All You Need to Know About High-Speed Train Travel in China
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Leaving Beijing by air is often no easy feat. If it's not the weather that's wreaking havoc on your plans, it's the fact that the capital's airspace is controlled by the military, leaving take-off times to the whim of the faceless man in charge. With Daxing Airport only just beginning to lighten the burden of the capital’s air traffic, a one to two-hour delay is something that we’ve all come to expect when flying out of BJ. But there is another way.
Given air travel's convenience and
speed, it can be easy to overlook the state-of-the-art high-speed train
network that has the ability to send us to China's major destinations
at a fraction of the price. Currently, China has the most extensive and
fastest-growing high-speed railway in the world, with 15,500 miles of
track covering most of the major cities in the country. Leaps and bounds
in the high-speed track specifically have seen travel times between
north and south drop dramatically. That means a trip that used to take
an entire day on a slow train can now be achieved in an overnight ride
in a comfortable sleeper.
Train travel in China is also enticing
because business and first class prices aren’t overly inflated, allowing
thousands of passengers access to a once out-of-reach luxury. Given the
additional legroom and the serenity of the cabin environment, the extra
cost can be worth it, especially if it's the only option left.
Below
we've compiled a number of tips and tricks that will hopefully help
enhance your train experience in China, as well as some of the country's
most desirable destinations that won't take longer than an overnight
ride to reach.
Train Travel: The Essentials
Finally, make sure you always have a physical copy of your passport when purchasing tickets and when boarding the train. A passport pick-up receipt domestically on trains can work as well if you are in the process of renewing your visa.
Train Travel with Children
According to China Rail’s policy, children under 12 years of age cannot travel on a train alone and should be accompanied by an adult. Also, children up to 1.2m (3.9 feet) in height can travel for free but must, officially, sit on their parent’s lap for the entire length of the trip. A child ticket is needed if a seat is required, and depending on the length of your trip, you might want to go ahead and purchase an extra seat anyway so that you can both sit comfortably.
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High-Speed Train Types
D Category Trains: These are the second-fastest trains, used for some long-distance overnight routes, with soft sleepers available.
C Category Trains: High-speed trains running between two neighboring cities, for example, Beijing to Tianjin.
Seat Classes on High-Speed Trains
Second class seats are the most affordable seats on high-speed trains. They have five seats in a row (3+2). There is not so much space between rows, but the amount is still significantly more than you'll find on airplanes. Also, there are usually power outlets available in every row so that you can keep all of your devices fully charged.
With four seats in a row, first class seats are slightly more spacious and comfortable than second class. While these aren’t the most luxe seats on the high-speed train, they do provide an extra amount of comfort and serenity if you tend to be a little claustrophobic in small spaces loaded with people eating instant noodles or watching soap operas at an inappropriate volume.
Here, three seats are arranged in a row. Passengers may find the superior coach quieter, with more privacy, as a glass door separates the coach from the other cars. These are great for solo passengers with a little extra money to burn as you can have an entire row to yourself if you play your cards right.
Business class seats are the most luxurious and are only available on G-category trains. Seats are spacious with two meters (6.6 feet) of space between the rows. There are three seats in a row (2+1), and all seats can recline to a horizontal position allowing for a proper nap.
China's new soft sleeper cars on D-category trains have already been put into service on overnight high-speed trains between Beijing and Shanghai, and are slowly being rolled out on other routes. Unlike the old-style soft sleeper cars, the new sleeper beds are parallel to the hallway. There are two rows of double-decker sleeper beds on each side of the hallway, and luggage can be placed under the beds for easy access.
Deluxe soft sleepers are only available on a few high-speed trains, such as Chengdu to Shanghai, Chongqing to Beijing, and they are costly. We can dream, though.
Dining
Popular High-Speed Train Destinations Direct From Beijing
Departing from: Beijing South Railway Station
Distance: 1,318 km (819 miles)
Travel time: 4-5 hours
Second class: RMB 533
First class: RMB 933
Business class: RMB 1,748
Departing from: Beijing South Railway Station
Distance: 819 km
Travel time: 4-5 hours
Second class: RMB 312
First class: RMB 516
Business class: RMB 967.5
Departing from: Beijing West Railway Station
Distance: 1,216 km
Travel time: 4-5 hours
Second class: RMB 515.5
First class: RMB 824.5
Business class: RMB 1,627.5
Departing from: Beijing West Railway Station
Distance: 2,324 km
Travel time: 8-9 hours
Second class: RMB 862
First class: RMB 1,380
Business class: RMB 2,724
Departing from: Beijing West Railway Station
Distance: 2,735km
Travel time: 11-12 hours
Second class: RMB 1,147
First class: RMB 1,877.5
Business class: RMB 3,623
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