The following train route takes travelers on a 6 day journey starting in Shanghai. The train will travel from Shanghai to Shenzhen, Shenzhen to Nanning, Nanning to Changsha, Changsha to Zhengzhou, and Zhengzhou back to Shanghai. Due to long train rides, the train will be traveling primarily during the night, so each day will allow time for learning followed by off train activities. Because I am not sure how long it takes to unhook and rehook up to a train, the destinations were chosen by the initial start and stop of trains so that the Classroom on Choo Choo could be hooked up for the total duration of the train ride. The only case where the Classroom on Choo Choo would need to be hooked on during the middle of a train s trip is in Changsha, however in this case the train is stopped for 21 minutes, significantly longer than most stops. The train route was configured using: http://www.chinahighlights.com/china-trains/ search-result.asp. Below shows a map of the route highlighted in pink, and the following pages provide train ride details and activity suggestions for each city.
Day 1 to Day 2
Shenzhen attractions: While the city does not have as many historical attractions as other famous cities in China, it has created a number of excellent theme parks which entertain while teaching visitors about China and the world. Splendid China and China Folk Culture Villages introduce visitors to China's long history and varied cultures, while Window of the World will take you to every corner of the world in one day. Additionally, if you want to make your stay even more luxurious, visit Happy Valley, the largest of the theme parks in the city, situated on a picturesque coastline. More attractions are: Dameisha & Xiaomeisha Scenic Area, Meridian View Center, Minsk World, Overseas Chinese Town East, Shenzhen Safari Park, Xiaomeisha Sea World and Xili Lake Holiday Resort. Come enjoy the coastal view, the theme parks, the city, and especially the local people. While the city has had to overcome a number of obstacles resulting from this population swell, the city has also benefited from the increased diversity. Workers come to the city from almost every part of china, bringing with them their local traditions and cuisines. Visitors are able to sample foods from each of China's famous eight cuisines. Local dishes are also worth trying - Kejia is one of the many dishes that should not be missed. http://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/guangdong/shenzhen/
Day 2 to Day 3 Nanning attractions: As the linking point of the tour route from Guilin to Beihai, Nanning has a lot of attractions to offer: grand De Tian Waterfall, beautiful Mt. Qingxiu and Mt. Daming, quiet Yangmei Ancient Town, mysterious Huashan Mural as well as scattered parks and gardens. Visitors will be enchanted and may want to spend more time in the city. Delicious local foods such as various porridges and rice noodles as well as Suanye (fermented fruits and vegetables) cannot be enjoyed anywhere else in China. http://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/guangxi/nanning/
Day 3 to Day 4 Changsha attractions: The tomb excavation site of Mawangdui found in the eastern suburb of the city is a family graveyard from that period. The most fantastic historical relic should be the wellpreserved mummified remains of a Western Han Dynasty woman excavated from the tombs. Some of thousands of relics unearthed include silk products, paintings, lacquer works, potteries, bamboo slips used for writing, weapons and herbs, all of which are exhibited in Hunan Provincial Museum
Changsha also has rich historical heritages including old wall remains, tomb sites, religious temples and buildings. What earns the city its reputation among visitors are two things. One is a great man in recent history, Chairman Mao Zedong and the other is Yuelu Academy, a time-honored academic school perched on the scenic Yuelu Mountain. Originally built in 976 during the Song Dynasty, the academy school survived through the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties and is considered to be the cradle of Huxiang Culture. (simply means the culture school in Hunan Province) http://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/hunan/changsha/
Day 4 to Day 5
Zhengzhou attractions: The city is a national historical and cultural city and also the first destination for any Henan Tour. The ancient city was the capital of Shang Dynasty (16th - 11th century BC) 3,500 years ago when porcelain and the Chinese technique of bronze smelting were comparatively more developed. A green ceramic glaze pot unearthed in Zhengzhou has been shown to be the most ancient porcelain in China. A long history has left the city with many cultural and historic sites. Shaolin Temple situated at the foot of Mt. Song is the cradle of Shaolin Kong Fu. If you are interested in Chinese Kong Fu, the temple and the performances must be seen. One of the four Academies of Classical Learning in the Song Dynasty (960-1279), Songyang Shuyuan, gives a complete depiction of Chinese ancient education. In addition, many ancient tombs, temple buildings and battle sites all show the dense culture of the city. http://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/henan/zhengzhou/
Day 5 to Day 6