When planning a trip to mainland China, the sheer scale of the country can be intimidating. However, thanks to the world’s most advanced and expansive high-speed rail (HSR) network, navigating between majestic ancient wonders, futuristic megacities, and breathtaking natural parks has never been easier.
For international tourists, using the bullet train system is not only incredibly affordable and punctual, but it also allows you to step off the train and find yourself just minutes away from world-class landmarks. To help you design the ultimate seamless itinerary, here is a comprehensive guide to 20 incredible attractions in China located directly adjacent or highly accessible from major railway stations.
Considering dozens of tourist attractions near train stations, we have broken our ultimate architectural guide into two parts. In Part 1, we explore the first 10 Attractions Located Near Major Railway Stations.
Part 1: Beijing & Northern China Landmarks
1. The Forbidden City & Tiananmen Square (Beijing Railway Station / Beijing South)
Nearest Station: Beijing Railway Station (北京站) or Beijing South Railway Station (北京南站)
How to Get There: From either station, take Subway Line 2 or Line 4 and transfer to Subway Line 1 to Tiananmen East or Tiananmen West Station. It takes less than 20 minutes.
Why Visit: Located in the heart of China’s capital, the Forbidden City (Palace Museum) represents the pinnacle of imperial Chinese architecture. Spanning over 180 acres, this ancient palace complex served as the home to 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Travel Tip: Remember that all tickets must be booked well in advance using your passport information via official mini-programs.
2. The Summer Palace (Beijing South Railway Station)
Nearest Station: Beijing South Railway Station (北京南站)
How to Get There: Board Subway Line 4 directly from inside Beijing South Station and ride it straight to Beigongmen Station (North Gate of the Summer Palace). No transfers required!
Why Visit: A masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design, the Summer Palace integrates natural hills and water lakes with stunning pavilions, temples, and bridges. It served as a luxurious retreat for royalty escaping the summer heat of the Forbidden City.
Travel Tip: Rent a pedal boat on Kunming Lake for an panoramic view of the iconic Seventeenth-Bridge and Longevity Hill.
3. The Badaling Great Wall (Beijing Qinghe / Beijing North Railway Station)
Nearest Station: Badaling Railway Station (八达岭长城站) via Beijing North (北京北站) or Qinghe (清河站)
How to Get There: Take a high-speed bullet train from Beijing North or Qinghe Station directly to Badaling Railway Station. The journey takes just 20 to 30 minutes!
Why Visit: Badaling is the most famous and completely restored section of the Great Wall of China. The Badaling HSR Station itself is an engineering marvel, built completely underground to protect the surrounding mountain ecosystem.
Travel Tip: The station features exit gates located just a 5-minute walk from the cable car entrance, making it the fastest door-to-door Great Wall experience possible.
Part 2: Shanghai & Eastern China Water Towns
4. The Bund & Yu Garden (Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station)
Nearest Station: Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station (上海虹桥站)
How to Get There: Board Subway Line 2 directly from Hongqiao Station and take it straight to East Nanjing Road Station for The Bund, or transfer to Line 10 for Yuyuan Garden Station.
Why Visit: The Bund displays Shanghai's iconic colonial-era architecture contrasting against the futuristic skyscrapers of Pudong across the Huangpu River. Just a short walk away is Yu Garden, a classic Ming Dynasty garden filled with traditional rockeries, zigzag bridges, and koi ponds.
Travel Tip: Walk along East Nanjing Road at dusk to see the neon lights turn on across the Shanghai skyline.
5. West Lake (Hangzhou East Railway Station)
Nearest Station: Hangzhou East Railway Station (杭州东站)
How to Get There: Take Subway Line 1 or Line 4 directly from the station to Longxiangqiao Station, which drops you right on the eastern shoreline of West Lake.
Why Visit: Immortalized by poets and painters for centuries, Hangzhou's West Lake (Xihu) is a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its elegant causeways, historical temples, and willow-lined banks.
Travel Tip: Rent a public shared bike using your Alipay app to easily cruise along the lake’s scenic perimeter without getting stuck in vehicle traffic.
6. The Suzhou Classical Gardens & Shantang Street (Suzhou Railway Station)
Nearest Station: Suzhou Railway Station (苏州站)
How to Get There: Suzhou Railway Station is located right in the historic downtown area. Take Subway Line 2 to Shantang Street Station (just one stop away).
Why Visit: Known as the "Venice of the East," Suzhou is world-famous for its UNESCO-listed classical gardens (like the Humble Administrator's Garden) and ancient canal networks. Shantang Street offers beautiful night views when red lanterns illuminate the water docks.
Travel Tip: Avoid using street taxis; instead, open your DiDi Chuxing app inside the station's designated ride-hailing zone for a hassle-free pickup.
7. Purple Mountain & Dr. Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum (Nanjing South Railway Station)
Nearest Station: Nanjing South Railway Station (南京南站)
How to Get There: Take Subway Line 3 directly to Muxuyuan Station or Xiamafang Station, located at the foot of the scenic mountain area.
Why Visit: Nanjing is one of China’s great ancient capitals. Purple Mountain (Zijin Shan) is a massive historical park housing the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, the grand Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, and beautiful forest trails.
Travel Tip: Use Gaode Map (Amap) to check out the walking routes inside the park, as Western mapping apps do not show the pedestrian paths accurately.
Part 3: Xi'an & Shaanxi Historical Wonders
8. The Ancient Xi'an City Wall (Xi'an Railway Station)
Nearest Station: Xi'an Railway Station (西安站)
How to Get There: Xi'an Railway Station is built directly adjacent to the north gate of the ancient wall. You can walk out of the station exit and be at the ticket gate within 3 minutes!
Why Visit: This is one of the oldest, largest, and best-preserved Chinese city walls in existence, completely surrounding the old city center of Xi'an.
Travel Tip: You can rent a bicycle on top of the wall and complete a full 14-kilometer loop around the ancient city, enjoying panoramic views of old and modern Xi'an.
9. The Terracotta Army (Xi'an North Railway Station)
Nearest Station: Xi'an North Railway Station (西安北站)
How to Get There: From Xi'an North, take Subway Line 14 straight to Huaqing Pool (Huaqingchi) Station, and transfer to a short local tourist shuttle bus or catch a quick DiDi directly to the Terracotta Warriors museum.
Why Visit: Discovered by local farmers in 1974, this mind-boggling archaeological site features thousands of unique, life-sized clay soldiers, horses, and chariots buried to protect China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, in the afterlife.
Travel Tip: Arrive early in the morning to beat the massive tour groups, and use your phone data via an international travel eSIM to download English audio guides on-site.
10. Mount Huashan (Huashan North Railway Station)
Nearest Station: Huashan North Railway Station (华山北站)
How to Get There: High-speed bullet trains from Xi'an North take just 30 minutes to arrive at Huashan North. From there, free tourist green buses run directly to the mountain scenic area visitor center.
Why Visit: Famous for its steep, vertical cliffs and the legendary, heart-stopping "Plank Walk in the Sky," Mount Huashan is one of China's Five Sacred Mountains.
Travel Tip: For travelers short on time, take the West Peak Cable Car—it offers a jaw-dropping aerial ride straight through the clouds to the high-altitude peaks.
Conclusion: Master Your China Rail Adventure!
Navigating mainland China’s high-speed railway system transforms your vacation into a highly efficient, eye-opening journey. By strategic planning around major transit hubs, you minimize travel fatigue and maximize your exploration time.
Before you purchase your tickets, make sure to set up your digital toolkits:
- Download the official 12306 China Railway App to track timetables and book your seats directly with your passport.
- Link your international cards to Alipay and WeChat Pay for frictionless transactions. (Why You Must Install BOTH Alipay & WeChat – Click to Find Out)
- Install Gaode Map for perfect navigation right outside the station exits.
- Purchase a reliable travel eSIM to maintain constant network connectivity.
Are you planning an epic train journey across China? Leave a comment below with which station route you are most excited to take!
