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.
Here's the way to book a train in China
Never get anything booked in advance. You basically need to just turn up at the train station and book it there and then - that's the way to do it. It might be full and if that is the case just get the next one or take another route. Join the queue at the station and pay in cash for your ticket.
The hardest thing while booking a high speed train ticket in China will be the communication. When buying a ticket, I'd recommend writing in Chinese the name of the place you want to go. This will make it easy for them to get you the correct ticket. If there's a country you can easily get lost in, it's China!
My Journey from Shenzhen North to Shaoguan
11.51 - You start at Shenzhen North train station. Head on past the barrier with your ticket and get on the train. You have a seat number so make sure you sit in it. It leaves fast and Shenzhen is soon left behind!
12.26 pm - Stop at Guangzhou South for a few minutes. I've opened a can of Guinness and we leave Guangzhou trailing in our wake. A tough ask, given that it's a massive city. We reach a speed of 308 kilometres per hour at 12.44pm - this turns out to be the maximum speed we reach on the trip.
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 can you do onboard a High Speed train in China?
- Keep your travel blog up to date
- Admire the views
- Crack open a tin of beer
- Have a sleep
- Just sit back and relax
- Marvel at the train's velocity
- Get some food - you can order from the trolley on the train
- Bring a travel book to read
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.
Here's the way to book a train in China
Never get anything booked in advance. You basically need to just turn up at the train station and book it there and then - that's the way to do it. It might be full and if that is the case just get the next one or take another route. Join the queue at the station and pay in cash for your ticket.
The hardest thing while booking a high speed train ticket in China will be the communication. When buying a ticket, I'd recommend writing in Chinese the name of the place you want to go. This will make it easy for them to get you the correct ticket. If there's a country you can easily get lost in, it's China!
My Journey from Shenzhen North to Shaoguan
11.51 - You start at Shenzhen North train station. Head on past the barrier with your ticket and get on the train. You have a seat number so make sure you sit in it. It leaves fast and Shenzhen is soon left behind!
12.26 pm - Stop at Guangzhou South for a few minutes. I've opened a can of Guinness and we leave Guangzhou trailing in our wake. A tough ask, given that it's a massive city. We reach a speed of 308 kilometres per hour at 12.44pm - this turns out to be the maximum speed we reach on the trip.
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 can you do onboard a High Speed train in China?
- Keep your travel blog up to date
- Admire the views
- Crack open a tin of beer
- Have a sleep
- Just sit back and relax
- Marvel at the train's velocity
- Get some food - you can order from the trolley on the train
- Bring a travel book to read
You will love the high speed train in China.
About the Author:
For a load of fantastic articles like high speed train travel in china check out the best travel blog in the world by Jonny Blair for endless travel advice.
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