Train travel in China is always exciting, I just love it. But Chinese high speed train is even more scintillating! With an influx of new routes, super clean, super fast trains, the age of smoky, shaking Chinese carriages are fading out. In the last year I have taken a few trips on the high speed rail in China. And even splashed out on "First Class" just to sample it! That's a "backpacker" travelling First Class (and guess what even the First Class was cheap enough!).
Get the marvellous high speed Chinese train from Shenzhen North all the way up to Shaoguan and you'll have a great ride. This is what a high speed Chinese train is all about. After heading to Shaoguan your next port of call could be the terrific mountains of Danxiashan which include some great rock shapes!
How to book your train in China
It's best not to book anything in advance - remember this is China! Head to the train station on the day and book your ticket for that day when you're there. If you do have to wait a few hours that's no problem. Or there might be another route you can take. Make sure you have cash - it's payment in cash at these stations in China.
You WILL have trouble communicating to the workers in the train station, so make sure you know how to correctly pronounce the name of your destination and if you have the Chinese characters written down (or in a guidebook) it will be a lot easier to get it booked. All seats are allocated and you have to sit where your ticket says.
Taking the Shenzhen North to Shaoguan route
11.51 - You start at Shenzhen North train station. Head on past the barrier with your ticket and get on the train. You have a seat number so make sure you sit in it. It leaves fast and Shenzhen is soon left behind!
12.25pm - There's a stop at Guangzhou South train station for a few minutes. You can have a beer and Guangzhou, like Shenzhen is quickly left behind. Guangzhou is a massive city so that is saying something. A maximum speed of over 300 kilometres p/hour is reached on the next part of the journey!
1.44 pm - Arrival at Shaoguan train station and you get off the train here. The train does actually continue but we were backpacking in this area so got off.
What can you do onboard a High Speed train in China?
- Keep your travel blog up to date
- Marvel at the views of Chinese countryside
- Open a can of beer
- Fall asleep
- Relax
- Stare in awe at the pure speed of the train
- Get some food - you can order from the trolley on the train
- Bring a travel book to read
That's it! Enjoy your train journey in China!
Get the marvellous high speed Chinese train from Shenzhen North all the way up to Shaoguan and you'll have a great ride. This is what a high speed Chinese train is all about. After heading to Shaoguan your next port of call could be the terrific mountains of Danxiashan which include some great rock shapes!
How to book your train in China
It's best not to book anything in advance - remember this is China! Head to the train station on the day and book your ticket for that day when you're there. If you do have to wait a few hours that's no problem. Or there might be another route you can take. Make sure you have cash - it's payment in cash at these stations in China.
You WILL have trouble communicating to the workers in the train station, so make sure you know how to correctly pronounce the name of your destination and if you have the Chinese characters written down (or in a guidebook) it will be a lot easier to get it booked. All seats are allocated and you have to sit where your ticket says.
Taking the Shenzhen North to Shaoguan route
11.51 - You start at Shenzhen North train station. Head on past the barrier with your ticket and get on the train. You have a seat number so make sure you sit in it. It leaves fast and Shenzhen is soon left behind!
12.25pm - There's a stop at Guangzhou South train station for a few minutes. You can have a beer and Guangzhou, like Shenzhen is quickly left behind. Guangzhou is a massive city so that is saying something. A maximum speed of over 300 kilometres p/hour is reached on the next part of the journey!
1.44 pm - Arrival at Shaoguan train station and you get off the train here. The train does actually continue but we were backpacking in this area so got off.
What can you do onboard a High Speed train in China?
- Keep your travel blog up to date
- Marvel at the views of Chinese countryside
- Open a can of beer
- Fall asleep
- Relax
- Stare in awe at the pure speed of the train
- Get some food - you can order from the trolley on the train
- Bring a travel book to read
That's it! Enjoy your train journey in China!
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