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Best Train Routes in China

Train travel in China is a convenient way to make your way through a vast country. On most routes there are bullet trains or cheaper trains to suit any budget.  We explore the best train routes in China.

China high speed rail map

China has an incredible high speed rail network. Their bullet trains are nearly as fast as Japan’s famous trains, but far cheaper.

The high speed rail network is quite extensive, as you can see from the following map.

china bullet train map

China high speed rail map Source travel china guide.com

Unfortunately, if you want to see some great places like the incredible Zhangjiajie National Forest Park you will need to take some regular trains.

China Train Map

This China train map is useful to visualize the best routes.

best train routes in China mapped

China Train Map. Source: travel china guide.com

One notable absentee on the map above is Zhangjiajie which is located between Wuhan and Chongqing. No high speed trains service Zhangjiajie yet.

Best Train Routes in China

With an advanced rail network it is possible to create an itinerary from the bullet train routes in China.

Below are some popular train routes which you can use to create a one month China visa itinerary:

Hong Kong to Shenzhen (or Guangzhou) – the Beginning

Shenzhen / Guangzhou to Yangshuo (or Guilin) – Chinese countryside & 20 yuan photo op

Yangshuo / Guilin to Zhangjiajie train – Avatar landscape

Zhangjiajie to Chengdu train – Pandas!

Chengdu to Xian train – Terracotta Warriors

Xian to Beijing train – The Capital/Great Wall

China Itinerary 1 month by Train

Train Route China

What to See & Do in China

No visit to China would be complete without a visit to Hong Kong. Read about the 10 Best Things to Do in Hong Kong

First up is the beautiful countryside and famous 20 Yuan Mountains in our Guilin & Yanshuo Travel Guide

Don’t miss the amazing mountains in Zhangjiajie National Park which were the inspiration for the scenery in Avatar.

How could you visit China and not see those adorable pandas! Read how to see Pandas in Chengdu China.

The Terracotta Warriors are what most people come to see but there is so much more to see (and eat) in Xian our guide.

In Beijing you may just want to visit the Great Wall.

A photo of the foyer of a luxury hotel in China

How to Find Good Accommodation in China

As you might expect, the accommodation in China can be scary at times. Fortunately, through careful research we avoided any dodgy hotels which can ruin a stay.

Booking in advance is another great way to save money and ensure you don’t end up searching for last-minute accommodation over holiday periods.

We like Booking as it offers free cancellation on most rooms. This is super convenient if you need to apply for a Chinese visa as you need an itinerary for your stay in China.

Save time by checking out our recommended hotels in China:

Hong Kong Hotels

Shenzhen Hotel

Yangshuo Hotel

Guilin Hotel

Zhangjiajie Hotel

Chengdu Hotels

Xian Hotel

Beijing Hotel

Getting into and flying around China

Skyscanner is great for finding the cheapest flights but you should make sure to test how much bags will cost for the route.

Save this Travel Guide to Pinterest (To find it again later!)

An image of our Pinterest guide to the best train routes in China

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Author

  • MC Miller

    MC Miller is a travel blogger and writer who has travelled America extensively and abroad to over 80 countries. He founded Couple Travel The World in 2017. Since then, he has spent over 6 years on the road as a full time travel couple. When he not traveling he likes to spend quality time with his partner Bett, planning our their next date or romantic getaway!

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