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
Don't book anything in advance. Just turn up on the day and get it booked at the station. If you're out of luck and it's full, just get the next one, or find an alternative route. Remember this is China, the possibilities are always endless here. Join the queue and get your ticket booked.
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.
My Journey from Shenzhen North to Shaoguan
11.52 am - At Shenzhen North Station. Go through the checkpoint at Gate B15 and get on carriage 7, seat 18. Leave within minutes, making Shenzhen disappear in a flash.
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 to do on a High Speed Train in China
- Maintain your travel blog!
- Admire the views
- Enjoy a relaxing beer
- Sleep
- Relax
- Admire the fast speed of the train
- Order some food (there's a trolley that comes down)
- Bring a travel book to read
You will love the high speed train 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!
Here's the way to book a train in China
Don't book anything in advance. Just turn up on the day and get it booked at the station. If you're out of luck and it's full, just get the next one, or find an alternative route. Remember this is China, the possibilities are always endless here. Join the queue and get your ticket booked.
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.
My Journey from Shenzhen North to Shaoguan
11.52 am - At Shenzhen North Station. Go through the checkpoint at Gate B15 and get on carriage 7, seat 18. Leave within minutes, making Shenzhen disappear in a flash.
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 to do on a High Speed Train in China
- Maintain your travel blog!
- Admire the views
- Enjoy a relaxing beer
- Sleep
- Relax
- Admire the fast speed of the train
- Order some food (there's a trolley that comes down)
- Bring a travel book to read
You will love the high speed train in China.
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