Yangtze Delta Star

Shanghai · Board Yangtze Delta Star

The journey begins with meeting and boarding Yangtze Delta Star. Find your cabin, settle your luggage and get to know the dining and shared spaces before watching the city recede.

West by rail · Life on board

This day centres on life aboard the train: reading by a window, dining and time with your companions. Views from the train are distinct from scheduled visits after disembarking.

Arrive Turpan · Hotel check-in

Today is about arriving and settling in. Rest on board and organise your belongings before the station reception and hotel check-in, ready for the sightseeing ahead. Arrival time follows the train schedule.

Karez & Grape Valley · Train to Kashgar

The Karez system connects underground channels with oasis life. Discover how water has shaped Turpan in an arid environment. Explore oasis life at the listed Grape Valley or vineyard stop in Turpan. Fruit and harvesting are seasonal rather than guaranteed by photographs.

Follow the story of how water was brought here and how it supported daily life. Relate the structures you see to the explanation as you go.

Karakul Lake, Stone City & Golden Grassland

At Karakul Lake, Muztagh Ata rises above the water. Take the high-altitude scenery at an unhurried pace. The Stone City stands above Tashkurgan, with the Golden Grassland spreading below. Ancient remains and highland wetlands meet in one landscape.

Pause beside the lake to see how the mountains meet the water before taking a photograph. At altitude, let your physical comfort set the pace.

Tajik family visit & Baisha Lake · Kashgar

Pale sand mountains frame the blue water of Baisha Lake, with snow peaks beyond. Light and weather give each visit its own character.

There is no single correct shade of blue to wait for. Sand hills, clouds and water change with the light; pause to take in the whole scene.

Kashgar Old City, Id Kah & Gaotai

Doorways, crafts and daily life fill the lanes of Kashgar. Building visits follow local opening arrangements and customs. The entrance and colonnades of Id Kah reveal Kashgar’s architectural detail. Respect religious-site rules; access follows local arrangements.

These streets are people’s everyday surroundings as well as places to visit. Look before raising the camera, and ask permission before photographing someone.

Tianshan Canyon, Duku Road & Bayanbulak

Red rock walls catch narrow shafts of light in Kuqa’s Tianshan Grand Canyon. Follow the open paths to appreciate their sculpted layers. Grasslands and the Kaidu River define Bayanbulak’s open landscape. A scenic-area visit and a drive past are different experiences; follow the selected itinerary.

Notice rock textures where light meets shadow; the sense of scale changes around each bend. Stay on open paths and leave room for others when stopping for photographs.

Nalati Grassland · Continue to Yining

Meadows, spruce and mountain slopes meet at Nalati. The selected valley or aerial-grassland route reveals the rhythms of the pasture.

Small changes in the slopes and mountains reward unhurried observation. Keep to open routes and watch grazing animals from a distance.

Sayram Lake · Overnight train to Beitun

Sayram Lake carries its blue towards the Tian Shan. Shorelines and distant mountains offer space to walk, look and slow down.

There is no need to chase a familiar camera angle. From an approved stopping place, watch the wind moving across the water and share a quiet moment.

Hemu · Timber houses & river valley

Timber houses, birch trees and the river valley shape Hemu. Explore the village and open boardwalks; mist and autumn colour depend on the season and weather.

The houses, bridges and paths are part of a living village. Make space for residents and fellow visitors, and give yourself time without a camera.

Kanas · Lakes & forest

Lake water and forest unfold in layers at Kanas. Bays such as Moon Bay have distinct curves; their colours change with the light.

A bay can change colour as clouds pass. Enjoy the view along the designated route without measuring it against a heavily filtered photograph.

Kazakh family visit, Burqin & Five-colour Beach

Wind-shaped rock at Five-colour Beach faces greenery along the Irtysh. Close textures and distant bands of colour reveal two contrasting riverbanks.

Take in the rock layers, water and opposite bank together. Stay on the boardwalk; there is no need to leave the route for another angle.

Tianshan Tianchi · Urumqi

Tianshan Tianchi rests among mountain peaks, with spruce forest lining its shore. Follow the open trails to take in lake, forest and distant snow peaks.

If cloud covers the distant mountains, look at the nearby spruce and shore. Take time with the changing light across the lake.

Board the return train

Use the homeward hours to sort your photographs, exchange favourite moments with your companions or simply rest. The changing view brings the journey to a gentle close.

East by rail · Time together

As the train continues east, there is no new attraction to rush towards. Look back through photographs, talk about a place you would revisit or read quietly while the journey draws to a close.

Arrive Shanghai · Farewell

The train reaches the final station. Check your belongings before leaving the cabin, then continue with your onward arrangements. Connecting flights are arranged separately.

Shanghai · Depart for the north

The journey begins with meeting and boarding Yangtze Delta Star. Find your cabin, settle your luggage and get to know the dining and shared spaces before watching the city recede.

By rail towards Panjin

This day centres on life aboard the train: reading by a window, dining and time with your companions. Views from the train are distinct from scheduled visits after disembarking.

Panjin · Colours of Red Beach

Seasonal seepweed colours the wetlands of Panjin’s Red Beach. Channels and tidal flats stretch into the distance; colour varies naturally through the year.

Look across the wetland, then down to its channels and vegetation. Its sense of space is as much a part of the visit as its colour.

Reed & Crab Wetlands · Train to Harbin

Explore the reed beds and wetlands of Panjin. Boat excursions depend on local opening and weather conditions.

Watch the reeds and reflections along the waterways. Enjoy the slower rhythm of the wetland while keeping a respectful distance from wildlife.

Harbin · Sophia, Central Street & Tiger Park

Harbin unfolds through squares, old streets and European-influenced architecture. Ease into the rhythm of this northern city.

Look at entrances, signs and building corners as you walk. A city visit can include your own small discoveries alongside its familiar landmarks.

Beiji Village · Riverside & northern post office

Explore the riverside and village at Beiji, near China’s northern edge. Aurora sightings are natural events and are not guaranteed.

Between the riverbank and the village, notice how daily life differs from home. Respect residents when taking photographs and take warming breaks in cold weather.

Reindeer community, Songyuan Park & Mohe Dance Hall

From the reindeer community to Songyuan Park and Mohe Dance Hall, discover local life in and around Mohe. Activities follow the day’s opening arrangements.

Observe quietly and follow the staff’s guidance. Watch the animals in their surroundings without disturbing them for a photograph.

Wudalianchi · Volcanoes & lakes

Lava formations and lakes reveal Wudalianchi’s volcanic history. Look closely at the textures, then out across the wider landscape.

Begin with the shape and texture of a rock. Connecting the explanation to details you can see makes the landscape easier to understand.

Yichun · Wuying Forest & Tangwanghe

Wuying’s pine forest and Tangwanghe’s granite formations reveal different sides of the northern woodland. Explore along open scenic trails.

Look beyond the wide view to the details of trees and rock. Follow the open paths and leave time to rest and return to the meeting point.

Xishui Forest, Jinshan Deer Park & Oroqen visit

Pause among the trees at Shangganling Xishui and Jinshan Deer Park. Wildlife viewing depends on local arrangements and animal activity.

Take time with the forest’s smaller details: the texture of a trunk, a path underfoot, or a companion pausing beside you.

Dunhua to Erdaobaihe · At the foot of Changbai

Travel from Dunhua towards Erdaobaihe, taking the journey from the railway to the town below the mountain. Follow the day’s transfer and rest arrangements before the next day’s Changbai Mountain visit.

Changbai North Slope · Crater lake & waterfall

Changbai’s volcanic landforms and crater lake create a wide-open view. Access and visibility depend on weather and park opening.

Mountain weather changes what you can see. Trees, rock and the sound of water offer details to enjoy even when cloud obscures the distant view.

Dandong · Yalu River & border-city history

Bridges and riverside streets tell the story of Dandong on the Yalu. Activities remain on the Chinese side and do not include a border crossing.

As you walk beside the river, take in both the historic bridges and the city’s everyday life. An explanation can give a familiar view another layer of meaning.

Shenyang · Palace, Zhang Mansion & 9.18 Museum

Courtyards at Mukden Palace and more recent historic buildings reveal layers of Shenyang’s past. Museum visits follow opening schedules.

Rather than collecting place names, notice the scale of a courtyard or a detail in an exhibition. These can connect the city’s different periods.

Return by rail · Southbound

Use the homeward hours to sort your photographs, exchange favourite moments with your companions or simply rest. The changing view brings the journey to a gentle close.

Arrive Shanghai · Journey’s end

The train reaches the final station. Check your belongings before leaving the cabin, then continue with your onward arrangements. Connecting flights are arranged separately.