In anticipation of ever increasing interest of overseas travellers in moving around the ancient Middle Kingdom by train, Laurus Travel, a China tour company recommended by Frommer's, recently launched a special tour called 17-day China by Rail from Beijing to Hong Kong. This is a first-class tour package taking advantage of China's new high-speed rail service. The well paced itinerary includes only one intra-China air flight due to necessity, thus significantly reducing the much dreaded hassle associated with air travel. The tour starts in Beijing, capital of China, and ends in Hong Kong. In between, the traveller will enjoy a three-day premium Yangtze cruise and visit Luoyang (Longmen Grottoes - a UNESCO heritage site), Xi'an (Terra Cotta Army), and Guangzhou. Ten departures have been planned for 2013 with the first one leaving on June 18. Those interested should contact the company or visit http://www.laurustravel.com/
More about China’s High-speed Rail
China's high speed passenger rail service, with an average speed of 200 km/h (123 mph), is a network consisting of upgraded conventional railways and newly built passenger lines. China has been undergoing a building boom of high speed rail with generous funding from the Chinese government's economic stimulus program. The network is rapidly expanding and the total network length is expected to reach 18,000 km (11,000 mi) by the end of 2015. The world's longest high-speed rail line opened in China on December 25, 2012, running 2,298 kilometers (1,428 miles) between Beijing and Guangzhou.
