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Long-distance train to Beijing
Posted by Taps (502 days ago)
My family is coming over to visit and we plan to go to Beijing by train.
Trip commence either HK or Guangzhou.
We know it is a long trip but we are game to experience such, also cheaper with a big group(6 or 7 of us).
Chinese friends discouraged us from doing so(robbery, pickpockets, lousy etc.) but foreigners like me okayed the idea.
What are hard and soft sleeper, first-class is what kind of service vs. the others.
Who shall I believe.
Thanks.
(I am based in Guangzhou)
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Posted by spicegal (502 days ago)
Taps, in soft sleeper you usually get a compartment of 4 beds with a door you can close to keep the riff raff out. However, if there's 6 or 7 of you that's not so sociable for you.
Hard sleeper is in sets of 3 bunks so you could get 6 facing each other, but the corridor is open, so more noisy.
Personally I always travel hard sleeper - 1, it's more ineteresting as you see more of what's going on, plus as a woman travelling on my own I feel safer in the open coridor. Of course you get all sorts of passers by coming and sitting on the bottom bunks, but there are also seats in the coridor.
Take your own food, take minimal valuables, and try to use the toilets early before they get into a dismal state! I haven't done a long distance train in a couple of years but I heard they no longer sell beer too - you may want to verify that though!
I've done HK to Beijing and Shanghai and they're great fun - was due to do GZ to BJ a couple of months ago with a 11 month old and would have gone hard sleeper - plans had to be changed though.
(I am based in Guangzhou)
Posted by Taps (502 days ago)
Thanks spicegal, can you look out from the window and see China, one reason why we want to go. How fast do the train go and which route does it follow.
I always bring map anywhere/everywhere.
Does it travel during the day, I heard it starts near midnight.
Mom needs to be satisfied among us, otherwise we are ready for adventure.
Yes, we'll bring food and reading things if talking to each other and ogling at fellow passengers bore us which I doubt.
Haven't done family group for a long while and would be nice for bonding.
Where did you buy your ticket, did it include hotel and tour.
(I am based in Guangzhou)
Posted by spicegal (501 days ago)
Yeah, you can sit by the window and watch the world go by - I love that... it doesn't go super fast most of the time so you do get to see scenery.
From HK the train to BJ is every other day - check http://www.it3.kcrc.com/B2C/UserPage/sysTimeTable_Eng.asp
From GZ there are several each day - check out this website http://train.tielu.org/SearchStation.aspx
or http://www.5179.com/tr/chaxun1.htm - second one you need to be able to read chinese. You just buy the ticket at GZ train station (east or main or via CTS)
I booked hotel etc seperately and hired a taxi to go to the great wall etc once in BJ - paid 400 for a whole day.
Have a great time
(I am based in Guangzhou)
Posted by Taps (500 days ago)
Thank you, great information.
Now all we have to do is convince Mom long-distance travel within China is worth doing.
(I am based in Guangzhou)
Posted by karengz (472 days ago)
Does anyone know how far in advance you can book the tickets?
(I am based in Guangzhou)
Posted by GreenM&M (410 days ago)
Have taken the train from Shenzhen to Beijing and back a few times in a soft sleeper cabin. I have gotten my ticket through both travel agents and http://www.huochepiao.com/ (chinese only so have to get some friends to help) about two days before leaving.
(I am based in Hong Kong)
Posted by The Expat (408 days ago)
How much is the ticket to Bejing roughly?
(I am based in Hong Kong)
Posted by The Expat (408 days ago)
Ok checked the prices but what is the difference between an upper hard sleeper, and a lower and middle hard sleeper?
(I am based in Hong Kong)
Posted by FunchalPP (408 days ago)
I had not taken it before but did check with a colleague.
- 3 level bunks( top, middle and bottom). For top and middle bunks - less head room, if you are of average height,cannot sit on the bunks.
Bottom is the best as it has more head room, you can sit on it ( & most probably, the other passengers will do so too !!)
(I am based in Shanghai)
Posted by Moppet (407 days ago)
We took the train to Beijing from HK just a couple of weeks ago and found it ok but not great.
We had a deluxe soft sleeper just for my husband and I and where so glad we did when we saw how little room there was to move around in the cabins with four in.
There is a food car but it's very basic and they sell drinks and yes beer too for those who want it.
Toilets are not great but adequate (take your own loo roll though as they always run out)
We found he scenery a little disappointing it was all very flat and mostly farm land so much the same all the way. All carriages are sleeping cars so no seperate ones to go and sit in which means you are pretty much confined to your sleeping car the whole time.
We are glad we did it but in honesty wouldn't do it again.
I believe the train left around 3.00pm
(I am based in Hong Kong)
Posted by Taps (402 days ago)
Hi Moppet, does it mean there's no mountain, hills, river but only farm land and houses.
And no wide windows to look out from the cabin.
How was Beijing, any great recommendations.
Thank you for the information.
(I am based in Guangzhou)
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