Experience China’s Urban Marvel and Rural Charm with Shanghai’s High-Speed Journey into the Past

Experience the vibrant allure of Shanghai, a city that seamlessly blends modernity with tradition. With a population of over 25 million, it’s an urban playground for skyscraper enthusiasts, fashion aficionados, and foodies alike. The metro system ensures easy navigation within the city or to neighboring locales.

However, after immersing in the city’s bustling energy, a respite is necessary. Luckily, China’s extensive high-speed railway network brings tranquil landscapes within reach. Wuyuan, a rural county nestled in Jiangxi province, is less than three hours away by bullet train.

Wuyuan offers a captivating blend of centuries-old villages, where white walls and tiled roofs beckon, and hearty meals sourced directly from local farms are commonplace. This unique juxtaposition provides an opportunity to explore both China’s contemporary landscape and its rich history during a brief trip.

Traveling in China can initially feel daunting for first-time visitors; hence, this itinerary is designed to inspire short excursions into the past via high-speed rail.

In Shanghai, the city’s latest observation deck offers an unparalleled vantage point for panoramic photography of its futuristic skyline. Located on the tallest building west of the Huangpu River, The Stage provides a front-row seat to Shanghai’s financial district, as well as a bird’s-eye view over famous colonial buildings and active river traffic.

Admission is RMB240 ($33) per person, or RMB288 ($40) for a sunset combo ticket that includes a drink. The entrance to The Stage is on level B1 of Shanghai’s Magnolia Building at No 501 Dong Daming Road, Hongkou District.

The Bund, a stretch of the Huangpu River’s west bank featuring historic buildings dating back to the early 20th century, is the granddaddy of all Shanghai attractions. These structures, built by banks, trading companies, and tycoons from around the world, display an array of architectural styles ranging from Neo-classical to Gothic.

The HSBC building, now the headquarters of the Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, is the most notable. Visitors can exchange currency in the ground-floor banking hall, which houses a Greek-style series of murals that managed to evade destruction during the Cultural Revolution due to the efforts of a local architect.

The Bund is always bustling, but early morning offers a serene experience enjoyed by only a few. The nearest metro stop is East Nanjing Road, accessible from lines 2 and 10.

Old Shanghai, or the original city thriving before the arrival of British settlers in the 1850s, is another popular destination. This area is approximately half the size of New York’s Central Park and was once encircled by a demolished city wall.

Today, it serves as a maze of restored old buildings for visitors to explore. Bear in mind that this area has been heavily commercialized; however, the core around the Yuyuan Garden remains worth visiting. The Jiuqu bridge zigzags across a small pond inhabited by koi fish and offers views of the city’s oldest tea house, Huxinting.

The Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant, famous for Shanghai’s renowned soup dumplings, and Lu Bo Lang restaurant, once dined at by former US president Bill Clinton, are located on opposite sides of the bridge. The nearest metro stop is Yuyuan Garden on lines 10 and 14.

West Bund, Shanghai’s answer to London’s South Bank, offers a more relaxed pace than the glitzy Bund. Stretching approximately five miles along the riverside, it houses a large art space, shops, restaurants, and cafes. The former Shanghai Cement Factory now serves as an arts center, while West Bund Art & Design organizes some of China’s best contemporary exhibitions in partnership with the Centre Pompidou in Paris.

Visitors can also find skateboarders congregating at the Riverside Skateboard Park and a dedicated park for off-leash pets—a rare exception to Shanghai’s strict pet-keeping rules. The best metro stops to get off are Yunjin Road or Longyao Road station on metro line 11, and Middle Longhua Road on metro lines 7 and 12.

Wuyuan county in landlocked Jiangxi province presents a stark contrast to the modernity of Shanghai. With its rolling fields, winding streams, and small villages nestled between verdant mountains, it embodies traditional Chinese landscapes captured in ink paintings. A two-hour-and-44-minute bullet train ride brings travelers to this timeless landscape.

Wuyuan boasts a history of 1,200 years and is renowned for its bright yellow rapeseed flowers that bloom every March and the grand Huizhou merchant homes built between the 15th and 18th centuries. Yan village, dating back around 800 years, offers a glimpse into rural life. Visitors must pay a small fee to enter but will find a residential village inhabited by farmers who share the same surname, Jin—a reflection of the clan culture that persists in rural China.

Nearby Sixi village provides a similar peaceful ambiance and is accessible via a field-side footpath within a 20-minute walk. The cost to enter Yan and Sixi villages is RMB55 ($8).

A three-story boutique hotel located in Yan village offers an authentic experience. Dating back nearly 300 years, the hotel showcases classic Huizhou architecture with tall, thick walls and tiny windows—features designed for security during merchants’ absences. The centerpiece of the hotel is its interior courtyards, known as skywells, which provide natural light, ventilation, and rainwater collection—symbolizing fortune in traditional Chinese culture.

Situated on the side of a mountain, Huangling village was initially established by the Cao clan to escape war. The village has been partly transformed into a historic theme park, with tourists accessing it via cable car for panoramic views of terraced fields cascading down into a valley. Small streets are filled with restaurants, souvenir shops, and tea houses, while colorful vegetables dried in round baskets on balconies capture the attention of visitors.

Entrance to Huangling village is RMB145 ($20) via cable car. Prized by ancient poets as “heavens on earth,” Suzhou and Hangzhou are still favored destinations for modern travelers seeking serenity amidst their historic gardens, lakes, and pagodas. Both cities can be reached by high-speed rail from Wuyuan, although not every train stops at both locations.

International visitors can purchase train tickets using their passports at the station or through various apps, such as China’s official railway ticketing app “Railway 12306,” which has an English-language version. All train tickets in China are linked to the ticket holder’s ID card or passport, requiring a photo submission during account setup to enter the train station. The app also provides practical information for international travelers, including how to pay for items and where to obtain a SIM card.