How to Take the Train
Should you have experienced train travel in China in the past, you may feel discouraged because of either their speed or service. However, Chinese railway has undergone earth-shattering changes in recent years. Following a six-stage program to increase railway speed, traveling by train is no longer an agonizing journey. Instead, it can be the most cost effective choice for travelers.
Always spare some time before the departure time of your train. Generally speaking, you need to arrive at the railway station an hour before the train leaves. However, should you take a train during spring rush or holidays, you are advised to be two hours earlier. Hereafter are the basic steps for boarding. Hope it will help your boarding more easily.
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Step 1: Enter into the railway station. There are X-ray machines in the entrance of each railway station. All the luggages have to be passed through to examine for the dangerous items. Once you put your luggage on the machine, please go to the other side and fetch them quickly in case that your luggage is taken either by mistake or on purpose.
Step 2: Find the right waiting room. After you enter into the railway station, you should find the terminal hall where your train is going to leave from. There are always electronic departure boards in the railway station with information shown in Chinese. You can find your waiting room according to the information given on your train tickets, or you can ask a staff for help if you are in trouble with the Chinese characters.
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Step 3: Get into the platform. In most cases, check in starts 30 minutes before the train's departure if it is the starting station. Thus you are advised to arrive at the station one hour earlier. If it is not a starting station, check in starts when the train arrives, then you just need to be 30 minutes earlier. There will be broadcast to inform you then. Remember to take all your luggage!
Step 4: Board the TrainThe train number and the carriage number are shown outside the train clearly; therefore it is easy to find your carriage. There is a railway staff at the door of each carriage to whom you are required to show your ticket. If you board on the wrong carriage, he/she will instruct you to the right one.
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Q & A on Take the Train
1.
Mar. 18,2010 07:47 Reply
Mr.saleh(nigeria) said:
Hi, we will be travelling to beijing from guangzhou next week, and we would love to experience the bullet train. however i understand that wuhan to beijing is not bullet train, advise me on how to undertake my trip please.
thanks
2.
Mar. 11,2010 11:53 Reply
Mrs.Jackson(Canada) said:
Hi,
There will be four adults travelling from Shanghai to Beijing return on June 2 and returning June 7. We want to take the bullet train. We are staying in the Hungpu district in Shanghai and will catch the train at the transportation hub Zhabei district. We want to arrive in Beijing near the downtown area near Tiananmen Sq. Where do we get off? And approx how much will the tickets cost?
Mar. 12,2010 03:22
Ms.Sophia replied:
Do you mean you need bullet train tickets from Shanghai to Beijing on June 2 and the return tickets on June 7? For the train tickets booking, you are suggested to submit your booking on this site directly.
All the bullet trains from Shanghai to Beijing depart from Shanghai Railway Station and arrive at Beijing South Railway Station. So you will get off at Beijing South. The transportation from Beijing South to Tiananmen Square is very convenient. Just take the Subway Line 4 at Beijing South and get off at Xidan, 4 stations in total and the fare for subway is CNY2 (flat fare). Xidan is only one subway station away from Tiananmen West, thus you can choose to transfer to Subway Line 1 or walk to the Tiananmen Square. You need not to pay again if you will not get out of the subway station for transfer. Beijing Subway Map:
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/beijing/subway-map.htm
This site has many hotels near the Tiananmen Square and you can choose your preferred one:
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/hotel/beijing-hotels.htm
3.
Jan. 28,2010 14:21 Reply
Mrs.martin(uk) said:
I would like to have the experience of travelling on a bullet train. Where can I go from Shanghai or Beijing Or Xian or Wuhan to be able to board a bullet train?
I will be stopping at Shanghai, Wuhan, Xian and Beijing.
Thank you in advance for any info.
Feb. 2,2010 01:57
Ms.Li(CN) replied:
There are bullet trains from Shanghai to Beijing. You can take it in Shanghai.
4.
Jan. 26,2010 18:21 Reply
Ms.AQUA(Philippines) said:
Can anyone tell me what trains to get from Guangzhou to Shenzhen? Is there a timetable for the bullet trains? How much would it cost me.. please help. thanks
Jan. 27,2010 02:07
Ms.Thelma(CN) replied:
hello, the trains from Guangzhou to Shenzhen runs with an interval of around 10 min everyday from morning to evening. it is very convenient. the ticket price is about RMB85 for first class seats and 75 for the second ones.
Jan. 27,2010 03:43
Ms.Renee(GB) replied:
Train from Guangzhou to Shenzhen runs every 15 minutes and it is very easy to buy ticket at the Railway Station. The price is 85-75 in Chinese Yuan.
5.
Jan. 15,2010 06:46 Reply
Mrs.Barra(Chile) said:
hi!!
Our family(6) want to go from shanghai to beijing by train this february 16 and there visit the main attractions We would like to return the 22 to Shanghai.
Do you think we can find this tickets when we arrive to Shanghai the 12 of February ??Which ticket train are easy to find?
thanks
Jan. 16,2010 00:32
Ms.Thelme(CN) replied:
hi, Mrs.Barra, your travel date just meet the very busy transportation during the Chinese Spring Festival. at that time, train tickets would be very hard to get. you'd better take flights instead.
good luck.