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.
How to book your 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.
The trip and route 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.
12.24 pm - Arrival at Guangzhou South station for a quick stop. It's only a few minutes and soon Guangzhou is gone as well - it's a big city gone in a blink from the high speed train. At 310 kilometres per hour after this we have reached the peak speed and the train is going mega fast.
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
- Maintain your travel blog!
- Marvel at the views of Chinese countryside
- Enjoy a relaxing beer
- Sleep
- Chill out
- Admire the fast speed of the train
- Eat (there will be a food trolley on board or bring your own)
- 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.
How to book your 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.
The trip and route 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.
12.24 pm - Arrival at Guangzhou South station for a quick stop. It's only a few minutes and soon Guangzhou is gone as well - it's a big city gone in a blink from the high speed train. At 310 kilometres per hour after this we have reached the peak speed and the train is going mega fast.
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
- Maintain your travel blog!
- Marvel at the views of Chinese countryside
- Enjoy a relaxing beer
- Sleep
- Chill out
- Admire the fast speed of the train
- Eat (there will be a food trolley on board or bring your own)
- Read a travel book
You will love the high speed train in China.
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