China Advice wanted please

I'm thinking of going in 2010 on one of the tours one sees in the railway press.

Anyone been and got any views on the various tour operators, what to expect when you get there. etc.

All advice gratefully received.

thanks in advance

 

wash in tepid water and a mild detergent and put away again til next Christmas.....oh sorry....THAT China...I thought I was on the Housework Forum again....

 

Dont smuggle drugs would seem a good idea!

 

Or more accurately, don't get caught doing so.

 

If you don't do it you won't get caught!

 

There were a couple in Steam Railway: GW Travel and another who's name escapes me.

I also got details from eerailtours from Railyway Herald.

GW travel seemed top end price wise, but I guess you get what you pay for.

One review I read of steam in China said it had been "spoiled" by the antics of photographers and it was little more than a glorified photo charter.

I don't know wether that was sour grapes or actually holds true.

 

Simon,
steam in China is about a far removed from a photo charter as you can get.
The Jixi system still sees heavy coal trains with SY haulage and is very impressive.
Pingzhuan still sees some steam and the nearby Yuanbaoshan system still sees
JS hauled coal trains plus a mixed. There's also heavy freight action at Sandaoling. Huanan and Shibanxi offer good narrow gauge action if that's your thing.
As for suggesting a tour company, all but one of my trips i organised myself using Chines guides
recommended by others. Are you travelling alone or with a group of friends?
If the latter I would suggest organising it yourself. PM me if you need more info.
Rgds
Ian

 

Thanks for the info, Ian .
I would be quite happy to go on a self organised tour.

Unfortunately most of my railway friends are limited in their interests to the UK and would not be interested in China.

I would prefer to go with others rather than tramp around on my own, so I think i am limited to going on an organised tour.

BTW the other company was farrail who seem to do quite good tours but none this spring..

 

Bernd Seiler at Farrail does know quite a bit bout China and has run many tours. Crossed swords with him on my last trip when he objected to one of our group celebrating his birthday. We ignored him of course.
Worth joining this yahoo group http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/Steam_in_China and visiting this site http://www.sy-country.co.uk/ for latest news and info. Maybe even find people interested in making up a small group. I've seen the planned itinerary for the Enthusiast Tours trip early next year and IMHO they are trying to do far too much in the time available. China is a big country and with steam centres becoming further apart as dieselisation creeps relentlessly on, a lot of time can be wasted travelling between them. I can understand the temptation to see as much as possible of what's left but I fully believe in quality over quantity and spend more time on fewer systems. You may take a different approach of course.

 

Thanks I will give those sites a go.

Its amazing how many sites fail to turn up on a google or other searchengine search.
I favour quality over quantity and think you have to get to know a place before you can really get some good pics.

 

Spot on. My first trip to the Jing Peng pass saw me going where the "experts" told us to go as I'd no feel for the area. Subsequent trips saw my knowledge of the line increase and the results became more dramatic.