You have to love train travel in China - it's so exciting and wonderful. Endless countryside mixed with random towns and cities and it's fast. The new Chinese trains are so fast and incredible you will just have a great ride on them. You don't even have to break the bank either as they are just so cheap compared with high speed trains in other countries. A quick guide to travelling on Chinese trains.
On my first high speed train in China I was on the Shenzhen North to Shaoguan route. Not a common route I must add, but in 2012 this gave me my first experience of the new high speed trains in China. We were heading to Shaoguan in order to see the mountains and rock formations at Danxiashan.
Booking a train in China
Don't book anything in advance. Just turn up on the day and get it booked at the station. If you're out of luck and it's full, just get the next one, or find an alternative route. Remember this is China, the possibilities are always endless here. Join the queue and get your ticket booked.
Communication might be the biggest barrier you have to cross. So have the name of the destination written down in Chinese, a good knowledge of Chinese or at least know how to say the name of the place you are heading correctly. I'd write it down from a guidebook and be ready. Tickets have allocated seats.
My Journey from Shenzhen North to Shaoguan
11.52 am - At Shenzhen North Station. Go through the checkpoint at Gate B15 and get on carriage 7, seat 18. Leave within minutes, making Shenzhen disappear in a flash.
12.25pm - There's a stop at Guangzhou South train station for a few minutes. You can have a beer and Guangzhou, like Shenzhen is quickly left behind. Guangzhou is a massive city so that is saying something. A maximum speed of over 300 kilometres p/hour is reached on the next part of the journey!
1.44 pm - Arrival at Shaoguan train station and you get off the train here. The train does actually continue but we were backpacking in this area so got off.
What to do on a High Speed Train in China
- Maintain your travel blog!
- Admire the views
- Crack open a tin of beer
- Fall asleep
- Just sit back and relax
- Admire the fast speed of the train
- Order some food (there's a trolley that comes down)
- Read a travel book
You will love the high speed train in China.
On my first high speed train in China I was on the Shenzhen North to Shaoguan route. Not a common route I must add, but in 2012 this gave me my first experience of the new high speed trains in China. We were heading to Shaoguan in order to see the mountains and rock formations at Danxiashan.
Booking a train in China
Don't book anything in advance. Just turn up on the day and get it booked at the station. If you're out of luck and it's full, just get the next one, or find an alternative route. Remember this is China, the possibilities are always endless here. Join the queue and get your ticket booked.
Communication might be the biggest barrier you have to cross. So have the name of the destination written down in Chinese, a good knowledge of Chinese or at least know how to say the name of the place you are heading correctly. I'd write it down from a guidebook and be ready. Tickets have allocated seats.
My Journey from Shenzhen North to Shaoguan
11.52 am - At Shenzhen North Station. Go through the checkpoint at Gate B15 and get on carriage 7, seat 18. Leave within minutes, making Shenzhen disappear in a flash.
12.25pm - There's a stop at Guangzhou South train station for a few minutes. You can have a beer and Guangzhou, like Shenzhen is quickly left behind. Guangzhou is a massive city so that is saying something. A maximum speed of over 300 kilometres p/hour is reached on the next part of the journey!
1.44 pm - Arrival at Shaoguan train station and you get off the train here. The train does actually continue but we were backpacking in this area so got off.
What to do on a High Speed Train in China
- Maintain your travel blog!
- Admire the views
- Crack open a tin of beer
- Fall asleep
- Just sit back and relax
- Admire the fast speed of the train
- Order some food (there's a trolley that comes down)
- Read a travel book
You will love the high speed train in China.
About the Author:
For more excellent articles on Backpacking in China check out this immense site for perpetual tales of China travel.
No comments:
Post a Comment