China City Guides
by Train

Beijing 北京 Imperial capital, modern megacity, gateway to the Great Wall Best for First Trip, History Main station Beijing South 21 attractions 4 stations Full guide Xi'an 西安 Capital of 13 dynasties — where the Silk Road began Best for History, First Trip Main station Xi'an North 19 attractions 4 stations Full guide Guilin 桂林 Karst mountains, Li River views, Yangshuo slow days, and practical train planning. Best for Nature, Slow Travel Main station Guilin North 12 attractions 4 stations Full guide Shanghai 上海 Skyline views, walkable neighborhoods, xiaolongbao, and China's easiest East China rail hub. Best for First Trip, Food Main station Shanghai Hongqiao 12 attractions 5 stations Full guide Hangzhou 杭州 West Lake walks, Longjing tea hills, gentle food, and easy high-speed trains from Shanghai. Best for Nature, Food Main station Hangzhou East 10 attractions 4 stations Full guide Suzhou 苏州 Classical gardens, canal walks, Suzhou noodles, and the easiest old-city day trip from Shanghai. Best for History, Easy Rail Main station Suzhou 12 attractions 5 stations Full guide Zhengzhou 郑州 China's railway crossroads — 2h to everywhere, one museum worth the layover Best for Easy Rail, History Main station Zhengzhou East 2 stations Full guide Lanzhou 兰州 The Silk Road's beef noodle capital — hand-pulled lamian at 7am, Yellow River views at sunset Best for Food, Silk Road Main station Lanzhou West 2 stations Full guide Datong 大同 51,000 Buddhas carved in stone — 1.5 hours from Beijing, 1,500 years back in time Best for History, Temples Main station Datong South 1 station Full guide Guiyang 贵阳 Southwest China's sour-spicy kitchen — summer escape at 1,100m, rail hub for Guizhou, Guangxi and Yunnan Best for Nature, Food Main station Guiyang North 2 stations Full guide Yiwu 义乌 The world's largest wholesale market — 75,000 booths, every product you've ever seen, open to anyone with comfortable... Best for Markets, Easy Rail Main station Yiwu 1 station Full guide