China Rail Discovery: Beijing, Nanjing, Suzhou & Shanghai

RAIL VACATIONS / China

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Amazing Experience

Overview

Trip Overview

This 10-day rail journey takes you between imperial Beijing and space-age Shanghai, stopping along the way to explore the historic marvels of Nanjing, and beautiful Suzhou, the canal crossed ‘Venice of China.’

Beijing is one of the world’s great cities, overwhelming with its size, yet filled with quintessential symbols of China. A full day tour takes you to Tiananmen Square, the world’s largest public plaza, stretching out from the Forbidden City, your next destination. The former imperial palace dates back to the 5th century, consisting of 9,999 rooms. Today, it is one of the most visited and instantly recognised complexes of its kind. In the afternoon, take in the Summer Palace, for an eye-catching summary of how China’s emperors once lived. The following day, take in the perfect geometry of the Temple of Heaven, and the serenity of its surrounding park, before embarking on your trip to China’s Great Wall. You’ll visit the Mutianyu section for a less crowded view of this engineering marvel.

High-speed rail connects the capital to the city of Nanjing. Along with Beijing, Luoyang, and Xi’an, Nanjing is considered one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China. Your day begins by paying your respects to the Hongwu Emperor, founder of the Ming Dynasty, and Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the first provisional president of the Republic of China. Visit the Presidential Palace, political centre of the Republic of China from 1927 until its relocation to Taipei in 1949. Visit the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre, which honours the 100,000 civilians murdered during the Japanese occupation of Nanjing. It’s a sobering experience, but one vital to understanding the forces that have shaped Nanjing today.

Your next destination is China’s enchanting canal city, Suzhou. Arrive via another high speed train ride, then marvel at the picture-perfect gardens and photogenic canals of this city. Visit the Humble Administrator’s Garden, and enjoy a sampan ride along the Grand Canal. Explore the Suzhou Museum for a 101 on the region, told within a gorgeously designed building, then find your serenity on scenic Tiger Hill, ending your day’s exploration with a stroll down Santang Cultural Street.

Another high speed train takes you to your final stop, Shanghai. Locals practice dawn tai chi in the shadow of architectural masterpieces on the Bund. All the while, the gleaming, space-age towers of Pudong demonstrate China’s commitment to the future. Learn about these contrasts and more at the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center. Then visit the 400 year-old Yu Garden for a gentle reminder that Shanghai didn’t spring up overnight. Tuck into some famous Shanghai soup dumplings for lunch, then spend your afternoon in the former French Concession, where small galleries and cafes now thrive. End your day with a ride to the top of the world’s second tallest building, Shanghai Tower, before spending your evening at leisure in Shanghai.

Highlights

Departures

From Beijing:
Daily

 

Trip Includes

  • Private arrival airport transfer in Beijing
  • Private departure airport transfer in Shanghai
  • Hotel/train station/hotel transfers in all applicable locations as per itinerary
  • 3 nights first-class accommodations in Beijing
  • 2 nights first-class accommodations in Nanjing
  • 2 nights first-class accommodations in Suzhou
  • 2 nights first-class accommodations in Shanghai
  • Private-guided touring/experiences as per itinerary
  • Local English-speaking guide in each city
  • High speed train tickets for Beijing/Nanjing/Suzhou/Shanghai (2nd class seat)
  • Breakfast daily (excluding day 1), 6 lunches

 

Trip Excludes

  • Travel Insurance
  • International, domestic airfare & airfare taxes
  • Meals and beverages not explicitly listed as included
  • Gratuities
  • Optional excursions
  • Items of a personal nature
  • Visa fees, if applicable

Summary

Terms and Conditions

Prices are "from" per person based on twin/double share accommodation and for travel in low season. Seasonal surcharges and blackout dates may apply. Limited seat/spaces and all pricing is subject to change and availability. Rates for single or triple travellers are available on request - please inquire.

On arrival in Beijing, please make your way to the arrivals hall where you will be met by a Goway representative, holding a board with your name. You will the then be transferred to your hotel for check in. Rest of day is at leisure.

Novotel Beijing Peace

Set in a prime location, in the historical district of China’s capital city, the exceptional four-star Novotel Beijing Peace is close to famous attractions like the Palace Museum, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and St Joseph’s Cathedral. In addition, outdoor recreational hubs such as the Beijing Botanical Gardens and Tuan Jie Lake are all within walking distance, as is the entertainment/theatre district.

Novotel Beijing Peace

Today you will be picked up for your full day tour of Beijing which starts with Tian’anmen Square, the largest public plaza in the world. Next you will visit the Forbidden City, the best-known image of Imperial China built by more than 200,000 workers in the 5th century during the Ming Dynasty. This was home to 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties with a total space of 9,999 rooms, the huge complex consists of the ceremonial spaces, working areas and private quarters once used by its privileged occupants.

After lunch at a local restaurant, you will visit the prestigious Summer Palace, featuring the Long Corridor with painted gallery, Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill, Seventeen Arch Bridge and the Marble Boat. After a full day of touring, you will be transferred back to the hotel, and the evening is at your own leisure.

Meal

Breakfast, Lunch

Novotel Beijing Peace

Set in a prime location, in the historical district of China’s capital city, the exceptional four-star Novotel Beijing Peace is close to famous attractions like the Palace Museum, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and St Joseph’s Cathedral. In addition, outdoor recreational hubs such as the Beijing Botanical Gardens and Tuan Jie Lake are all within walking distance, as is the entertainment/theatre district.

Novotel Beijing Peace

Today you will explore the Temple of Heaven, here you will see the locals doing morning exercises, such as Taichi, Shuttlecocking Kicking, etc. The temple is one of the finest creations of the Ming dynasty and with its stunning architecture it realizes the eternal Chinese desire to incarnate heaven in material form and represents the most advanced principles of mechanics and geometry of the time.

Thereafter continue on a drive out of Beijing to visit the Mutianyu Great Wall, enroute you will have lunch at a local restaurant at the foot of the Great Wall.

After lunch you will visit the Great Wall of Mutianyu, a rugged section of the Wall that offers less crowded access and a more striking perspective as the Wall climbs and winds over the surrounding hills. Here the Great Wall of China presents a visual experience that consistently exceeds visitors expectations. Scholars estimate that the Wall, averaging 25 feet in height and nearly as thick, once stretched for 3,700 miles, passing through sixteen provinces. A cable car transfer is included up and down the wall. Later this afternoon, you will be transferred back to your hotel in the city.

Meal

Breakfast, Lunch

 

Novotel Beijing Peace

Set in a prime location, in the historical district of China’s capital city, the exceptional four-star Novotel Beijing Peace is close to famous attractions like the Palace Museum, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and St Joseph’s Cathedral. In addition, outdoor recreational hubs such as the Beijing Botanical Gardens and Tuan Jie Lake are all within walking distance, as is the entertainment/theatre district.

Novotel Beijing Peace

This morning you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to the train station for your high-speed train to Nanjing. The journey will take 3.5 hours. On arrival in Nanjing, you will be transferred to your hotel for check in, the rest of the day is at your leisure.

Meal

Breakfast

 

Holiday Inn Nanjing Aqua City

Holiday Inn Nanjing Aqua City is centrally located next to Confucius Temple district and features Rooms & Suites, a restaurant and a full range of facilities.

Holiday Inn Nanjing Aqua City

You will be picked up from your hotel and start your day with a visit to the Ming Tomb, which is the tomb of the Hongwu Emperor, the founder of the Ming Dynasty. Then visit Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum, which faces level land and backs onto green mountains. It is built in a combined Chinese and Western architectural style and is shaped like an alarm clock.

Continue on to the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre. This museum is built to commemorate the killing of more than 100,000 civilians, and the savage rape of countless others, during the initial two months of the Japanese occupation of Nanjing in 1937. The museum features a memorial wall with the names of those murdered as well as an open-air excavation site where the skeletal remains of tens of thousands of the victims were buried.

Proceed to Confucius Temple, which was first built in 1034 AD. The area surrounding the Temple is a popular place for social gatherings especially during the Spring, Lantern, and Mid-Autumn Festivals. There are plenty of colorful street vendors selling food and souvenirs. This is also a great area to find bargains on antiques. Tonight is an evening at leisure.

Meal

Breakfast, Lunch

 

Holiday Inn Nanjing Aqua City

Holiday Inn Nanjing Aqua City is centrally located next to Confucius Temple district and features Rooms & Suites, a restaurant and a full range of facilities.

Holiday Inn Nanjing Aqua City

This morning, you will be transferred to the train station for high-speed train to Suzhou, the journey is 1.5 hours. On arrival in Suzhou, you will be transferred to your hotel for check in. This afternoon, you will be picked up and drive to Tongli Water Town, which is an old but very well preserved water township with a history of more than 1,000 years. Visit the Garden of Seclusion and Meditations, Scenic Spot of Three-Hall and the Three-Bridge and the Shopping Street in Ming and Qing-Dynasty style, and have a boat ride on water ways.

This evening is at your leisure.

Meal

Breakfast, Lunch

 

Hotel Soul Suzhou

Situated amidst the canals and gardens of the ancient city of Suzhou, Hotel Soul is the first contemporary boutique hotel in Suzhou, China, bringing style and modern chic to the city centre's commercial district. The hotel's design concept juxtaposes elements of modern and ancient China, celebrating the nation's remarkable swift modernization while paying tribute to its distinguished past. The hotel's designer interiors is furnished with warm lighting and a sense of urban sophistication. The concept of Hotel Soul is to portray the rapid development and miraculous achievements of China. Bringing elements of China's past alive in a contemporary urban style is its motto. The hotel's décor uses vibrant colours, fun textures, and space-age fixtures to bring guests into a futuristic frontier. Ancient and contemporary artefacts and paintings are juxtaposed to enhance the interiors and emphasize the marvels of China's modern day multi-faceted advancement.

Hotel Soul Suzhou

Today you will explore the Humble Administrators Garden followed by a traditional sampan ride on the Grand Canal. The largest of Suzhou's gardens, the Humble Administrator’s Garden dates back to 1513, and the use of water here is quite complex. The creation of multiple vistas and the dividing of spaces into distinct segments are the garden artist's means of expanding the compressed spaces of the estate.

Then, proceed to the Suzhou Museum, which has been a highly-regarded regional museum with a number of significant Chinese cultural relics, designed by world famous architect I.M.Pei.

Thereafter, continue to Tiger Hill (Hu Qiu) which enjoys a reputation as the first scenic spot in the State of Wu. Suzhou was once the capital of the State of Wu during the Spring and Autumn Period. It is where the King of Wu, He Lu, was buried after his death. The area was named Tiger Hill after a tiger was seen lying on the tomb of He Lu.

After stroll along the Santang Cultural Street, transfer back to hotel and evening is at your leisure.

Meal

Breakfast, Lunch

 

Hotel Soul Suzhou

Situated amidst the canals and gardens of the ancient city of Suzhou, Hotel Soul is the first contemporary boutique hotel in Suzhou, China, bringing style and modern chic to the city centre's commercial district. The hotel's design concept juxtaposes elements of modern and ancient China, celebrating the nation's remarkable swift modernization while paying tribute to its distinguished past. The hotel's designer interiors is furnished with warm lighting and a sense of urban sophistication. The concept of Hotel Soul is to portray the rapid development and miraculous achievements of China. Bringing elements of China's past alive in a contemporary urban style is its motto. The hotel's décor uses vibrant colours, fun textures, and space-age fixtures to bring guests into a futuristic frontier. Ancient and contemporary artefacts and paintings are juxtaposed to enhance the interiors and emphasize the marvels of China's modern day multi-faceted advancement.

Hotel Soul Suzhou

This morning you will be picked up from your hotel for a transfer to Railway Station for your 30 min high-speed train to Shanghai. On arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel for check in. Afterwards, you will have the opportunity to stroll the famous Bund/Waterfront and Nanjing street.

Meal

Breakfast

 

Metropark Jichen Hotel Shanghai

Metropark Jichen Hotel Shanghai is located at the intersection of Wanhangdu Road and Kangding Road. Located in Caojiadu business circle, the central intersection of Jing'an District, Changning District and Putuo District. It is adjacent to Zhongshan Park and Jing'an Temple business circle. It is only 2 kilometers away from Nanjing West Road business district and Shanghai Exhibition Center. The surrounding catering, shopping, and entertainment facilities are perfect.

Metropark Jichen Hotel Shanghai

You will be picked up this morning and start your day by visiting the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center. The focus of the exhibit is a large scale model of the entirety of urban Shanghai, showing existing buildings and approved future buildings. Other exhibits relate to Shanghai's history and planned development, including smaller scaled models focusing on particular areas of interest such as the Bund.

Proceed to the 400 years old Yu Garden. Yu in Chinese means pleasing and satisfying, and this garden was specially built for Pan's parents as a place for them to enjoy a tranquil and happy time in their old age. Outside the garden, is the famous Chen Huang Miao – an area of shops, restaurants and recreation facilities.

You will enjoy a Shanghai flavor lunch at a local restaurant including soup dumplings (Xiaolongbao). This afternoon, head to the former French Concession to explore the local life. It’s an area once leased to the French in the Luwan and Xuhui districts of the city, and is a reminder of an older Shanghai. Then ride the elevator to the top of the tallest building in Asia and the 2nd tallest building in the world, the new Shanghai Tower, for a birds-eye view of the old and new Shanghai by the Huangpu River. After your transfer back to the hotel, the rest of your evening is at your leisure.

Meal

Breakfast, Lunch

 

Metropark Jichen Hotel Shanghai

Metropark Jichen Hotel Shanghai is located at the intersection of Wanhangdu Road and Kangding Road. Located in Caojiadu business circle, the central intersection of Jing'an District, Changning District and Putuo District. It is adjacent to Zhongshan Park and Jing'an Temple business circle. It is only 2 kilometers away from Nanjing West Road business district and Shanghai Exhibition Center. The surrounding catering, shopping, and entertainment facilities are perfect.

Metropark Jichen Hotel Shanghai

Today you will be picked up from your hotel for your transfer to the airport for your onward journey.

Meal

Breakfast

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