Tours & Events

Trams along the Yangtze river

13. - 26. April 2024

Update: the tour program has been restructured and the order of the companies visited has changed. There is now a division into "old" companies, i.e. those that were already in operation in 2015/2016 (Suzhou, Nanjing, Huai'nan) and "new" companies that have opened since 2017 (Songjiang, Wuhan, Huangshi, Qingdao, Jiaxing). The trip can now be booked as a complete trip with all cities, but also only in the variant with only new cities.

Thanks to the rapid developments in terms of "Chinese trams", we now find a large number of new or modernized networks with mostly domestic and a few imported vehicles. However, since the country is too big and the number of lines too numerous, we have divided China into 4 tours. We'll start with "the middle" and visit the tram systems around Shanghai. Further tours in the next years to come will take us north, south, and the rest of all locations we haven't seen then...

On this trip we will devote ourselves to Shanghai (Songjiang and the Film Park), Suzhou, Jiaxing, Wuhan/Huangshi, the two lines in Nanjing, Huai'nan and Qingdao. Some factory visits are also requested.

TOUR PROGRAM
Part 1 ("Old networks")

Day 01 Sa 13. April 2024
In the morning departure from Frankfurt to Shanghai (connecting flight). Rail&Fly and departures from other airports on request.

Day 2 Su 14. April 2024
Arrive in the Pearl River city in the morning. After immigration, we take the Maglev train from Pudong Airport towards the city to visit the tram at the Sonjiang district. Classic Astolm Citadis 302 trams are used on 2 lines here. We photograph the regular operation on the total of 31 kilometres served. Dinner and overnight in Shanghai.

Day 03 Mo 15. April 2024
Today we take the bus to neighbouring Souzhou, where five underground- and two tram-lines operate. The trams were built in China by Chinese manufacturer Nanjing Puzhen, based on Bombadier's Flexity trams. In the evening we reach Shanghai again. Dinner and overnight in Shanghai.

Day 04 Tu 16. April 2024
Shanghai boats a huge urban transport networks of subways, metros and trams. Explore them at your own schedule today. In the afternoon we board our first high-speed-train on this tour to travel to Nanjing. Dinner and overnight in Nanjing.

Day 05 We 17. April 2024
After breakfast, we visit the tram at Huai'an, where a tram has been running since the end of 2015. 20 kilometres are served without overhead wires. Dinner and overnight in Nanjing.

Day 06 Th 18. April 2024
Two separate tram lines exist in Nanjing: the Hexi Tram and the Qirin Tram. Both lines operate mostly without catenary. A visit to the CRCC Nanjing Puzhen Tram Factory has been requested. Dinner and overnight in Nanjing.

End of part 1

Part 2 ("New networks")

Day 01 Th 18. April 2024
In the morning departure from Frankfurt to Wuhan (connecting flight). Rail&Fly and departures from other airports on request.

Day 02 Fr 19. April 2024
Participants from part 1 will travel by high-speed-train to Wuhan this morning, arriving there around lunch-time. They meet the newcomers there and will jointly visit the trams in town. The city's only "real" tram system operates in the extreme west of the mega-city, while another light rail network has been built on the east side of the Yangtze River. We focus on the tram, which also runs without overhead wires. Dinner and overnight in Wuhan.

Day 03 Sa 20. April 2024
One of the youngest tram network in China can be found in neighbouring Huangshi. Opened in 2022, the low floor tram/light rail operates on 27 km. Again catenary-free. Dinner and overnight in Wuhan.

Day 04 Su 21. April 2024
We will visit the 2 networks at Wuhan again in greater detail. Dinner and overnight in Wuhan.

Day 05 Mo 22. April 2024
The next high-speed-train takes us to Qingdao, arriving there in the early afternoon. Qingdao is home to Skoda 15 T trams built in China by the local CRCC Qingdao Sifang factory. We have requested to see the production line of that factory. Dinner and overnight in Qingdao.

Day 06 Tu 23. April 2024
Linesiding the regular trams in Qingdao will be today´s main taks before we move on to Shanghai, again by train... We have a late arrival at Shanghai´s Hongqiao station. Dinner on the way and overnight in Shanghai.

Day 07 We 24. April 2024
We take the bus to Jiaxing where a tram is in operation since 2021. The vehicles run completely without catenary and are recharged with electricity at the intermediate stops. In the evening we return to Shanghai. Dinner and overnight in Shanghai.

Day 08 Th 25. April 2024
Spend the morning at your own pace. In the afternoon we will visit the famous Shanghai Film Park. Here, the old Shanghai was rebuilt true to the original as a film set and many film productions with historical subjects use the film city for authentic-looking images of a bygone era. Among other things, a working retro tram was also installed! We will enjoy a fare-well dinner tonight before we head to the airport to start our journey home.

Day 09 Fr 26. April 2024
Arrival in Frankfurt in the morning. End of the tour. Rail&Fly and connections to other airports on request.


TOUR PRICE
Only new networks (part 2) 18. - 26. April 2024
3.680 Euro per person sharing a double room
   490 Euro single room supplement

Full tour (13. - 26. April 2024)
4.635 Euro per person sharing a double room
   780 Euro single room supplement

Land-only price without flights (international and Chinese): minus 850 Euro.
Minimum number of participants 20, maximum number of participants 35. Deadline for registration: 15. December 2023, after that on request. Members of the VDVA receive a 3% discount on the double room price.
 

SERVICES (depending on your itinerary booked)
• Flights with LUFTHANSA, SWISS (or similar) from Frankfurt to Shanghai and back in economy class
• Comfortable, modern coach with air conditioning
• 12 nights in 3-4 star hotels in a double room including breakfast and dinner
• 1st class on Chinese trains
• All necessary transfers and entrance fees
• Photo and film permits for the trams
• On-site tour guide by Peter Patt
• Specialist tour guide by Luc Koenot

NOT INCLUDED
• Tips customary in the country (bus driver, local tour guide) approx. €15 per participant/day
• All insurances
• Chinese tourist visa
 

MISCELLANEOUS
For most nationalities, entry into China is only possible with a valid passport and tourist visa. It is essential that you also observe the information provided by the Federal Foreign Office (https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de) or similar pages of your respective government. Participants of other nationalities please inquire about the entry rules applicable to them. As of May 2023, a fingerprint must be submitted in person at the consulate/embassy as part of the Chinese visa application process, regardless of who is applying for the visa (you or ECC). Visa fees range from € 140 to € 180.

This trip is not suitable for people with reduced mobility. Please note that our journey includes boarding and disembarking on uneven ground, high-entry vehicles, or in environments that do not comply with the German standards. If you are unsure whether this trip is suitable for you, please contact me by phone or email.

CONTACT
Traveling with Peter
ECC-Studienreisen GmbH
Peter H. Patt: Tel +49 (0)69 92 18 79-0

Vorschaubild © hans-johnson