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!
Here's the way to book a train in China
Never get anything booked in advance. You basically need to just turn up at the train station and book it there and then - that's the way to do it. It might be full and if that is the case just get the next one or take another route. Join the queue at the station and pay in cash for your ticket.
Communication might be the biggest barrier you have to cross. So have the name of the destination written down in Chinese, a good knowledge of Chinese or at least know how to say the name of the place you are heading correctly. I'd write it down from a guidebook and be ready. Tickets have allocated seats.
Taking the Shenzhen North to Shaoguan route
11.50 - In Shenzhen North Station. Head through the barrier and find your allocated seat. It will leave within a few minutes and Shenzhen will be gone in a blink of the eye.
12.24 pm - Arrival at Guangzhou South station for a quick stop. It's only a few minutes and soon Guangzhou is gone as well - it's a big city gone in a blink from the high speed train. At 310 kilometres per hour after this we have reached the peak speed and the train is going mega fast.
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.
Things to do on a Chinese High Speed train
- Maintain your travel blog!
- Marvel at the views of Chinese countryside
- Open a can of beer
- Sleep
- Relax
- Stare in awe at the pure speed of the train
- Order some food (there's a trolley that comes down)
- Read a book on travel
That's my guide - high speed trains in China are excellent!
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!
Here's the way to book a train in China
Never get anything booked in advance. You basically need to just turn up at the train station and book it there and then - that's the way to do it. It might be full and if that is the case just get the next one or take another route. Join the queue at the station and pay in cash for your ticket.
Communication might be the biggest barrier you have to cross. So have the name of the destination written down in Chinese, a good knowledge of Chinese or at least know how to say the name of the place you are heading correctly. I'd write it down from a guidebook and be ready. Tickets have allocated seats.
Taking the Shenzhen North to Shaoguan route
11.50 - In Shenzhen North Station. Head through the barrier and find your allocated seat. It will leave within a few minutes and Shenzhen will be gone in a blink of the eye.
12.24 pm - Arrival at Guangzhou South station for a quick stop. It's only a few minutes and soon Guangzhou is gone as well - it's a big city gone in a blink from the high speed train. At 310 kilometres per hour after this we have reached the peak speed and the train is going mega fast.
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.
Things to do on a Chinese High Speed train
- Maintain your travel blog!
- Marvel at the views of Chinese countryside
- Open a can of beer
- Sleep
- Relax
- Stare in awe at the pure speed of the train
- Order some food (there's a trolley that comes down)
- Read a book on travel
That's my guide - high speed trains in China are excellent!
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