China 2 week holiday by rail

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION

High-speed rail forms the backbone of this journey, linking Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu and Guilin through a largely continuous overland route. Choosing rail for most of the major intercity journeys helps limit the number of domestic flight sectors and avoids additional airport transfers associated with travelling between these destinations by air.

The route is also planned as a forward-moving journey from northern China through the southwest, before making a direct connection from Guilin to Shanghai, keeping unnecessary backtracking and additional long-distance travel to a minimum. By combining extensive rail travel with a carefully structured route, the itinerary makes efficient use of existing transport networks while reducing avoidable movement between destinations.

ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE

Natural landscapes and wildlife are experienced through established scenic areas and outdoor activities rather than intensive interaction with nature. The route includes the mountain environment of the Longji Rice Terraces, where travelers hike between villages and through landscapes shaped by generations of farming, as well as the Li River and its karst scenery, explored on foot along the river and from Xianggong Hill. In Chengdu, the visit to the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base provides an opportunity to observe giant pandas and other endangered wildlife within a dedicated conservation and research setting, with no direct handling or feeding of the animals included.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY

Local food, crafts, cultural venues and community-based experiences are incorporated throughout the route, giving travelers opportunities to spend within the destinations they visit. In Xi’an, the itinerary includes local food in the Muslim Quarter and a traditional shadow puppet performance at Gao’s Courtyard, while the home visit introduces locally prepared food and cooking traditions. In the Longji area, the hike connects several rural communities and includes a visit to a century-old Zhuang wooden house, where travelers can learn about the history and daily life of the village directly from its owner. These experiences bring local businesses, food producers, cultural venues and residents into the journey rather than concentrating all activities around major tourist attractions.

EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY

The itinerary involves local people in different roles, from guides and drivers to family hosts, performers and cultural practitioners, while introducing travelers to communities with distinct cultural traditions. The route includes encounters with the Hui Muslim community in Xi’an, a local family sharing everyday cooking traditions, and Zhuang villagers in the Longji area, alongside experiences with traditional Chinese folk arts such as shadow puppetry and tea culture in Chengdu. By working with local service providers and incorporating different communities and cultural practices into the itinerary, the journey gives travelers access to local knowledge and perspectives that would be difficult to experience through sightseeing alone.