While flying between Chinese cities is certainly an option, when you’re visiting a country with the world’s third-largest railway network and a fascinating blend of traditional trains and sleek bullet trains, why not include a train journey in your travel plans?
While the Shanghai to Beijing route offers a comfortable and economical option, there are other train routes that take you through some of China’s most stunning landscapes. Bookmundi highlights the most scenic train journeys in China—trips that are just as spectacular and memorable as the destinations themselves!
Beijing-Lhasa (above image)
Known as the Sky Road, the Beijing to Lhasa train route holds the title of the highest railway line in the world. A majority of the journey takes place above 4,000 meters, with some sections reaching staggering altitudes of 5,000 meters. The route features 675 bridges crossing rivers and ravines, and it winds through the enigmatic Hoh Xil Nature Reserve, also known as the “Death Region” due to its extreme climate. Key highlights of this remarkable journey include ancient towns like Golmud, the stunning Tanggula Pass, and glimpses of nomadic herders tending to their livestock.
Beijing-Guangzhou
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The train route between Beijing and Guangzhou is one of the best ways to explore eastern China. Linked by a high-speed bullet train, this journey takes you from a bustling capital city filled with skyscrapers and modern architecture to ancient villages and suburbs near Guangdong Province. The ride provides a captivating cross-country tour of China, passing over the Yangtze River, through scenic mountains and hills, and across forests and streams. Along the way, you’ll witness the striking contrast between urban and rural life, as well as the differences between northern and southern China.
Urumqi-Kashgar
The route between Urumqi and Kashgar, the most western route in the country, runs through the western desert areas of China and offers insights into the country’s medieval past. Uyghur’s claim to fame might come with the fact that it was a part of the legendary Silk Road, but the modern-day traveler is more likely to remember it because of its people, those lively bazaars and beautiful minarets. The journey also passes some of the remotest desert locations in the country and offers fascinating views of the red-sandstone Flaming Mountains as well as those snowy Tian Shan peaks. Bookmundi recommends you to reserve time for the Sunday Market held in Kashgar, a market famous for its Central Asian influence and exotic food.
Shanghai-Hanghzou
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Hanghzou is one of the most beautiful cities in China and is known for its breathtaking locales and ancient relics. The mesmerizing West Lake is the city’s star attraction and the mountains also add a sense of mystery to your journey. Shanghai, on the other hand, doesn’t need any introduction. The bullet train takes just one hour, but it still manages to showcase a fascinating side of Chinese culture and natural beauty.
Panzhihua-Kunming
This journey originates in the Sichuan province of Panzhihua and snakes its way to Kunming, the capital of Yunnan. The journey takes roughly 6 hours in one of the few green trains in the country. Oh, what we mean by green trains is that the train features an entire wet market and buyers and sellers climb at various stops, transforming the seatless carriages into trade floors where they trade everything, right from fruits and vegetables to animals and livestock. Sure to be a huge culture shock, but incredibly fascinating nonetheless.
Beijing-Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Think of this route as a trailer to what the Trans-Siberian railway has to offer. The journey not only provides you a unique glimpse of the Great Wall of China, but also introduces you to all kinds of sandy towns and historic houses located close to the border. Moreover, the journey passes the great Gobi desert where you get to see sandy frontier towns and two-humped Bactrian camels. However, the most interesting aspect of the journey takes place at the border when the bogies need to be switched to the Russian gauge. Every coach has to be lifted so that the wheels can be replaced before being lowered back on the tracks. The process takes several hours, but it is certainly something that you don’t get to see every day.
Nanning-Guilin
The Nanning Guilin route winds through those mysterious karst mountains, and this alone makes the journey worth your while. In fact, the Chinese have actually termed Guilin’s scenes as the best under heaven. Apart from mountain views, the journey also offers views of beautiful paddy fields and breathtaking river views.
Shaanxi-Chengdu
Deciding between checking out ancient terracotta warriors and playing with giant pandas is something no traveler wants to do, and thankfully, you don’t need to make that dreaded decision anymore. The Shaanxi-Chengdu route connects both these heavyweights and also brings you closer to the numerous bridges, remote sceneries and the mesmerizing rivers of Northeast Sichuan.
Beijing-Kowloon, Hong Kong
And if you’re really thinking about living it large (in terms of train journeys, that is), take a trip from Beijing to Kowloon, a journey that lets you cover almost 2/3rds of the country’s landscape, scenery and culture. It would be much quicker to simply board a flight, but where is the fun in that! After all, what journey would start with scenes of a high-tech city and sky-hugging skyscrapers, pass through the scenic Yangtze River, cross as many as 160 tunnels and 790 bridges and end in a city that feels like it has an entirely different culture.
Shanghai-Beijing
Shanghai and Beijing are two of the biggest heavyweights in China and most tourists usually end up visiting both. The introduction of sleek bullet trains that run at speeds of more than 250 kph. ensures that the journey doesn’t take longer than 5 hours, but most of those sights and scenes pass as a blur. While you might not be able to boast of exploring the country’s fascinating beauty on this journey, you could still check out its bullet trains and modern infrastructure. Think of this journey as an insight into China at its fastest.
Flying is always an option, but why not bring in some romance into your journeys by traveling the way your ancestors used to. There are some destinations where train rides can be incredibly rewarding, and China is certainly one of them. Each of these journeys let you discover Chinese culture and landscapes at their beautiful best.
Now that you know all about the best train journeys in China, why not also check out the Top 15 Best Attractions in China.