China: Trams in the South (plus Hongkong plus Taiwan)
31. October - 17. November 2025 (tour confirmed)
On this new tram tour we will explore as many southern Chinese tram systems as possible. The detailed planning is still ongoing, and our ideas include visits to Chengdu, Dujiangyan, Kunming, Qiubei, Mengzi, Sanya, Guandong and Shenzhen. The monorail in Guan'an and of course the legendary monorail routes in Chongqing are also a must. If there is still time, extensions in Hong Kong and Taiwan would be possible.
Problem: there is too much to see in a limited travel time - and anyone who knows me is aware of the fact that I like to stop for one or two tourist highlights. Being in Chengdu without having seen the pandas or driving past Guilin without visiting the Karst Mountains...
Although many cities have built tram systems, their future is not guaranteed everywhere. A city administration that sets up a new network with the stroke of a pen can also quickly shut down operations again. Many lines are bets on the future and were of course built based on economic considerations. If these bets are not fulfilled, small networks without real demand or interaction with other transport systems are at risk of extinction.
The main purpose of this tour will be to take photos and videos from the trams visited but we have options to ride the tram on basically all networks, too.
TOUR ITINERARY
Day 1 Friday, 31 October 2025
Individual departure to China (airline ticket not included in the tour price).
Day 2 Saturday, 1 November 2025
Arrival in Kunming. Arrival there in the afternoon or evening (individual hotel transfers are provided for each arrival). Dinner and overnight stay in Kunming.
Day 3 Sunday, 2 November 2025
After breakfast, we take the high-speed train to Puzhehei. The Qiubei tram starts right outside the station. We spend the rest of the day along the 13 km tram route, traveling from photo spot to photo spot by bus. Riding the tram is also possible at own cost. Dinner and overnight stay in Puzhehei.
Day 4 Monday, 3 November 2025
Puzhehei is one of the local tourist hotspots because its scenery, with rivers, lakes, and karst mountains, is very similar to that of Guilin. For early risers, I'm offering a trip to the karst mountains this morning to experience a magnificent sunrise behind the karst mountains. During the day, we'll stay with the Qiubei tram again and take photos along the route. There's another optional program on the karst hills for sunset. Dinner and overnight in Puzhehei.
As already mentioned in the newsletter, the tram in neighboring Mengzi has suspended its service after just a few years of running. The official reason is maintenance work. My local contact however says this is just a lie as the Communist Party of China obviously cannot admit that the municipality is bankrupt and cannot afford the millions of dollars in losses incurred by the tram. Therefore, I assume we won't see Mengzi in action. However, if I'm wrong and the tram runs again in November 2025, one day of tourism in Puzhehei/Qiubei will be missed, and we will visit the tram in Mengzi instead.
Day 5 Tuesday, 4 November 2025
Free time in the morning for more individual tram photos or an optional photoshoot with a fisherman, his boat, and a cormorant. Return to the train station at noon and take the train back to Kunming. Transfer to the airport. Kunming Airport uses three Chinese-made trams for transportation within the airport on a 1.8 km route. Due to the security situation at the airport, I cannot currently guarantee that we will be able to photograph the tram a) at all and b) outside of passenger service. Evening flight to Sanya on Hainan Island. Dinner and overnight stay in Sanya.
Day 6, Wednesday, 5 November 2025
The tram in Sanya runs along a very urban route and offers countless photo opportunities. We will travel the entire route by bus. In the afternoon, we will visit the Buddhist Nanshan Temple and the world's largest Guanyin statue. Dinner and overnight stay in Sanya.
Day 7, Thursday, 6 November 2025
Early in the morning, we will depart for the airport with a packed breakfast and from there to Guangzhou. We will travel directly to the Haizhou Island tram and spend the rest of the day along the route. Dinner and overnight stay in Guangzhou.
Day 8, Friday, November 7, 2025
Today we will visit the Nanhai New Transit Railway in neighbouring Foshan. The light railway runs for just over 14 km using modern domestic cars. Dinner and overnight in Guangzhou.
Day 9 Saturday, 8 November 2025
Guangzhou's second tram line runs through the Huanpu district; meanwhile (in June 2025), another, almost 5 km long section was newly inaugurated. We'll spend the entire day photographing the tram lines and then take our bus to Longhua (Shenzhen) in the evening. Dinner and overnight stay in Longhua.
Day 10 Sunday, 10 November 2025
Here, too, we have a full day to photograph the interesting operation on the 11 km long route. As is common practice in China, the trams run without catenary. In the evening, we take the express train from Shenzhen to Hong Kong Kowloon. Dinner and overnight stay in Hong Kong.
The Chinese portion of our tram tour ends in Shenzhen. Those who want to fly home today can skip dinner with the group and travel directly to the airport in the evening. Arrival in Europe is the following day (Monday, 10 November).
End of the China portion of our tour.
Beginning of the Hong Kong portion of our tour.
Those who wish to join the program in Hong Kong will fly from Europe to Hong Kong the day before (8 November) and meet the group at the hotel on 9 November.
Day 11, Monday, 10 November 2025
We will spend the day on the classic "Ding-Ding" tram in the city center. Equipped with an Octopus card, we will travel flexibly on the double-decker network. The Octopus card is already pre-loaded with 100 HK Dollars and allows easy and hassle-free use of all public transport in the city. It can be reloaded at many sales points. Refund of unused credits is only possible for privately paid top-ups. A visit to the tram depot is also planned. Dinner and overnight stay in Hong Kong.
Day 12, Tuesday, 11 November 2025
The Tuen Mun Tram, a highly interesting light rail line with lots of traffic, operates in the northeast of the territory. We'll take our bus to the best photo spots and also explore the new sections that have been opened recently! In the late afternoon, we'll transfer by bus to Chep Lap Kok Airport and fly to Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Dinner and overnight stay in Kaohsiung.
The Hong Kong portion of our tram tour ends at the airport in Hong Kong. Those who want to return home today will fly to Europe in the evening. Arrival there is the following day (Wednesday, 12 November).
End of the Hong Kong portion of our tour.
Beginning of the Taiwan portion of our tour.
Those who want to join the program now and only book the Taiwan portion will fly from Europe to Kaohsiung the day before (10 November) and meet the group at the hotel on 11 November.
Day 13, Wednesday, 12 November 2025
The ground-level, nearly 20-km circular route of the light rail system through downtown Kaohsiung is run by CAF trams without overhead lines, similar to many other cities on the Chinese mainland. We spend the entire day along the route, traveling by bus from photo point to photo point. Some important sights, such as the Sanfong Temple, are located right next to the line. Another attraction is the night market in the Liuhe district, which offers typical Taiwanese delicacies. Dinner and overnight stay in Kaohsiung.
Day 14, Thursday, 13 November 2025
In the morning, we photograph the tram again. Around noon, we head to Zuoying Station and take one of the numerous high-speed trains to Taichung. Here, we make a short stop for the local metro and then take the high-speed train to Taipei in the evening. Dinner and overnight stay in Taipei.
Day 15, Friday, 14 November 2025
Line K is on our itinerary today: a 7.7 km light rail line in Ankeng, a southern district of New Taipei City. It uses locally manufactured vehicles. Dinner and overnight stay in Taipei.
Day 16 Saturday, 15 November 2025
The second line, also operated by Taiwanese vehicles, runs in the Danhei district, but this time under the auspices of Taipei Metro. A nearly 20 km route and a frequent service offer numerous photo opportunities. Dinner and overnight stay in Taipei.
Day 17 Sunday, 16 November 2025
In the morning, we visit the Danhei LRT again. Afterwards, we take a city tour to see Taipei´s most important sights, arriving at the airport in the late afternoon. Departure to Europe in the evening.
Day 18 Monday, 17 November 2025
Arrival in Europe in the morning.
TOUR PRICES
CHINA
3,980 € per person in a shared double room (excluding international flights)
550 € single room supplement
Minimum number of participants: 15, maximum number: 25. Registration deadline: 31 July 2025, thereafter upon request.
HONG KONG
980 € per person in a shared double room (excluding international flights)
110 € single room supplement
Minimum number of participants: 15, maximum number: 25. Registration deadline: July 31, 2025, thereafter upon request.
TAIWAN
1,895 € per person in a shared double room (excluding international flights)
640 € single room supplement
Minimum number of participants: 15, maximum number: 25. Registration deadline: July 31, 2025, thereafter upon request.
SERVICES included
CHINA
• Domestic flights in economy class (1x 20 kg baggage allowance) Kunming-Sanya, Sanya-Guangzhou
• Overnight stays in 3-4* hotels in a shared twin room including breakfast
• Dinner as per itinerary
• All high-speed trains in 1st or business class
• Train from Shenzhen to Kowloon in 2nd class (if HK program booked)
• All transfers, excursions, sightseeing, and entrance fees as per itinerary
• Local tour guide (English-speaking)
• Expert Tour Manager Luc Koenot (speaks D, E, F, NL)
• Tour Manager Peter Patt (speaks D, E, F)
SERVICES included
HONG KONG
• Overnight stays in 4* hotels in a shared twin room including breakfast
• Octopus card with 100 HKD top-up
• All transfers, excursions, sightseeing, and entrance fees as per itinerary
• Local tour guide (English-speaking)
• Expert Tour Manager Luc Koenot (speaks D, E, F, NL)
• Tour Manager Peter Patt (speaks D, E, F)
SERVICES included
TAIWAN
• Overnight stays in shared twin room accommodation in 3-4* hotels, including breakfast
• Other meals as per itinerary
• Bullet train ride from Kaohsiung to Taichung to Taipei
• All transfers, excursions, sightseeing, and entrance fees as per itinerary
• Local tour guide (English-speaking)
• Expert Tour Manager Luc Koenot (speaks D, E, F, NL)
• Tour Manager Peter Patt (speaks D, E, F)
NOT INCLUDED (for all parts of the trip)
• Visa for China (if required)
• Customary tips (bus driver, local tour guide) approx. 20 € per participant/day
• Travel insurance (luggage, international health insurance, trip cancellation costs)
• All personal expenses
NOTES
German citizens do not currently require a visa to enter China for tourism purposes, but they definitely need a passport that is valid for at least 6 months upon entry and has enough blank pages for visa stickers and stamps. The same applies to Hong Kong and Taiwan. Please also pay attention to the information provided by your government! Travelers of other nationalities should inquire about their specific entry requirements.
Dedicated travel vaccinations are not required; you can find all the details on the web. In late autumn, temperatures in Southern China are pleasant, although rain showers cannot be ruled out.
Please think about your travel insurance: no one is immune to unpleasant health surprises or life events that make traveling impossible. Cheap airfares are often non-refundable except for a small amount from the airline, and hospital and doctor visits abroad can quickly reach very unpleasant levels.
This trip is not suitable for people with limited mobility. If you are unsure whether this trip is suitable for you, please contact me.
© Photo credits on this page: Tommy Ma, Chinese Tourist Office, Yunnan Tourist Office