, scientists warn , will push those problems south, threatening the area’s water supply, its unique system of underground limestone caves and its vast nature reserves.

Mr. López Obrador has charged ahead, handing the train over to the military , and arguing that it will spread Cancún’s wealth and attract new visitors. Mexico received more than 42 million overseas tourists last year and they spent almost $31 billion .

Local governments see an opportunity. “The train will allow people to disperse throughout the peninsula,” said Michelle Fridman, the tourism secretary for Yucatán state, which promotes dozens of attractions far beyond highlights like Mérida and Chichén Itzá .

Now that the train is operating, transport companies will begin to connect stations with lesser-known sites nearby, she said.

It’s fair to ask whether the train is the most effective way to develop the peninsula’s tourism. Tour companies already run trips to many sites from major cities, which are well served by buses. Driving a rental car through most of the area is considered safe , according to U.S. State Department travel guidance .

Route of Mexico’s Maya Train

Canceled trip.

It took two hours (and one time-zone change) to reach Valladolid, a colonial city of handsome streets and ancient churches, where I bought the rest of my tickets at the station. A tourist-class ticket from Cancún to Valladolid costs 472 pesos (around $28) for foreigners and 355 pesos (around $21) for Mexicans. First class, with wider seats, costs 755.50 pesos and 566.50 pesos, and discounts are available for older travelers and residents of the five states along the train’s route. (A first-class bus from downtown Cancún to Valladolid costs between 222 and 344 pesos, depending on the time of day, and takes half an hour longer.)

It was impossible to run the new Maya Train tracks into dense city centers and the Valladolid station, like the rest, was outside the urban core. A waiting bus took disembarking passengers downtown, a 15-minute ride for 35 pesos.

That day I toured Ek Balam , the site of a ninth-century Maya kingdom that is dominated by a 100-foot palace distinguished by a facade of carvings depicting winged warriors, stylized animal features and geometric patterns bordered by giant fangs. Admission to the site includes entry to the X-Canché cenote, one of thousands of limestone sinkholes that were sacred to the Maya.

Later that afternoon, I was wandering through the Museum of Ethnic Clothing, a private collection of traditional dress, embroidery and hats, when a WhatsApp message from the ticket office blinked on my phone. My train scheduled for the following day was canceled.

I decided to deal with the problem in the morning and enjoy the city. As I wandered past the antique shops and boutique hotels of the elegant Calzada de los Frailes, it was clear that Valladolid’s tourism, and the infrastructure to handle it, was well established. The Maya Train is simply an alternative way to reach a city that tourists discovered years ago.

‘We’re on the Tren Maya!’

In the morning, I found that my train had not been canceled, but the station for which I had a ticket, Tixkokob, was closed. I got off instead one stop earlier at Izamal, known for its ocher streets and the giant Franciscan convent of San Antonio de Padua, built atop the ruins of a pyramid.

During the 90-minute ride, I heard widespread enthusiasm among fellow travelers who expressed a willingness to give the train time to work out the kinks. “We’re an experiment,” said Oliva Escobedo Ochoa, 64, who was vacationing from her home in central Mexico.

Leticia Iliassich, 57, who is Mexican, was traveling with her Croatian husband along with relatives from Mexico and Croatia. They had initially been scheduled on an earlier train to Mérida that had been canceled. “We knew that it was a new project,” she said. “We don’t mind.”

The group had already sent a video to friends declaring, “We’re on the Tren Maya!”

At the Izamal station I hitched a 15-minute ride into the town center with a man who had asked me to take his photo alongside the train and his father. From there I negotiated a taxi to Hacienda San Lorenzo Aké, a working hacienda that still turns the fiber from an agave plant called henequén into coarse rope. Global demand for henequén, known as Yucatán’s “green gold,” brought fantastic wealth to the region in the mid-19th century, speckling the peninsula with more than 1,000 haciendas. ( Many are now sumptuous hotels.)

Where geometry, nature and the divine merge

It was during my third day that I found myself stuck in Maxcanú, after a 90-minute train ride from Izamal. The stationmaster, an army captain, offered me a ride to Uxmal, just as he had to the stranded tourists before me.

Eying Uxmal’s 4 p.m. final ticket sale, I accepted.

My situation made it clear just how distant the Maya Train’s promises are for tourists seeking to explore more of Yucatán. In time, that will change, said Ms. Fridman, the tourism secretary. “The idea is to have more hotels along the train line,” she said. “That will happen little by little.”

But Uxmal , among the most stunning of the Maya sites, made up for the inconvenience. Uxmal’s grand buildings are faced with intricate decorative masks as well as friezes in which geometry, nature and the divine merge. New plaques at each structure offer detailed information in English and Spanish, part of the government’s investment in improving displays at Maya sites for the train project.

Most tourists either take day trips by car or bus to Uxmal from Mérida or stay at one of three nearby hotels. As I finished dinner at my hotel, the dining room began to fill up: 47 Polish tourists had arrived.

Panama hats and a cramped van

My plan for the day was to go by taxi to Bécal, a town where Panama hats are woven in limestone caves to keep the fibers soft, and then pick up the afternoon train in nearby Calkiní for the port city of Campeche.

But I spent so much time watching the hat-making demonstration and then fitting my new hat and buying gifts that we set off with little time to reach the station. To my chagrin, I missed the train, the last one of the day.

On Calkiní’s central square, I found a van that was leaving for Campeche. Cost: 65 pesos. Time: about 1 hour and 20 minutes, similar to what I would have spent on the train. Of course, I was trapped in a cramped seat and had to listen to the driver’s choice of sentimental ballads, but I was dropped off in downtown Campeche, close to my hotel.

The next day, I toured the Museum of Maya Archaeology , an expertly curated collection that included haunting jade funeral masks, glyphs and delicate ceramic figures.

José Madrigal, 45, an engineer from Fremont, Calif., was trying to make Maya pottery interesting for his twin sons. The boys had just turned 5 and their birthday present had been a ride on the Maya Train. “They love trains,” Mr. Madrigal said. Then the family moved on, keeping up a brisk clip through the museum. They had another train to catch.

Should you take the train?

Yes, if you are traveling between larger stations. The train also offers a way to get to Palenque, which is harder to reach and has roads with security concerns. Travelers can stow bicycles on board.

To see train times, check the destinations on the website . You cannot buy tickets online more than a week in advance. But when you finally board, the ride is smooth — and the coffee is excellent.

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

Mumbai:  Spend 36 hours in this fast-changing Indian city  by exploring ancient caves, catching a concert in a former textile mill and feasting on mangoes.

Kyoto:  The Japanese city’s dry gardens offer spots for quiet contemplation  in an increasingly overtouristed destination.

Iceland:  The country markets itself as a destination to see the northern lights. But they can be elusive, as one writer recently found .

Texas:  Canoeing the Rio Grande near Big Bend National Park can be magical. But as the river dries, it’s getting harder to find where a boat will actually float .

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• Travel Guide

4 Days Shanghai Xian Overnight Bullet Train Tour

Economic Way to See Best China

This 4-day trip is the well-designed tour package taking you to explore all essences of Shanghai and Xian at a budget price. The comfortable overnight high speed train which usually departs after 10 P.M. will help you save one night accommodation cost during the tour, at the same time transfer you from Shanghai to Xian efficiently.

Highlights of this tour

• Stroll leisurely along the Bund and enjoy the stunning skyline of Shanghai in Pudong Area;
• Enjoy a panoramic view of the modern face of Shanghai from the 100th floor (474m) of “the Eye of Shanghai”;
• Visit the World Heritage Sites in Xian - Terracotta Warriors, Big Wild Goose Pagoda;
• Taste the most delicious local food and snacks of Xian in Muslim Quarter.

Basic Trip Information

• 1. This price is for one person, based on a group of 2 adults sharing one double-bed room in a 4-star hotel and traveling in low seasons;
• 2. This price is subject to change according to your traveling season, group size, hotel class, change of activities and possible fluctuation of currency exchange rate.

• Trip Itinerary
• Price Guide
• Guides, Cars, Hotels & Meals
• Make an Enquiry

Full Itinerary Day by day

Ni Hao ! Welcome to Shanghai, the biggest metropolis of China!

Upon arrival, be greeted by our tour guide in the Arrival Hall who is holding a sign with your name. Before transferred to your hotel, you will firstly be taken to experience one of the fastest trains in the world -  Shanghai Maglev Train (Optional) .

Started operation at 2003, the Shanghai Maglev Train is the first commercially operated high-speed magnetic levitation line in the world. Running at the highest speed of  430km per hour , the Shanghai Maglev Train takes only 8 minutes to transfer from  Pudong International Airport to Longyang Road Station  in the central downtown of Shanghai. Passengers hardly can hear any noise, and feel any jolt, because the maglev trains run with touching the railway line. The facilities inside the trains are very modern, clean and comfortable. (Note: The Maglev Train only operates between Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Longyang Road Station from 06:45 AM to 21:42 PM )

Optional Activity -  Attend an entertaining Acrobatic Show, including breathtaking “balls of death” acts, chair balancing, hula hoops, juggling of benches, walking in the air, and other breathtaking performances (usually performed during 19:30~21:00)

You will take a full day of sightseeing to explore both the past and present of Shanghai. You will first take a leisurely walk in the charming Wukang Road which was a special premier living quarter and retail district for expats in early Shanghai (from 1849 AD until 1943 AD). Browse hundreds of beautiful old French and European style buildings, apartments, villas, boutique shops, restaurants of a wide range of culinary styles standing at tree-lined avenues. Located among the ultra-modern architecture complex, Wukang Road is a significant window into the city’s up-and-down history and an excellent witness of the culture fusion of the East and Europe.

Then, take an interesting visit to Yu Garden , a shining star among all the ancient Chinese gardens in Jiangnan. This garden fully embodies the traditional design of Chinese architecture with jagged pavilions with elegant decorations, glittering pools with roving fish, and pine trees sprouting to the sky, all designed to refresh your mood and spirit. Adjacent to the garden is the Yuyuan Bazaar where you can savor tasteful local snacks and explore elaborate traditional Chinese handicrafts and art works. Next you will drive several kilometers to enjoy a panoramic view of the modern face of Shanghai from the 100th floor (474m) of “the Eye of Shanghai” - Shanghai World Financial Center .

You will then be transferred to another popular landmark of Shanghai,  Nanjing Road , a shopping paradise as well as a great place to take a wonderful walk to experience the modern atmosphere of the City. Lastly, you will stop at the  Bund , originally a simple towpath for transporting goods but now transformed into a feverish trading district. You will stroll along the Bund, seeing and feeling the perfect fusion of Chinese and Western cultures while at the same time taking in the stunning Shanghai skyline with your own eyes!

In this evening, be transferred to Shanghai Railway Station to catch an overnight D train to Xian. You’ll spend one night on the high speed train which takes around 11 hours.

After breakfast, drive about 40 km to discover one of the greatest man-made wonders in the world - the Terracotta Warriors and Horses , built by the first emperor of China Qin Shihuang to protect him in his afterlife. Over 8,000 life-size warriors, horses and chariots, buried in 3 pits for more than 2,000 years until uncovered by a local farmer in 1974, form an ancient military army with complete battle units of infantry, cavalry, etc. Standing in front of these figures, one can’t help being amazed not only by the ambition of Emperor Qin Shihuang but also by the fabulous artistic skills of ancient Chinese artisans. (Before the Terracotta Warriors Museum visit, you will have a rare opportunity to make a miniature Terracotta Warrior on your own under the instruction of a local potter.)

After lunch, return to Xian to spend a leisure time on the Ancient City Wall , the largest and best-preserved ancient city wall in China. Just like the merchants and envoys on the Silk Road thousands of years ago, you will enter the interior of the city walls through the Hanguang Gate . There you will visit a mini museum to see the real Tang Dynasty city wall ruins from over 1400 years ago, including gateways, cross-sections of the wall, and the remains of water channels. After the museum visit, get up to the city wall to enjoy a leisure stroll and pleasant panoramic views of Xian city. Rent a bike (extra cost: 45RMB) to enjoy a relaxing cycling on the Wall is strongly recommended. The cycling routes and duration are flexible. Feel free to discuss with your tour guide. Leave the City Wall, then go to wander leisurely around the bustling and lively Muslim Quarter , a place where you can try different local snacks and explore Muslim culture. the Great Mosque of Xian which is a fusion of Chinese culture and Islamic culture, a sacred religious site with huge ancient architectural complex, also a surprisingly quiet land away from the bustling Muslim streets. -->

This evening you will be offered an interesting visit to Grand Tang Dynasty Ever Bright City which is a great place to walk, enjoy amazing nightscape and most importantly recall the prosperity and glory of the mighty Tang Dynasty. Seeing this area at night is totally different as the lighting is marvelous yet tastefully done.

Optional activity: enjoy a wonderful Tang Palace Dance Show (usually from 8pm to 9pm) after (or without) a hearty dumpling dinner.

After breakfast, head to Da Cien Temple , a famous Buddhist sutra translation site during the Tang Dynasty. Big Wild Goose Pagoda is the most famous building in the temple. The pagoda, rising to a height of 64.5 meters, was built by the famous Buddhist master Xuanzang to preserve classic scriptures he bought back from India during the early Tang Dynasty. Xuanzang was the prototype character for Tang Seng in the famous Chinese novel “Journey to the West”. (Note: It costs an extra 30 RMB if you want to climb up the Big Wild Goose Pagoda.) After (or before) visiting the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, you will be provided a free experience of trying on the Hanfu which is the solemn costume of the emperors and their families, the ministers and the noble in the ancient dynasties of China. Seize this rare opportunity to take some photos to record this unique memory!

Next is an educational visit to the Shaanxi History Museum where you can ramble in the modern exhibition halls to appreciate historic relics such as porcelains, paintings, and currencies dating from the Zhou to the Tang dynastic periods (1100BC to 907 AD). (Note: Shaanxi History Museum may be replaced with other activity or attraction because of crowding tourists during July ~ early September and China’s National Day during Oct.1-Oct.7. You may check details with your travel consultant.)

After the tour, be escorted to the airport or railway station to catch a flight/train to your next destination or home. Service ends!

Recommended Add-on Options

The quotation for this trip is from $567 per person.

1. This price is for one person, based on a group of 2 adults sharing one standard double-bed room in 4-star hotel and traveling with our private tour in low seasons. 2. This price is subject to change according your traveling season, group size, hotel class, change of activities in your itinerary and possible fluctuation of currency exchange rate. If you want a lower price, you can get more people to join you, or use economy class hotels. 3. This price is only valid to March 31, 2025. 4. Reference exchange rate of USD 1=RMB 7.00. The final quote is based on current exchange rate. It may change according to the currency fluctuation, while the RMB quotation will be remained the same.

What's included?

• Professional licensed English-speaking guide;
• Admission tickets for all attractions listed in the itinerary;
• Accommodation as listed in the itinerary;
• Overnight high speed train from Shanghai to Xian;
• Necessary transfers as listed in the itinerary;
• All meals as listed( “B” for Chinese and Western breakfast buffet in your hotel; “L” for Chinese Lunch in local restaurant; “D” for Chinese dinner in local restaurant.);
• Our service charge, including tour planning, handling, operational and communication charges.

What's excluded?

• China visa;
• Accommodation not listed in the itinerary;
• Single Room Supplement;
• Sightseeing not listed in the itinerary;
• Recommended optional activities;
• Flights or trains not listed in the itinerary;
• Optional tips to guides, drivers, etc;
• Personal expenses.

How Our Teams Serve you at China Discovery

"Highest Standards of Quality and Honesty" is the core value of each specialized team at China Discovery.

Eveyone in our company is working hard for only one goal, which is to ensure the highest level of service, luxury, and attention to detail from the minute you begin planning your trip, to the day you return home.

1-on-1 Travel Consultant

Our travel consultants are professional, experienced and responsible, helping you from the very beginning to the end of your China trip!

After sending us an inquiry, one of our travel consultants will get back to you within 0.5~23.5 hrs. In the next few days, he/she will be working closely with you to formulate a customized tour plan, as well as providing professional suggestions based on your travel interests, time, and budget.

Beside, he/she will keep in contact with you during your entire tour in China, continually checking if everything is going well as planned.

We're working at Chengdu Bamboo International Tours, local based in Chengdu.

Local Tour Guides

Our local guide in every destination is not only very friendly, enthusiastic but also very informative and knowledgeable.

Once you arrive in the destination, the patient and punctual guides will pick you up and take you to get under skin of the city at your own pace. By in-depth discovery and explanation, they’ll show you more about the history, culture, customs and authentic local life. Throughout the journey, they're not only expert guides who take care of all the details but also fellow travelers who are dedicated to help you explore in comfort and style.

Our guides are passionate about what they do, and it shows all the way!

Local Drivers & Vehicle

Using our private transfer service makes you comfortable, relaxed and worry free all the way!

Our private service includes licensed drivers with many years’ driving experience and air-conditioned, non-smoking, clean and well-maintained cars/vans. Drivers are local, polite, friendly and helpful, taking you to your tourist sites, hotels, airport/train stations in safety. All kinds of vehicle are offered, and yours depends on the size of your group. Usually, we offer sedan cars, SUVs, business vans (MPV) and different types of buses, all with extra space for your luggage.

Our private transfer service guarantees you the highest comfort!

Comfortable & Homelike Hotels

In each destination, you’ll enjoy a comfortable stay in a great location!

The hotels we choose are based on star rating, great locations, well-equipped facilities, cozy bed, high quality service and guests’ feedbacks. Choices are a lot ranging from luxury 5 star, comfortable 4 star to budget 3 star. You could decide where to stay to best suit for your budget and likes. Generally, the hotels have both Western and Chinese breakfast with a wide choices.

If you have already got an ideal hotel, please feel free to tell our travel consultants and they'll book the hotel for you.

Have good sleep in our well-selected hotels in all the destinations of China.

Meals & Dining

We can satisfy all the dietary requirements no matter you want Chinese local food, western food, vegetarian food or muslin food.

The restaurants we will take you for lunch or dinner are all designated tourist restaurants approved by local tourist administration bureau. They have very good sanitary conditions and the food is prepared fresh and clean.

There will be some meals excluded in your itinerary as you like, and your private guide will be delighted to give you some suggestions and take you to the local restaurants to taste like Beijing Roast Duck, Xian Dumpling Dinner, Sichuan Hotpot, etc., if you are interested in local food tasting.

All the dining options will satisfy your stomach!

Beautiful Night View of the Bund - Nguyen from Canada

Feel the Highest Speed of 431 km/h of Shanghai Maglev Train

Wonderful View of New Pudong Disctrict from the Bund

Classical Yu Garden in Shanghai

Shikumen Architecture in Xintiandi

Terra-Cotta Warriors - China Discovery

Our customers Biking on Ancient City Wall

Dancers at Grand Tang Dynasty Ever Bright City

Our customers' group visited Xian Shaanxi History Museum

Big Wild Goose Pagoda - Josh from USA

Check What our delighted customers are saying about our services

I apologize for the delayed response as I've been occupied with work.

In response to your query, here are my feedback:

1. Is your travel consultant of our company fast enough to answer your E-mail and patient enough to answer your questions? Absolutely, you were incredibly prompt in responding to my numerous queries and helped ensure a smooth trip planning process.

2. How is tour arrangement, including the drivers,tour guides,hotels,etc? The trip was fantastic. Our guide, Jerry, was exceptional and extremely knowledgeable, making our visit to Huangshan truly memorable.

3. Would you like to recommend our company? Certainly. I will wholeheartedly recommend China Discovery to friends and family planning future trips to China

Hi Samantha,

yes we had a good time at the panda volunteer program. Thanks for helping us to arrange it.

Thank you very much for organizing the tour. We enjoyed it a lot. We also had been quite lucky with the weather in Jiuzhaiguo. Colors of the lakes has been fantastic. I still owe you the feedback - it will take some time as I’m quite busy now. But we already filled the feedback forms with the guides. Thanks to Jason and Michael nd they has asking me about my tour. I hv recommend them to contact you.

we had such a great time in Guilin and had a great experience with our tour guide Lynn! Thank you. It has been wonderful so far! We are very pleased with the tour.

Feedback as follows:

1. Yes, the travel consultant is very prompt in responding to queries etc

2. All the arrangements are excellent, no complaints at all, the tour guides are very knowledgeable and helpful and courteous.

3. Definitely, already recommended to some of my friends who are planning to go to China this year.

Check What our customers are saying about us on Tripadvisor.com

We are one of the few China travel agencies who have kept active and received lots of feedbacks and reviews during pandemic years

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Two nights, three provinces, and 1,600 miles. A sleeper train through Maritime Canada is slow travel at its best.

Via rail’s sleepy eastern route brings travelers through rural villages and towns in quebec, new brunswick, and nova scotia..

C HARLO, New Brunswick — I woke up with the sun peeking through the curtains of my sleeper car, and I couldn’t wait to see what was happening on the other side. I felt like a kid on Christmas morning, a kid with noticeable flecks of gray hair in his bedhead, but a kid just the same. I sat up, wrapped myself in the bed’s comforter like a burrito, and yanked back the drapes.

I was suddenly looking at a sunny snowscape in northern New Brunswick. This was a thrill because when I boarded the Via Rail train at Montreal Central Station the day before, there was no snow, and the sky was the color of dishwater. Having experienced little to no winter in Boston, seeing this Bing Crosby landscape was a refreshing change of pace.

While I slowly woke up, the train rumbled along the tracks, and I watched the broad blue expanse of Chaleur Bay slowly pass by. Across the water, the hills and cliffs of the Gaspé and Acadian peninsulas were visible. It was as if the entire scene had been timed perfectly for the morning entertainment of the train’s passengers.

I was traveling Via Rail Canada’s Ocean route from Montreal to Halifax. The train wasn’t as glamorous as the Rocky Mountaineer, nor was the scenery as grand as the Winnipeg to Churchill trip. But Via Rail’s 22-hour route is a lovely travel throwback with gorgeous scenery. Thanks to the strength of the US dollar against the Canadian dollar, I was able to score a sleeper car with a private bathroom (complete with a shower) for $400 a night. It also helped that I was traveling during mud season. Rates go up during the summer and into foliage season.

The fare included all meals, which were served in the dining car on actual plates with actual flatware. I reasoned that I was getting a room, all meals, and the constant entertainment of the ever-changing landscape for $400 a night. That seemed like a decent deal. I decided to book my return to Montreal on the train as well. That would give me a solid 44 hours on board.

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The train departed Montreal at 7 p.m. on Friday and was scheduled to arrive in Halifax at 5:51 p.m on Saturday. I was curious to see how Via Rail, Canada’s national rail company, compared with Amtrak, particularly its sleeper cars. As I cased out my room, I watched the Farine Five Roses sign and the rest of the Montreal skyline disappear behind us. My cabin was designed for two people, but I wanted a room with an en suite bath and shower. The cabin was about 30 square feet (not including the bathroom). It had a sofa that folded down to a bed, with a bunk bed that folded down above it. There was a narrow closet, and in the bathroom, there were towels, a bottle of shampoo, and a bar of soap.

It wasn’t the Ritz, but it was clean and cozy. These cars were built for the canceled European Nightstar train service in the late 1990s. The trains would have used the Chunnel to take passengers from London to cities in mainland Europe. When the project failed to materialize, Via Rail bought the cars and shipped them to Canada in 2000. Despite being in service for nearly 25 years, the train was in good shape.

After inspecting and unpacking, it was dinner time. We were well on our way to Quebec City by the time I sat down and perused the menu. I opted for leek-crusted chicken with wild rice pilaf and roasted butternut squash. This was better than any meal I had ever consumed on an Amtrak train . I was seated with a retired sports editor (pure coincidence) from New York. He had taken most of the Amtrak overnight trains in the United States and now wanted to sample Canada’s offerings.

He agreed with me that the food was better than Amtrak, and the train cars were generally in better condition, but he pointed out something I hadn’t noticed: The staff was much friendlier than the staff on Amtrak, and it made a huge difference. One of my chief complaints, particularly on Amtrak’s Silver Meteor, is that the staff often seemed surly.

By the time I finished dinner and returned to my room, the attendant had made up the bed. I decided I would try sleeping in the bunk, but I quickly soured on the idea when I realized the only way in and out was a narrow ladder. The bunk seemed a bit high for my liking. I folded it back and slept on the lower bed. The bed is 6 feet long and about 2½ feet wide, so it may not be ideal for taller passengers. The mattress was comfortable, and the comforter was wonderfully thick. Each cabin has individual temperature controls, so even though the temperature was in the single digits outside, I was tucked away comfortably for the night. I’m a light sleeper, but I dozed off quickly.

The next morning, it was time to test the shower. To my shock and delight, the water was hot enough, and the pressure wasn’t bad. I went to the dining car and tried the breakfast poutine. I concluded that poutine is a perfect all-day meal. I wrote “open 24-hour poutine restaurant” in my notebook and watched as the train gradually made its way inland. My breakfast companion was a retired teacher from Montreal who was going to visit her grandchildren in Halifax.

“Don’t you dare write anything bad about this train,” she sternly warned me as only a teacher could. “It’s my favorite way to get to Nova Scotia. If it shuts down I’ll blame you.”

The scenery out the window was always changing. When I left Montreal, it was gray. Coastal New Brunswick was snowy and bright, and as the train descended south, the snow disappeared, and the sky darkened. By the time we neared the Bay of Fundy, it was snowing, and then it was raining, and then the sun started peaking out.

The biggest frustration was that the train was running two hours behind schedule. I had made dinner reservations in Halifax for Saturday night but missed them because of the delay. I had one night in the city before getting back on the train the next day and lost precious time.

Another frustration I faced was that the train’s observation car was no longer used. One of the best parts of taking a scenic train is, well, watching the scenery. I could still see the countryside from my room, the lounge, or the restaurant, but the glass-domed observation car on the Ocean route was removed two years ago because of a track change in Halifax. Having that car would have made the experience even more special.

I got back on the train Sunday afternoon, settled into my new room, which was identical to the previous one, and headed back to the cafe car for lunch. All of this investigative reporting was really adding inches to my waistline. I tried the gnocchi pomodoro and decided to treat myself to a glass of local wine. Unlike Amtrak, alcohol is not free in Via Rail’s sleeper class. Again, I was impressed with the menu options, service, and food.

I watched the small towns blur past from the lounge car, one of the few places on the train where the internet was available. Even so, it was usually empty. The pace of train travel, devoid of the internet, is a rare treat. Eventually, a pair of sisters came into the lounge car and asked me if I wanted to play cards with them. I honestly couldn’t remember the last time I played cards, so I put down my camera and began a game of rummy. I can imagine that this was what travel was like before planes or even cars. Without screens, I was actually looking up, talking to people, and playing a game that wasn’t on my phone.

That night, before I went to bed, I opened my laptop and started scrolling through the photos I’d taken throughout the trip. I frantically scrolled up and down, looking for a big “wow” photo. I needed a picture with pizazz. Then I stopped scrolling and looked at the pictures together. This trip wasn’t about flashy sites or Instagrammable moments. It was a long weekend of fluffy waffles, snow banks, blue rivers, and expansive brown fields.

Mostly, however, it was about taking a moment to slow down and breathe.

Christopher Muther can be reached at [email protected] . Follow him @Chris_Muther and Instagram @chris_muther.