Start our Manchuria Tour By High Speed Train with a guided transfer to Beijing’s train station where you catch the train of G395 (09:05AM – 13:08PM) to PANJIN (without by guide). Panjin is famed for its harmonious combination of sea and river, birds and pumpjacks, red beaches and red crowned cranes, and modern and primitive civilization coexistence.

On arrival, a transfer is provided to the Red Sea Beach. It is a unique site that changes colour with the seasons. When out of season it’s green, in June it turns violet, and bright red between July and mid-September. These months are the best for photography, and also correspond to a noticeable increase in the number of visitors to the site.

Leave the transfer vehicle behind and hop aboard an electric car to the ‘beach’ (a distance of 9km). Sitting alongside the Shuang Taizi River, this region is mostly marshland covered in “suaeda heteroptera”, an herbaceous halophytic plant. A suspended wooden walkway has been installed above the marsh so that visitors can get closer to the plants without damaging them. The walkway also provides access to a small temple dedicated to Mazu, goddess of the seas. Continue in the electric car to the Reed Maze, with reeds reaching their maximum height between July and September. Enjoy a picturesque walk through the maze.

After the visit, you will be transferred back to Panjin Railway Station for the high speed train of G8081 (17:58PM – 19:12PM) to SHENYANG (without a guide). Upon arrival, you will be transferred by our local guide and driver to your hotel for check in.

Overnight in Shenyang.

After breakfast, visit Manchu Imperial Palace Gogung. It is the most ancient imperial architectural complex of the Qing Dynasty in the country next only to the Forbidden City in Beijing in historical and art value. The palace complex represents the highest level art of early Manchu palace architectures and Manchu's unique history and culture in the early stage.

Then head to Northern Tomb (Zhao Tomb) located in Beiling Park. Built in the 17th Century in the peaceful Beiling Park, it is home to the UNESCO-celebrated tombs of Abahai (Huang Taiji) and his wife, Xiaoduanwen Queen. Take note of the Pine Forest surrounding the tomb, a unique observation of both precise historical planning and feng shui techniques. After the tomb visits, there is a chance to visit Liaoning Provincial Museum, a prominent museum of history and fine arts located in Shenyang which exhibits, amongst other things, pieces from the age of the Liao Dynasty (907-1125).

NOTE: Shenyang is also known for its atypical “Strange Slope,” a place where the forces of gravity are inverted. It is located 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) from the northeastern portion of Shenyang. The slope is more than 80 meters long and 15 meters wide. The car will go upwards along the slope automatically when shutting off the engine. If you ride a bike, it will quickly slip to the top without pedaling, while you have to ride hard to get from the top to the bottom of the slope. If interested in visiting, please let us know in advance!

In the evening, you are free to stroll surrounding areas, chat with local people and enjoy delicious local cuisine.

Overnight in Shenyang.

A transfer to Shenyang Railway Station for the bullet train of G47 (10:05AM – 12:05AM) to HARBIN. The capital city of Heilongjiang Province is situated in the most northeastern part of China with a shape of a swan when viewed on a map and well-known for its extraordinary Ice Festival.

Start our tour with a poignant visit to the Japanese Biological Warfare Experimentation Centre, located in “Unit 731” which served as a laboratory for the Japanese Imperial Army. It was a biological and chemical warfare research and development unit of the Imperial Japanese Army that undertook lethal human experimentation during the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945) of World War II. It is here that biological weapons were developed through tests done on at least 3,000 humans from China, Russia, Korea, and Mongolia. A morose but important visit in Harbin.

NOTE: Some of the images here can be shocking, so the children under the age of 12 are not recommended to visit this site.

Overnight in Harbin.

Today we discover Harbin on a walking tour. The walk will start in Stalin Park, set alongside the Songhua River, where several delightful cafes and restaurants can be found. Walk towards the Flood Control Memorial Tower, built in 1958 to commemorate the thousands of people who died in years past when the Songhua river overflowed its banks.

Afterwards, we take a stroll down the famous Zhongyang Pedestrian Street or known as the Central Avenue, which has been the most prosperous commercial hub for over one hundred years in downtown Harbin. Pass in front of the Modern Hotel, built in 1906. Some of the building’s original marble is partially conserved, along with some of its Art Nouveau touches.

Walk down Tongjiang Road, previously the heart of the Jewish community, and pay a visit to the Harbin Main Synagogue which has been refurbished as a concert venue. In the nearby area, pass by the neighboring Turkish Mosque (closed to visitors) which beautifully reflects the open spirit of the city. After just a few minutes’ walk, pay a visit to the early 20th century Harbin New Synagogue, which has been transformed into an interesting museum.

The final religious site is the Saint Sophia Church or the Cathedral of the Holy Wisdom of God. Built in 1907 by the Russians as part of a plan to reconsolidate the confidence of the army by building an imposing spiritual symbol, it is the largest Eastern Orthodox Church in the Far East. The church covers a total area of 721 square meters in construction area, and 53.35 meters in height.

NOTE: Depending on the day’s pace, there may be a chance to visit Gogol Street (named after the Russian writer) which is a good place to introduce Russian flavor and Sino-Russia culture fuse in history in China. The two sides of the street are lined with trees and a beautiful collection of Russian buildings. It’s recommended to take a taxi to reach here.

For dinner, you can grab a bite to eat at Cafe Russia 1914, decorated in a typical Russian style. While the service isn’t always inspiring, the menu offers typical Russian specialties and the interior is covered in unique, antiquated photos, which make for an interesting visit.

Overnight in Harbin.

This morning, you will catch the train of G48 (08:28AM – 12:03PM) from Harbin to DALIAN, the southernmost city of Liaoning Province. The city of Dalian today still retains significant vestiges of its Japanese past, in terms of the urban planning of the city beyond Nicholas Square (today’s Zhongshan Square) and in terms of the hundreds of colonial-era buildings that are actually examples of Imperial Japanese architecture. The number of western-style gardens, squares, and fountains in the city is further evidence of its colonial past.

Upon arrival, a guide and driver will be awaiting to welcome you (back) and transfer you to the city. Our first destination is the immense Xinghai Square, the largest city square in the world, covering a total area of 1.1 million square meters, which is four times of Tiananmen Square in Beijing.

Take the coastal trail (4km) alongside the guide. Take note of the collection of traditional Junk Boats floating nearby, pass along the beaches of Jinsha and Yingsha, and ultimately finish the tour at Fujiazhuang Beach. The driver will then provide transport to Tiger Beach, where the old fishing port has been renovated in the style of coastal American city. Enjoy a seafood dinner.

NOTE: Dalian is well-known for its Beer Festival which is held in July, and attracts brewers from around the world, and International Fashion Festival which is usually held in September.

Overnight in Dalian.

Today we drive 45 km toward neighboring city of LUSHUN. This little port town played an important role in military strategy throughout Chinese Imperial history up to it played host to the Russo-Japanese War. It is considered the "door to Beijing and Tianjin", protecting China's capital city and the major industrial port.

Start by visiting the Lushun Russo-Japanese Prison, built by the Russians in 1898 and expanded by the Japanese in 1907. Covering 26,000 sq m (279,862 sq ft), it's also known as the "Auschwitz of the East," a name which gives an idea of the grisly happenings which took place within. Continue on to the Soviet Army Martyrs Cemetery, the largest of the few surviving foreign cemeteries in China. After that, pay a visit to the Lushun Museum that was established in 1915 when this area was Japan's leased territory and is known for its exhibit of the mummies that Kozui Otani collected during his expeditions 1901-10 to Central Asia.

Conclude the visit at 203 Hill, one of the fiercest battles was fought between the Japanese and Russian armies, during the Russo-Japanese War (1904 – 1905). A memorial, in the form of the cartridge, has been erected on the site along with thousands of strew cartridges left in the area.

Wrapping up the Manchuria tour, a transfer will be provided with guide and driver to Dalian North Station for the return train (D39; 16:38PM – 22:53) to BEIJING. Your tour ends today.