15 Rail Journeys in China Worth Booking

1.Suzhou Private Day Trip from Shanghai with Bullet Train Option

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 366 reviews · from $193Our pick

Travel from Shanghai to Suzhou with a private guide such as Annie, Roy, Melinda, or Sammi. Choose a private car, bullet train, or both, then see Humble Administrator’s Garden, Pingjiang Road, Tiger Hill, and Shantang Street. Add lunch, garden admission, and a canal boat for a more complete day.

“We have a great guide, Annie. She is knowledgeable. We learnt a lot from her, especially the meaning behind the beautiful Chinese language and China history.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Private Suzhou Day Trip from Shanghai by Bullet Train with All Inclusive Option

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 283 reviews · from $220

Travel from Shanghai to Suzhou by bullet train with a private guide such as Caroline, Jane, Berlin, or Queena. Visit the Humble Administrator’s Garden, Pingjiang Road, Panmen Gate, Shantang Street, and the Grand Canal. The all-inclusive option adds entry fees, a rickshaw ride, and a canal boat trip.

“Very enjoyable tour. Caroline explained a lot about Suzhou and broader China history. She was very reactive to our questions and went all the way to answer them, be that about the historical site or useful tips for our later days in Shanghai.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Beijing to Xi’an See Terracotta Warriors with Bullet Train Round Trip Transfer

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 238 reviews · from $564

You leave Beijing at 6:30am, ride the G91 bullet train to Xi'an, and meet a private guide such as Serena, Alice, Lily, or Bo. A private car takes you to the Terracotta Warriors for an afternoon tour, local Biang Biang noodles, and a return train to Beijing. Cathy coordinates the day by WhatsApp.

“Amazing tour to experience 2000 years old history. The terracotta warriors is a must visit site. Cathy and Lily are excellent tour guides.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Flexible Hangzhou Private Tour from Shanghai by Bullet Train

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 220 reviews · from $276

Travel from Shanghai to Hangzhou with a private guide such as Caroline, Berlin, Queena, or Lin. The 10 to 11-hour day includes hotel pickup in central Shanghai, bullet train tickets, a private car, local lunch, West Lake, and Longjing tea country. Check the package carefully, since the boat ride and attraction admission may require the all-inclusive upgrade.

“Caroline was a fantastic guide!! Saw so many amazing sits, helped us get the best shots. The day was fantastic, would recommend this trip to everyone.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Southern Great Wall Day Trip by Bullet Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 179 reviews · 13 hours - 1 day · from $399

Travel from Shanghai to Linhai by high-speed train for a private day of wall walking, East Lake views, local food, and old-town streets. Your English-speaking guide, often guides such as Summer, Emma, Jenny, or Jordan, handles the train, transfers, lunch, and translation. Expect a long but well-organized 13-hour day with stairs and plenty of walking.

“Excellent service from hotel pick up to hotel return. Emma had a lot of relevant info to share and is fluent in english.”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.All-Inclusive Suzhou Day Trip by Bullet Train

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 137 reviews · 9 hours · from $288

Travel from Shanghai to Suzhou by bullet train with a private English-speaking guide, then visit the Humble Administrator’s Garden, take a canal boat and private rickshaw, eat a local lunch, and explore Panmen Gate and Shantang Street. Guides such as Caroline, Berlin, Lulu, and Nini are praised for clear explanations and flexible pacing.

“The day to Suzhou was fantastic. The weather this time of year was raining and cold; however the day trip was really good. Caroline was a great guide! Caroline explained the history and significance of many things in the Garden and Suzhou. Our lunch was amazing - the best meal I have had in China. I highly recommend this tour, I had a great time!”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Southern Great Wall Day Trip by Bullet Train

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 124 reviews · from $399

Travel from Shanghai to Linhai by bullet train on a private day trip with hotel pickup, lunch, a local guide, and return transfers. Visit East Lake, walk the Jiangnan Great Wall, and explore Ziyang Old Street. Guides including Summer, Emma, Jordan, Jenny, and Li have earned praise for their care and flexibility.

“This is a wonderful way to learn and understand some historical and meaningful information about chinese culture and philosophy of life. Great day with many detail informations and a very well organized tour! Its a must!!! Thank you!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Private Guided Tour to Hangzhou by Bullet Train

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 108 reviews · 9 hours · from $314

Travel from Shanghai to Hangzhou by private car and one-hour bullet train, then explore West Lake by boat, walk through Longjing tea country, enjoy a local lunch and tasting, and visit Lingyin Temple. Guides such as Caroline, Berlin, Queena, and Lin are praised for strong English, careful timing, and flexible planning.

“Great day tour from Shanghai. Our guide Berlin was very nice and knowledgeable, she made the day very enjoyable and we learned a lot. We recommend her to everybody when in Shangai!”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Hangzhou Private Customized Day Trip from Shanghai by Bullet Train

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 95 reviews · from $275

Travel from Shanghai to Hangzhou by 2nd-class bullet train on a private day trip with hotel pickup, a guide, and a private car. Visit Feilai Peak, Lingyin Temple, Longjing tea fields, West Lake, and Hefang Street. Choose the lunch and entrance-fee option if you want the simplest day.

“Everything was great. There wasn't anything to complain about the trip Especially our guide Lily was very knowledgeable and helpful . I immediately recommend to my friends!”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Arrival Transfer by High-Speed Maglev Train: Shanghai Pudong International Airport to Hotel

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 58 reviews · from $78

Meet your English-speaking representative at Pudong Airport, walk to the Maglev station, and ride 32 kilometers to Longyang Road in about eight minutes. A private vehicle then takes you to your Shanghai hotel. The service is private, flexible, and useful for first-time arrivals, though you must handle luggage through the station.

“A great and fast service to Shanghai ! A must do, at least for once.”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Xi’an Terracotta Tour by Train-All Tickets Included

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 27 reviews · 17 hours · from $438

Leave your Beijing hotel before dawn, ride a 4.5-hour bullet train to Xi’an, and visit the Terracotta Warriors with a private English-speaking guide. Henry, Lucia, Jasmine, and other guides are praised for clear storytelling and thoughtful help. All transport, museum entry, and second-class train tickets are included.

“We had a really enjoyable day. Everything worked so smoothly with very friendly booking assistance and very kind drivers to our fantastic tour guide Henry. We would always recomend this as a day trip from Beijing since the bullet train is also an experience in itself. Thank you for giving us a great day!”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Bullet Train Tour to Hanging Temple&Yungang Grottoes

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 16 reviews · 10 hours · from $348

Travel from your Beijing hotel to Datong by bullet train, then visit the 1,500-year-old Hanging Temple and UNESCO-listed Yungang Grottoes with a private English-speaking guide. Guides such as Ana and Emma have provided detailed history and careful help on the cliffside temple. Entrance fees, train tickets, drivers, and hotel transfers are included.

“wonderful day out, Emma my guide was amazing. told me all the history of the Grottoes and Hanging Temple. She made sure I was safe on the Hanging Temple as im not the best with heights. Lunch was probably the best meal I had on my visit to China. food was tasty and freshly made. our driver for the day was great, lovely man as was the pick up and drop off driver from the bullet train. It was a very organised tour from start to finish. Thank you for helping to create wonderful memories”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Hangzhou Private Day Trip by Bullet Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 15 reviews · 8 hours · from $300

Travel from Shanghai to Hangzhou by second-class high-speed train, then explore UNESCO-listed West Lake, HuaGang Park, Longjing tea fields, and either Lingyin Temple or Huxueyan Former Residence. A private multilingual guide, local lunch, tea tasting, boat ride, hotel transfers, and train tickets are included. Guides named David and Lola have received especially warm praise.

“we had a wonderful experience! the transportation was well organized and explained to us, so no chances of getting lost. our guide lola is an awesome. she is a very nice and caring person, who made sure that we were having a nice time. i can only recommend this activity!”

Check availability →Read our full review

14.Beijing to Xi’an Terracotta Tour by Roundtrip Bullet Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 13 reviews · from $180

Travel from Beijing to Xi’an by 4.5-hour bullet train, then visit the Terracotta Warriors with a private guide such as Rosa. Your Beijing and Xi’an transfers are arranged, museum entry is included, and train-ticket booking help is free. It is a very long day, but one of China’s most efficient ways to see this famous site from Beijing.

“Since it was our first time in China, we were very excited about the program. Cindy was very helpful with booking the train tickets. Everything went smoothly. The transfers arrived on time, with nice, polite drivers. The tour guide was a fairy, very prepared and showed and explained everything in detail. We had a great time. If you want to entrust your trip to a professional team, I can only recommend them”

Check availability →Read our full review

15.Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Glacier Cableway with Scenic Train Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · from $44Best value

Choose a private or self-guided day at Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, with glacier cableway access, Blue Moon Valley, scenic train rides, and optional Spruce, Yak, or Impression Lijiang visits. Online support through WeChat helps you manage the mountain’s many stops, while guides such as Jimmy and Adam can provide personal assistance on selected options.

“Very easy peasy tour, the staff was very helpful in Wechat, stayed connected all the time to support. All the needed info was shared beforehand making the self-guided tour smooth and easy. The itineraries can be adjusted as per our requests and preferences. The driver was also polite and informative.”

Check availability →Read our full review