China: Trams in the Southwest
14. - 27. March 2027

On this new tram tour in the greater Chengdu-Chongqing area, we'll explore as many tram systems as possible. I'm planning to visit Beijing, Tianshui, Xi'an, Chengdu, Anren, Dujiangyan, and Chongqing. I've also snuck in an optional sightseeing day at Chengdu...

Although many cities in China have built tram systems, their future is not secure everywhere. A city administration that establishes a new network with the stroke of a pen can just as easily shut it down. Many systems are gambles on the future and, of course, were also built according to economic policy considerations. If these gambles don't pay off, small networks without real demand or interaction with other transport systems are particularly at risk of closure. This is exactly what happened to the tram in Mengzi, which opened in 2020 but was already shut down in 2024.have options to ride the tram on basically all networks, too.

TOUR ITINERARY

Day 1 Sunday, 14 March 2027
Individual departure to China (flight ticket not included in the tour price). Departures to China usually take place in the afternoon.

Day 2, Monday, 15 March 2027
Meeting of all participants at Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) and visit to the Xijiao Light Rail. Opened in 2017, it runs for almost 9 km in the western suburbs of Beijing as an above-ground extension of Metro Line 10. A total of 31 five-car low-floor trams were procured by CRCC Dalian under license from Hitachi; one unit has already been decommissioned following an accident. Dinner and overnight stay in Beijing.

Day 3, Tuesday, 16 March 2027
After breakfast, we will visit the Yizhuang Tramway, which connects to the Beijing subway network over a distance of approximately 13 km. As usual, we will travel by bus from photo spot to photo spot; those who prefer to explore the tramway on their own are welcome to do so. Dinner and overnight stay in Beijing.

Day 4, Wednesday, 17 March 2027
In the morning, we'll experience the tourist tram in Qiangmen. Afterwards, there will certainly be time for the trolleybus service or a classic tourist itinerary. In the afternoon, we'll board the express train to Tianshui at Beijing West Station. Single compartments are not available on this train; the standard configuration of a first-class sleeper compartment consists of four beds (two upper, two lower). Dinner and overnight stay on the train.

If you don't feel like going to the Chinese capital, you can join the program today: we'll meet in the afternoon at Beijing West Station and travel together to Tianshui.

Day 5, Thursday, 18 March 2027
Day 6, Friday, 19 March 2027
I have set aside two full days for the two tram lines in Tianshui. The city of Tianshui lies amidst the mountains in a river valley, and the two tram lines follow the course of the river. The city's tram system is a typical example of Chinese politics: the newly created tram group of a semi-state-owned Chinese railway carriage and signal manufacturer needed a demonstration line, and so the city of Tianshui was asked to build it. The tram started operations in 2020 and has since been incurring annual losses of 2.5 million €, which must be covered by the already heavily indebted city administration. Dinner and overnight stay in Tianshui.

Day 6, Saturday, 20 March 2027
Early in the morning, we take the high-speed train to Xi'an, visit the trackless tram there, and return to the train-station in the afternoon to catch the next high-speed train to Chengdu. We arrive there in the early evening. Dinner and overnight stay in Chengdu.

Day 7, Sunday, 21 March 2027
Today we are visiting the tourist tram in Anren and have chartered a tram for our group to get better photographic results than just following the regular services. Parts of Anren have been renovated in the historical style of the 1900s, and a historic tram has been running for visitors ever since. Dinner and overnight stay in Chengdu.

Day 8, Monday, 22 March 2027
One of China's newest tram systems operates in the city of Dujiangyan. Astolm Citadis 302 vehicles are used on two lines covering approximately 20 km. This tram network is also not without controversy: while the city administration wants to cover the tram's losses due to its long-term appeal for tourism, the city's residents would prefer to save money in the short term and, unusually for China, are openly expressing this on social media... Dinner and overnight stay in Chengdu.

Day 9, Tuesday, 23 March 2027
In the morning, we return to Dujiangyan and take more photos of the tram in regular service. Later return to Chengdu for further tram photography along Line T2. Dinner and overnight stay in Chengdu.

Day 10, Wednesday, 24 March 2027
Line T2 offers a lot of tram movements along its approximately 40 km route and, exceptionally, runs entirely under overhead wires! We have a full day to photograph the interesting operations and travel the entire network. Dinner and overnight stay in Chengdu.

Day 11, Thursday, 25 March 2027
There are two program options for today:
The main program: more T2... and in the evening, a high-speed train ride to Chongqing.
Option 2: For those who want to experience more than just trams (it's a shame not to have a tourist sightseeing program in Beijing or Xi'an), take the high-speed train to Qiangwei this morning and, after a short bus ride, experience a genuine narrow-gauge steam train on the Jiayang Railway, a former coal railway now used for tourist traffic. In March, the entire area should be full of yellow rapeseed blossoms, giving us the opportunity to shoot beautiful photos. Afterward, we'll transfer to a boat and visit one of the largest Buddha statues in the world, the Leshan Buddha. In the evening, a short high-speed train ride to Chongqing. Dinner and overnight stay in Chongqing.

Day 12, Friday, 26 March 2027
The city of Chongqing offers public transport enthusiasts spectacular monorails, subways, metros, and even a tram! We will spend the entire day experiencing the best photo opportunities; those who wish can also explore the city independently using public transport at their own leisure. Dinner and overnight stay in Chongqing.

Day 13, Saturday, 27 March 2027
Morning transfer to the airport. The journey ends there. Arrival in Europe is usually scheduled for the following day (March 28, 2027) in the morning.

Some additional travel information:
1.) As is customary with all my trips, the itinerary can be customized: extra days before or after the trip, later arrival, or earlier departure are possible.
2.) Some participants expressed a desire to also visit the city of Delingha with its tram system. However, due to the heavy military presence of the Chinese army, Delingha is a city off-limits to foreigners. Rumor has it that approximately one-third of China's nuclear missiles, with around 100 launch sites, are located in the mountains near the city. Since my agency also has no desire to attract the attention of the authorities, I strongly advise against visiting the city independently and will not organize anything related to this.

TOUR PRICES
Program without Beijing
4.870 € per person in a shared double room (excluding international flights).
   790 € Single room supplement
   250 € Option 2 on 25 March 2027

Program including Beijing
4.980 € per person in a shared double room (excluding international flights).
   860 € Single room supplement
   250 € Option 2 on 25 March 2027
Minimum number of participants: 15, maximum number of participants: 25. Registration deadline: 31. December 2026, after which registration is possible upon request.

In the past, I have always been very generous with the minimum number of participants and have also conducted trips with far fewer than this threshold. Only to discover on-site that potential customers had used my website information for their own travel arrangements in parallel with my tour. Therefore, this trip will only take place with a minimum of 15 participants. If there are fewer, a small group surcharge will apply (to be calculated separately), or the trip will be canceled.

SERVICES
• Overnight stays in 3-4* hotels in a shared double room including breakfast
• Photo permits where required
• Tram charter on the Anren tram
• All daytime train journeys on high-speed trains in 1st or Business Class
• Sleeper train in 1st class (four-berth compartment)
• All transfers, excursions, sightseeing tours and entrance fees as per the itinerary
• Meals as per the itinerary
• Local tour guide (English speaking)
• On-site tour manager Luc Koenot (speaks German, English, French, Dutch)
• Overall tour manager Peter Patt (speaks German, English, French)

NOT INCLUDED
• Visa for China (if required)
• Local tips (bus driver, local guide) approx. €10 per participant/day
• Travel insurance (luggage, international health, trip cancellation)
• All personal expenses

NOTES
A lot of non-German citizens currently do not require a visa for tourist trips to China, but definitely need a passport that is valid for at least six months beyond their date of entry and has enough blank pages for visa stickers and stamps. Please also be sure to consult the travel advice issued by your government´s Foreign Office.
No special travel vaccinations are required; please consult the appropriate website on the net to get more information. Springtime in southern China offers pleasant temperatures, although a rain shower is always possible.

Please take care of your travel insurance: no one is immune to unpleasant health surprises or life events that make travel impossible. Cheap flights are often only partially reimbursed by the airline, and hospital and doctor visits abroad can quickly become very expensive. I work with the affordable and professional Hanse-Merkur insurance company, which offers attractive rates for all types of travel insurance:
you can find an offer for international health insurance here , and for trip cancellation insurance (and all other plans) here .

This trip is not suitable for people with reduced mobility. If you are unsure whether this trip is right for you, please contact me.

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