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.
You WILL have trouble communicating to the workers in the train station, so make sure you know how to correctly pronounce the name of your destination and if you have the Chinese characters written down (or in a guidebook) it will be a lot easier to get it booked. All seats are allocated and you have to sit where your ticket says.
Taking the Shenzhen North to Shaoguan route
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!
1.45 pm - Arrive at Shaoguan Station and we get off. Shaoguan is not the last station on this high speed train which heads much further north.
What to do on a High Speed Train in China
- Keep your travel blog up to date
- Check out the amazing views
- Crack open a tin of beer
- Fall asleep
- Relax
- Marvel at the train's velocity
- Get some food - you can order from the trolley on the train
- Read a book on travel
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.
You WILL have trouble communicating to the workers in the train station, so make sure you know how to correctly pronounce the name of your destination and if you have the Chinese characters written down (or in a guidebook) it will be a lot easier to get it booked. All seats are allocated and you have to sit where your ticket says.
Taking the Shenzhen North to Shaoguan route
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!
1.45 pm - Arrive at Shaoguan Station and we get off. Shaoguan is not the last station on this high speed train which heads much further north.
What to do on a High Speed Train in China
- Keep your travel blog up to date
- Check out the amazing views
- Crack open a tin of beer
- Fall asleep
- Relax
- Marvel at the train's velocity
- Get some food - you can order from the trolley on the train
- Read a book on travel
You will love the high speed train in China.
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