Train Travel in China
by John Mckenna
Train Travel in China; facts and information from someone who is a
train traveller in China.
Railway Travel in China is an adventure and can be a real grass-roots
experience whether you are travelling between the major Chinese
cities, or just from town to town. An adventure it will be.
Train Travel in China has varying levels of rail car standards as well as
assorted levels of cleanliness; this is why I say it can be an adventure.
The network coverage is good; most cities and major towns within
China are linked, as are the key metropolitan areas. The trains are fast
and mostly on time.
Ok! Let’s start with the tickets.
Train Travel in China is designed to move the masses around the
country. Remember, China is vast, huge...; so with enormous numbers
of people travelling by train, getting tickets especially over holiday and
festival periods can be tough.
Good systems are in place and you can even get the tickets delivered to
your hotel or home. However very little or no English is spoken, and this
is what makes catching a train difficult.
If you like independent China travel you can go and buy the ticket
yourself; this takes a bit of time and you will get your ticket in the end.
But the best way is to pay a little bit extra and get someone to do it for
you; it actually only works out to be a dollar or two, (US) saving a lot of
hassle .On the city to city trains and the major lines a seat can be
reserved; (however you may still have to move someone to claim it!)
Rail Travel or Train Travel in China has 4 travel classes.
Hard Seat - this is the most common and cheapest way to travel; the
greatest numbers of Chinese travellers use this class. More tickets
than seats are sold, so be very quick if you want a seat and be
prepared to stand with the masses if you miss out. This class is not so
comfortable; however it's cheap to move around the country.
Soft Seat - this is a better way to travel and most of the time you can
reserve a seat. It most likely will be taken, however being a foreigner
and insisting, helps to get it back. Stand your ground. The seats are
comfortable and the trip can be pleasant and interesting; the people
are friendly and the younger generation (sometimes very young) will try
to talk to you and practice their English. This mode of transport is fun.
Hard Sleeper - this is tough way to do a long journey. However it is the
cheapest method if you want a sleeping berth. Six bunks to a room, no
doors, tight, cramped conditions, not so clean, noisy…, not so nice. The
bunk is ok, so you can put your head down to sleep…if you can for the
noise. A blanket and pillow is supplied. A food trolley comes around
with the very basics, so it is best to take your own rations with you. This
class is just bearable but very interesting. I would only recommend this
for the seasoned traveller who can cope with less-than-favourable
conditions.
Soft Sleeper - this is the way to go, 4 to a room, and it has a door. The
beds are comfortable, blanket and pillow are supplied. You will meet
some interesting people; many will speak broken English and will wish
to chat. A food trolley comes around with the very basics, so again, it is
best to take your own rations.
Train Travel in China…my preferred class is definitely Soft Sleeper for
a long journey and Soft Seat for a day’s travel.
Train Travel in China – The Toilets
This can and will be the most difficult part of Travel in China, on the
trains and buses. Hard Seat this is a hold-the-nose, come-and-get-me-
if-I’m-not-back-in-5-minutes experience. All are squat toilets and you
must take you own toilet paper. Soft Seat Better…however as the
journey progresses, hard seat conditions turn up; most are squat
toilets; always bring your own paper. Hard Sleeper about the same as
for soft seat travelling; however you have to put up with it for a longer
period of time. Soft Sleeper this is better and will most likely have a
seat-style toilet, still no paper!
A Final Note, Train Travel in China is Ok, cheap, and you can roam all
over the country. The conditions are interesting to say the least;
however, a lot of fun if you know what you are getting yourself in to.
Try it. You will have fun and a special adventure.
I hope some of these China Travel Tips will come in handy and
will make your trip to China that little bit easier.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR JOHN MCKENNA
If you have been to China and wish to share your China Travel
Tips, please feel free to contact me anytime.
John Mckenna http://www.Travel-the-Real-China.com
About the author:
Hi I'm John Mckenna, I am from New Zealand and have lived in
Shanghia China now for 3 years.
I own and operate http://www.Travel-the-Real-China .com. My site
provides experienced based Travel and Tour information on the
wonders of Travel in China, the Real China, Ancient China, China
at its very best
by John Mckenna
Train Travel in China; facts and information from someone who is a
train traveller in China.
Railway Travel in China is an adventure and can be a real grass-roots
experience whether you are travelling between the major Chinese
cities, or just from town to town. An adventure it will be.
Train Travel in China has varying levels of rail car standards as well as
assorted levels of cleanliness; this is why I say it can be an adventure.
The network coverage is good; most cities and major towns within
China are linked, as are the key metropolitan areas. The trains are fast
and mostly on time.
Ok! Let’s start with the tickets.
Train Travel in China is designed to move the masses around the
country. Remember, China is vast, huge...; so with enormous numbers
of people travelling by train, getting tickets especially over holiday and
festival periods can be tough.
Good systems are in place and you can even get the tickets delivered to
your hotel or home. However very little or no English is spoken, and this
is what makes catching a train difficult.
If you like independent China travel you can go and buy the ticket
yourself; this takes a bit of time and you will get your ticket in the end.
But the best way is to pay a little bit extra and get someone to do it for
you; it actually only works out to be a dollar or two, (US) saving a lot of
hassle .On the city to city trains and the major lines a seat can be
reserved; (however you may still have to move someone to claim it!)
Rail Travel or Train Travel in China has 4 travel classes.
Hard Seat - this is the most common and cheapest way to travel; the
greatest numbers of Chinese travellers use this class. More tickets
than seats are sold, so be very quick if you want a seat and be
prepared to stand with the masses if you miss out. This class is not so
comfortable; however it's cheap to move around the country.
Soft Seat - this is a better way to travel and most of the time you can
reserve a seat. It most likely will be taken, however being a foreigner
and insisting, helps to get it back. Stand your ground. The seats are
comfortable and the trip can be pleasant and interesting; the people
are friendly and the younger generation (sometimes very young) will try
to talk to you and practice their English. This mode of transport is fun.
Hard Sleeper - this is tough way to do a long journey. However it is the
cheapest method if you want a sleeping berth. Six bunks to a room, no
doors, tight, cramped conditions, not so clean, noisy…, not so nice. The
bunk is ok, so you can put your head down to sleep…if you can for the
noise. A blanket and pillow is supplied. A food trolley comes around
with the very basics, so it is best to take your own rations with you. This
class is just bearable but very interesting. I would only recommend this
for the seasoned traveller who can cope with less-than-favourable
conditions.
Soft Sleeper - this is the way to go, 4 to a room, and it has a door. The
beds are comfortable, blanket and pillow are supplied. You will meet
some interesting people; many will speak broken English and will wish
to chat. A food trolley comes around with the very basics, so again, it is
best to take your own rations.
Train Travel in China…my preferred class is definitely Soft Sleeper for
a long journey and Soft Seat for a day’s travel.
Train Travel in China – The Toilets
This can and will be the most difficult part of Travel in China, on the
trains and buses. Hard Seat this is a hold-the-nose, come-and-get-me-
if-I’m-not-back-in-5-minutes experience. All are squat toilets and you
must take you own toilet paper. Soft Seat Better…however as the
journey progresses, hard seat conditions turn up; most are squat
toilets; always bring your own paper. Hard Sleeper about the same as
for soft seat travelling; however you have to put up with it for a longer
period of time. Soft Sleeper this is better and will most likely have a
seat-style toilet, still no paper!
A Final Note, Train Travel in China is Ok, cheap, and you can roam all
over the country. The conditions are interesting to say the least;
however, a lot of fun if you know what you are getting yourself in to.
Try it. You will have fun and a special adventure.
I hope some of these China Travel Tips will come in handy and
will make your trip to China that little bit easier.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR JOHN MCKENNA
If you have been to China and wish to share your China Travel
Tips, please feel free to contact me anytime.
John Mckenna http://www.Travel-the-Real-China.com
About the author:
Hi I'm John Mckenna, I am from New Zealand and have lived in
Shanghia China now for 3 years.
I own and operate http://www.Travel-the-Real-China .com. My site
provides experienced based Travel and Tour information on the
wonders of Travel in China, the Real China, Ancient China, China
at its very best
CHINA TRAIN TRAVEL
CHINA TRAVEL TICKETS
TRAIN TOURS CHINA
CHINA TRAINS
CHINA TRAVEL TICKETS
TRAIN TOURS CHINA
CHINA TRAINS
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CHINA TRAIN TRAVEL
CHINA TRAIN TRAVEL
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