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PTG Tours · Escorted tour

China in Your Hand

Escorted 12-day China tour: Beijing to Shanghai by rail and steam train

Illustration of China in Your Hand

PTG Tours operates this 12-day escorted tour across China, starting in Beijing and ending in Shanghai's water town of Zhujiajiao, with English-speaking guides throughout. Four nights in Beijing take in the Forbidden City, the Great Wall at Juyongguan, and the China Railway Museum's collection of historic locomotives, before a 5.5-hour bullet train to Xi'an for the Terracotta Warriors. A second bullet train carries the group to Chengdu to see the giant pandas, followed by a day trip to ride the Jiayang Steam Train, a vintage narrow-gauge locomotive, and see the Leshan Giant Buddha. The tour then flies to Shanghai for the Bund, Yu Garden, and a private boat ride through Zhujiajiao's canals. The operator notes 'a reasonable amount of walking' is required, including an optional Great Wall hike. Hotels are 4-star throughout, with most meals and gratuities included. The pace and included sights suit travelers who want China's headline landmarks and a taste of its railway heritage on one guided trip.

What to know before you look closer

  • UK international flights are not included in the GBP 1,875 tour-only price; a 13-day flight-inclusive option with direct Air China flights from Heathrow is GBP 2,850.
  • The evidence lists only one scheduled departure, in March 2026; confirm current availability directly with PTG Tours.
  • Optional activities, souvenirs, laundry, and additional hotel services such as minibar or spa are not included.
  • China tourist visa application and processing fees are not included.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Beijing

    Arrival in Beijing

    Arrival into Beijing, meet your guide at the airport, transfer to hotel. Free time and dinner at the hotel.

  2. Day 2overnight: Beijing

    Imperial Grandeur & Cultural Treasures

    Visit the Forbidden City, a 600-year-old palace complex once home to Ming and Qing emperors. Lunch of Crispy Peking Duck. Visit the Summer Palace and Kunming Lake (UNESCO site). Tea ceremony and Chinese calligraphy introduction.

  3. Day 3overnight: Beijing

    Great Wall Adventure & History

    Visit one of the best-preserved sections of the Great Wall - Juyongguan - with a chance to hike along this section.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Beijing

    Steel Tracks & Sacred Paths

    Visit the Eastern Suburbs Exhibition Hall of the China Railway Museum, displaying more than 140 historic locomotives and carriages from the earliest surviving steam engine of 1881 to flagship diesels and electrics. Afternoon visit to the Temple of Heaven.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Xi'an

    Xi'an by Speed & Charm by Night

    Transfer to the railway station for an approximately 5.5-hour bullet train ride to Xi'an. Evening stroll around the illuminated Bell and Drum Towers.

  6. Day 6overnight: Xi'an

    Xi'an's Ancient Wonders

    Visit the Terracotta Warriors. Lunch of Shaanxi specialties including Biangbiang noodles. Walk along the city wall. Visit Big Wild Goose Pagoda Square.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Chengdu

    Train to Chengdu and Giant Pandas

    Bullet train to Chengdu (approximately 3.5 hours). Visit Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding with electric cart rides included. Visit Kuanzhai Alley.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Chengdu

    Heritage Rails & A Divine Colossus

    Drive to Jianwei County, Leshan City to ride the Jiayang Steam Train, a vintage coal-fired narrow-gauge locomotive through Sichuan countryside. Visit the Great Buddha of Leshan, a 71-metre stone-carved seated Buddha. Drive back to Chengdu.

  9. Day 9railovernight: Shanghai

    Shanghai Maglev & Metro Experience

    Drive back to Chengdu and fly to Shanghai Pudong Airport. Ride the Shanghai Maglev train to Longyang Road Station, then the Shanghai Metro.

  10. Day 10overnight: Shanghai

    Shanghai's Historic & Modern Charms

    Visit Chenghuang Miao and Yu Garden. Lunch of Shanghai-style soup dumplings. Visit the Jade Buddha Temple. Stroll the Bund. Evening 45-minute night cruise on the Huangpu River.

  11. Day 11overnight: Shanghai

    Water Town Charm

    Visit Zhujiajiao, the 'Venice of the East', with a private wooden boat ride along its ancient canals.

  12. Day 12

    Departure

    Check out of the hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3Visit one of the best-preserved sections of the Great Wall, Juyongguan, with a chance to hike along this section.
  • Day 5An approximately 5.5-hour bullet train ride from Beijing to Xi'an, followed by an evening stroll around the illuminated Bell and Drum Towers.
  • Day 7Bullet train to Chengdu, about 3.5 hours, then a visit to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding with electric cart rides included.
  • Day 8Ride the Jiayang Steam Train, a vintage coal-fired narrow-gauge locomotive through Sichuan countryside, then visit the Leshan Giant Buddha.
  • Day 11Private wooden boat ride along the ancient canals of Zhujiajiao, the 'Venice of the East'.

Included

  • All transfers as per itinerary (airport pick-up/drop-off on designated days)
  • High speed train ticket (second class) Beijing to Xi'an
  • High speed train ticket (second class) Xi'an to Chengdu
  • Air ticket (economy) Chengdu to Shanghai
  • Daily breakfast at hotels
  • 6 lunches at selected local restaurants including Peking Duck, Biangbiang Noodles, Xiaolongbao
  • 5 dinners including Welcome Dinner Day 1 and Farewell Dinner Day 11
  • English-speaking guides throughout
  • Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Great Wall (Juyongguan), China Railway Museum, Temple of Heaven, Terracotta Warriors, City Wall
  • Chengdu Giant Panda Base with electric cart rides
  • Jiayang Steam Train Ride
  • Leshan Giant Buddha
  • Yu Garden
  • Night Cruise Along the Bund
  • Gratuities for guides and drivers
  • Air-conditioned tour vehicles
  • Shanghai Maglev Train & Metro
  • Zhujiajiao private boat ride

Not included

  • Optional activities, souvenirs, laundry, etc.
  • China tourist visa application/processing fees (if any)
  • Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
  • Additional hotel services (e.g. minibar, spa)
  • UK international flights (unless flight-inclusive option selected)

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price?
Yes. High-speed second-class train tickets from Beijing to Xi'an and Xi'an to Chengdu are included, along with the Jiayang Steam Train ride in Sichuan and the Shanghai Maglev and Metro.
Is this tour escorted or independent?
It is a fully escorted tour with English-speaking guides throughout.
What hotels are used?
4-star hotels throughout: Hampton by Hilton Beijing Daxing World Flower, Holiday Inn Express Xi'an Bell Tower, Holiday Inn Express Chengdu West Gate, and Holiday Inn Express Shanghai Hongqiao North.
What meals are included?
Daily breakfast, 6 lunches including Peking Duck and Biangbiang Noodles, and 5 dinners including the Day 1 Welcome Dinner and the Day 11 Farewell Dinner.
What is not included?
UK international flights (unless the flight-inclusive option is booked), optional activities, souvenirs, laundry, additional hotel services such as minibar or spa, and China tourist visa fees.
When does this tour run?
The evidence lists one departure, in March 2026, priced from GBP 1,875.

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