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A remarkable 10 day journey aboard the China Orient Express Private Train.
Visiting the last remaining Industrial lines still using steam locomotives, this tour from and to Beijing includes the remarkable industrial steam locations of Tiefa, Jixi, Beitai, Fuxin and Huanan.
With Optional Extension by Air to the Sandaoling Open Cast Mine and Zoucheng.
A full passport with at least 6 months validity from the end of the tour is required, together with a Chinese visa
Modern comfort in an ancient wilderness. the China Orient Express guarantees you good living even in the remotest places.
Our twin-berth cabins are the perfect private retreat, comfortably furnished and traditionally decorated with the varnished wood and brass reminiscent of a different age. Each includes a Pullman table and deep armchair alongside a large picture window; a perfect place from which to take in China's ever-changing scenery. A state of the art shower car complements the two washrooms/WCs in every sleeping carriage.
Meals are served in the train's spacious restaurant cars, where our dedicated chefs serve a western breakfast followed by a wide range of authentic specialities at lunch and dinner, using only the finest local ingredients. As well as soft drinks, tea and coffee, meals are accompanied by a selection of wines from around the world.
Equally special is the unique ambience of the piano bar, where our resident pianist is always happy to take requests. Staying open until the last person leaves, the bar is the perfect place to get to know your fellow passengers.or simply wile away some time, reading or taking in the scenery while enjoying your favourite drink.
Your Cabin
- 38 sq ft (3.6 sqm)
- Sleeps 2 in bunk style beds
- Wash basin facility shared between 2 compartments
- Toilet / wash facilities are available at each end of the sleeping carriages
- Separate state of the art shower car with individual compartments feature shower, mirror, hairdryer and changing area
- Towels and robes provided
- Towel and linen change on regular basis
Important Notice: Although the locations we intend to visit have all confirmed to us that they will still be using steam in March it is possible that one or more may still have brought forward their dieselisation program. Should this happen we will endeavour to substitute one of the other locations with working steam in the same area.
- Accommodation onboard our private train
- Hotel accommodation where indicated in the itinerary
- All meals with a generous allowance of wine or local beer, soft drinks and water with meals on the train. For meals off the train local beer or soft drinks are provided.
- The services of an experienced Tour Manager, with local guides for scheduled off-train touring
- Complimentary tea, coffee and mineral water around the clock from your car attendant
- All gratuities
- A Doctor who will travel with the train throughout the tour
Tour does not include:
- Charges of a purely personal nature (laundry, telephone, bar account, and souvenirs)
- Any optional trips such as pre- or post-tour extensions
- Alcoholic and soft drinks outside of meal times
- Airport departure taxes and excess baggage charges
- Vaccinations and medical costs
- Chinese visa costs
- Insurance (it is a booking condition that passengers have adequate insurance)
Day 1 Beijing
Arrival into Beijing. Time permitting we take a brief city tour and visit Beijing Railway Museum before we transfer to Beijing railway station to board our private train, the China Orient Express. Departure is expected to be at 1630 so there will be plenty of time to settle into our cabins, have a drink in the bar and meet other guests before dinner is served in the restaurant car.
Day 2 Tiefa
The Tiefa Coal Railway has the distinction of still having an intensive steam-worked passenger service. Look over the bridge at Tiefa station where the services converge and you'll be blown away. steam-hauled passenger trains at every platform! Tiefa is also one of the few remaining places to have a full-blown steam works, which also takes in locomotives from other lines. We'll spend a full day at Tiefa. As well as being able to enjoy the regular action we'll take a private special train over the complex network with a variety of engines including 'YJ' 2-6-2 No. 269, 'JS' 2-8-2 No. 5029, 'KD6' No. 487 (China's only working 'S160' 2-8-0) and 'SY' 2-8-2 No. 1772. The 'SY' is claimed to be the world's very last steam locomotive ever built for commercial purposes - it's just ten years old! We also aim to turn at least one heavy coal train over to steam - which we'll have the chance to chase for pictures.
Day 3 Jixi
There are no fewer than five systems here, all serving collieries and using 26 modern 'SY' 2-8-2s. You'll be surrounded by mines, washeries and stabling points. Amid this dramatic industrial landscape steam works to and fro - and very often you'll have to choose which train to go for as there'll be more than one in front of you! Jixi is one place where the steam world all still seems in order. As elsewhere though, it is on borrowed time and the main Chengzihe system is expected to be electrified before the end of 2010. We will arrive at mid-day and spend the afternoon at Chengzihe, which normally uses twelve SY's - and as elsewhere our expert guides will make sure we get the best out of our visit.
Day 4 Huanan
One of the very best of China's charming narrow gauge rural railways, the 47-km Huanan line exists to drag coal out of a remote area near the Russian border. Little 'C2' 0-8-0s - sometimes more than one to a train - make a wonderful sight as they work hard through unspoilt scenery. This timeless 2ft 6in gauge line is normally a real effort to reach, but using our 'hotel on wheels' we should get there in perfect comfort. We'll have a full day here. In addition to any regular coal trains we will have our own charter freight for the day over the first 36kms of the railway as well as a diesel railcar that will be used for the final 11kms where there is no road for the photo buses.
Day 5 Jixi
We return to Jixi and today and will spend the whole day visiting both the Didao (five SY's) and Chengzihe systems. We will also visit the locomotive repair works located at Jixi Xi yard which is at the start of the Chengzihe system. This evening we overnight in the Longcheng hotel in Jixi.
Day 6 Jixi
Depending of trafic we will visit either Didao or Chengzhihe this morning. An early afternoon departure for Benxi.
Day 7 Benxi
Overnight our train will have run south through Shenyang and arrived in Benxi where we are planning to visit the steelworks in Beitai which operates around 20 SY's. This is one of the most difficult locations to visit and in November we were the first ever group of foreigners to be granted permission to enter the fascinating blast furnace area. We plan to spend the whole day here before making the short journey overnight to Fuxin.
Day 8 Fuxin
We spend the whole day visiting the Fuxin coal mine railway. Before 1998 this area was out of bounds to foreigners but since then it has become very popular with visiting enthusiasts due to the intensity of steam operations to be found here and around twelve SY's in use daily. We will also visit the Fuxin Open Cast mining museum.
Day 9 Beijing
Arrival to Beijing. For those not travelling onto Sandaoling and Yanzhou there will be sightseeing at Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. Overnight at the Paragon Hotel.
Days 10 Beijing
Breakfast in the hotel brings the tour to an end. Transfer to the airport by hotel shuttle bus for international flights.
Optional Sandaoling and Zoucheng Extension Days 9 - 12
Arrival to Beijing. Sightseeing at Forbidden City and Tiananmen square. Overnight at the Paragon Hotel.
Day 9 Beijing
Arrival into Beijing and we transfer to Beijing Airport for the three and a half hour flight to Urumqi and on to Hami in the Gobi desert. Transfer by bus 2 hours to Sandaoling and check in to the Hotel Shan for two nights.
Day 10 Sandaoling
We will spend the whole day in and around the huge open cast pit and line to the exchange sidings at Liushuquan. The pit is four miles long, one mile wide and 570 feet deep with coal, spoil and a few miners trains being dragged out of the pit by 25 JS class 2-8-2's along with four SY's. The operation is currently 100% steam but by November the mine plans to be only using six locomotives. Because there is only one time zone in China and Sandaoling is in the far west, sunrise in March is 0800 but sunset is not until 2030. We will be allowed to travel on the miners' works trains and on the footplate of the steam locomotives at an extra cost payable on the day. Overnight at the Shan Hotel.
Day 11 Sandaoling
A second day at Sandaoling. Late this evening we will take the flight to Urumqi and stay overnight at a Hotel near the airport.
Day 12 Zoucheng
Mid-morning flight to Jinan and drive to Zoucheng, where we will stay overnight.
Day 13 Zoucheng
The Yanzhou Coal Mining Company is the last location in China using the famous QJ 2-10-2 locomotives, some of which have recently been overhauled. We will spend the day here before taking an evening train to Beijing and transferring to the Sino-Swiss Hotel near the airport for an overnight stay.
Day 14 Tour Ends
Breakfast in the hotel brings the tour to an end. Transfer to the airport by hotel shuttle bus for international flights.
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