All You Need to Know About High-Speed Train Travel in China
Leaving
Beijing by air is often no easy feat. If it's not the weather that's
wreaking havoc on your air travel 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. A one to two-hour delay is
something that we’ve all come to expect when booking a flight out of
PEK, 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
Currently, there are four train stations in Beijing – Beijing Station (北京站 Běijīng zhàn), Beijing South (北京南站 Běijīng nán zhàn), Beijing West (北京西站 Běijīng xī zhàn), Beijing North (北京北站 Běijīng běi zhàn) – the first three of which offer high-speed trains out of the city. You can purchase tickets at these stations, or through Ctrip (ctrip.com), 12306 (12306.cn),
and other online platforms, but if you are a foreigner, the ticket must
be picked up at the corresponding station prior to departure. Another
option is to purchase and pick up tickets from a domestic travel agency
office around the city with a slight fee. This is likely the most
straightforward way, and upon arrival at the station, you can go
straight to your platform after a painless security check that allows
you to bypass ticket booth lines, which can grow exponentially during
Chinese holidays.
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
If
you prepare well in advance, a train trip with kids can also be fun and
maybe even relaxing since you are able to bypass at least a few of the
issues that plague air travel (flight delays, stringent security,
cramped seating). Diaper-changing tables are also available on
high-speed trains, which can be a very tricky thing to maneuver
mid-flight.
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.
One
adult can bring only one child (under 1.2m) for free. If there is only
one adult and more than one child, the other children need to have
children’s tickets. All children 12 years of age and under, up to 1.5m
(4.9 feet) in height are eligible for children’s tickets. A child’s
ticket price is half that of an adult ticket, except for sleepers, which
are 75 percent of the adult ticket price. Children more than 12 years
old or more than 1.5m (4.9 feet) tall need to buy adult tickets at the
full fare.
High-Speed Train Types
G Category Trains: The fastest and the most state-of-the-art, with top speeds of 350km/h, running primarily during the day.
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
High-speed trains have four seat classes: second class (二等座 èr děng zuò), first class (一等座 yī děng zuò), superior class (特等座 tèděng zuò), and business class (商务座 shāngwù zuò). While second class is the most basic, business class and superior class may provide you with extra comfort during long trips.
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.
First Class
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 (高级软卧 gāojí ruǎnwò)
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
Unfortunately, an area where these trains don’t meet our expectations is in the dining category. Food is exceptionally underwhelming and flavorless, even compared to air travel standards. That’s why it’s best for you to purchase all of the food you may need (sandwiches, salads, snacks, and so on) before you get on the train. Take on this responsibility of procuring food beforehand, and you won’t be let down by an assortment of sad instant noodles.
Popular High-Speed Train Destinations Direct From Beijing
Here’s
a short list of some of the fun places you can visit using the
high-speed train. Prices are subject to change, but this should give you
a basic idea of what you should expect to pay.
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
READ: 7 Things to Do During a Quick Jaunt to Shanghai This Golden Week
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
A variation of this article first appeared on our sister account beijingkids.
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