You have always wanted to adventure in fabulous China, but don't have the money to fly to every destination. Maybe you could take the train! Yes, it's possible, but difficult. Read on for some basic points to travel by train relatively easily and safely.
Steps
- Be prepared for difficulty. Travel in China is never easy, especially if you don't speak much or any Chinese, or have a translator.
- Little public information is available in English. It's often hard to find signs, brochures, guidebooks, schedules, etc.
- Most people speak little to no English. Most can't read a map with you, or look at your phrasebook successfully.
- Public officials (police) generally aren't very helpful; many can be rude. Don't look to them for help.
- Most people don't offer to help. You can stand there looking desperate, but you may not get much attention.
- Foreigners are usually received politely but are sometimes preyed on, looked to for handouts, and expect to be the object of great curiosity, especially in smaller cities and remote locations. (Following the tips in How to Avoid Looking Like an American Tourist might help.)
- Little public information is available in English. It's often hard to find signs, brochures, guidebooks, schedules, etc.
- Buy tickets. This can also be difficult. Many hotels offer ticket buying services, but you will be charged more than the window price. That can be worth it, though, to avoid the hassle of buying your own tickets. Travel agencies can also buy tickets, but are liable to charge you a lot more than the window price, and there are many stories of agencies cheating foreigners outright, so be careful.
- It's nearly impossible to find specialized ticket booths outside the train station. You must go to the train station itself.
- Most people buy tickets the day of travel. This works if the route isn't the most popular one. If it is a very popular route, you'll want to buy ahead.
- You can buy tickets at the station up to 5 days in advance of travel for most of the year. Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) is special. Don't try to buy tickets then.
- Most city central stations are huge, crowded, noisy and dangerous places. Find the ticket hall, and see if you can spot one window on the far edge that might cater to foreign buyers. Go to this window, as they may speak English.
- Otherwise, stand in the long lines, get to the front, try to state (or have written) your destination and desired time of departure. Being flexible is the best. Take what you can get.
- Buy the best class ticket you can. Most Chinese trains have three classes. ( A few have four; they include "soft seat", but only run on short hops between major cities, such as Shanghai and Nanjing.) At best, buy "soft sleep" tickets. Otherwise buy "hard sleep" tickets.
- Most people buy tickets the day of travel. This works if the route isn't the most popular one. If it is a very popular route, you'll want to buy ahead.
- Prepare for train travel. You should have enough to eat and drink for the whole journey (usually 18-36 hours). While food and drink are sold on board and at each major station stop, it's expensive and not that good. Bring some of your own.
- On board you can buy beer (not cold), liquor, packaged snacks, instant noodles, crackers, and prepared meals (three per day). The train food is generally bad, though not usually dangerous, and is best avoided. Try it once, but don't depend on it.
- At major station stops of 15 minutes or more, except during the middle of the night, people push carts with many foods. Again avoid anything hot or prepared, but look for fresh local fruits, snacks, beer.
- On board you can buy beer (not cold), liquor, packaged snacks, instant noodles, crackers, and prepared meals (three per day). The train food is generally bad, though not usually dangerous, and is best avoided. Try it once, but don't depend on it.
- Wait to board a train. For all ticket classes except "soft sleep", you will wait in the general hall. This is huge, noisy, dirty, crowded, but not dangerous except for pickpockets.
- Sit on the benches. Notice your train number and look for the aisle and overhead sign at the end where that train will board. At the proper time, the gate will open and people will surge forward. Follow but don't worry, you have a reserved seat/bunk.
- For "soft sleep" ticket holders, find the separate waiting room. Follow signs or show attendants your ticket and they can direct you. This waiting room is quiet, relatively clean and sane. Use the boiling water dispenser against the wall for hot tea or instant noodles. You will board first. Wait for your train number to be called or look confused and show your ticket. An attendant will guide you here.
- Sit on the benches. Notice your train number and look for the aisle and overhead sign at the end where that train will board. At the proper time, the gate will open and people will surge forward. Follow but don't worry, you have a reserved seat/bunk.
- Treat small town stations differently. Here there are few ticket windows, only a single waiting room, few amenities, and few trains. Be prepared to wait a long time, and bring your own food and water.
- For the smallest places, take any train, any ticket, and pay on board to an attendant to upgrade your seat out of "hard seat". Pay any price and insist you must sit somewhere else. You may have to wait until a bunk is vacated ahead, but then watch for it and move your stuff quickly. Plop down and show your money. It will probably work.
- For the smallest places, take any train, any ticket, and pay on board to an attendant to upgrade your seat out of "hard seat". Pay any price and insist you must sit somewhere else. You may have to wait until a bunk is vacated ahead, but then watch for it and move your stuff quickly. Plop down and show your money. It will probably work.
- Board the train. From any waiting room, pick up your gear, watch for other people grabbing it, and move forward. Show your ticket to the attendant to get it clipped (as used), then find the right car. Look at your ticket or ask a car attendant standing outside each car.
- Board your car and look for the right bunk/compartment number. Many people are doing the same. Step carefully around luggage. When you find your bunk, put your stuff on the bunk first, then stow it on the overhead racks or spaces provided. Get out of the way first.
- Place your food and water supplies on the bunk or the little center table. Smile at your bunk neighbors.
- Board your car and look for the right bunk/compartment number. Many people are doing the same. Step carefully around luggage. When you find your bunk, put your stuff on the bunk first, then stow it on the overhead racks or spaces provided. Get out of the way first.
- Wait for the attendant to come around and collect your ticket. They give you a chit to show you paid, and exchange it for your ticket again just before you de-train. Keep that chit. Without it, you are sunk. As a foreigner, security will also come to inspect your passport, carefully, and write the details on their log. Be silent and polite. Smile.
- Enjoy the ride. The train is actually fun. People mostly sleep, play cards, handle the kids. It's fairly quiet except for crying babies. You may sleep, read, practice your Chinese where people are a captive audience and will be curious, look out the window.
- Bedding is always provided and is clean unless you upgrade on the train and take over a used bunk. You will get a pillow and quilt with clean cotton covers.
- In "hard sleep" compartments, there are three levels. The top level is hard to climb to, and those people usually sit down below or at the window stools in the aisle. If you have a bottom bunk, and don't want it used as a couch, spread your stuff out and frown if people try to sit with you. This is why the middle bunk is best.
- Each compartment has a little table, a garbage bin, and a hot water thermos. Fill it from the hot water dispenser at the end of the car and share it with everyone in the compartment.
- Find hot water at the end of each car, and use it to fill your tea thermos, eat instant noodles, or wet a cloth for a face wipe. This water is clean.
- Find a toilet at the end of each car. It isn't nice but it works. It is locked at stations and you may have to ask the car attendant to unlock it again. It's best in the middle of the night. If critical, take a thermos of boiling water and wash it down. No one else will.
- Find a sink near each toilet. It will be dirty and will run out of water after 18 hours.
- "Soft sleep" cars have better facilities, and they restrict other class passengers from using them.
- Bedding is always provided and is clean unless you upgrade on the train and take over a used bunk. You will get a pillow and quilt with clean cotton covers.
- Be ready to get off. Listen to the destination or ask someone or the attendant. Get your gear packed and down off the rack. Exchange your chit for your ticket. There will be time, so don't rush.
- Exit the train and station. Get off the train, follow the crowd to the exit, probably below or over other tracks to the station outlet. Here watch your possessions carefully. Ignore touts of all sorts, get to the gate, show your ticket and exit. Likely you will be in another large square full of people. In small stations, you will be alone. Find a taxi.
- In a large station, move across the square to a taxi or your destination. All stations have a post office, police station, bank, and railroad hotel(s) next to them. Those hotels are usually satisfactory and relatively cheap. Use them as a base if you don't know the city at all, if you wish.
- In a large station, move across the square to a taxi or your destination. All stations have a post office, police station, bank, and railroad hotel(s) next to them. Those hotels are usually satisfactory and relatively cheap. Use them as a base if you don't know the city at all, if you wish.
Tips
- Find someone to help you if possible. This is critical for buying tickets (in advance). No one has time to help you through a phrasebook at the ticket window.
- Learn the different types of train service. Train numbers refer to the speed or number of stops. There are limited and local trains. Find one that arrives at your destination during the day if possible.
- BE ON TIME. Nothing else in China works on time except the rail service. They carry the equivalent of the entire U.S. population at any one time and operate efficiently.
- Pack lightly. Be able to carry everything at once. You CANNOT go back and pick up the second bag from a waiting room or train car.
- Bring your own maps. Do your research ahead of time. You won't find helpful travel desks or brochures.
- Trains generally are smooth; you won't get carsick from them. However, bring sleeping aids if you have a long ride. Mostly trains are quiet and the motion often is conducive to sleep.
- Trains are quiet at night. The lights are turned off, aisle window curtains drawn. This is not the place to have a beer party with your friends, or make out with your girlfriend. You may get security to pay you a visit if you do. If you run into security, remain quiet, polite, eyes down, and passive.
- If you end in a strange city in the middle of the night, find the closest railroad hotel and stay there until morning, if you can. Don't sleep in the square (it's very dangerous). If necessary, sit in the hall of the police station and smile as a pathetic foreigner (especially for solo women).
Warnings
- Some large city train stations are notoriously dangerous, such as Guangzhou. Be extremely careful outside the station in the square, near the entrance, in the ticket hall, and in the general waiting rooms. Watch your stuff, and your wallet. This is especially true at night.
- Be careful of food in and around the trains and stations. Cooked, prepared, warm food can be bad. Buy and eat packaged, sealed food, food you make yourself, canned food, fruit, canned or boxed liquids.
- DO NOT ride in the "hard seat" general cars unless you are DESPERATE. People have been known to arrive with pneumonia and other serious illnesses from them. These are unreserved seats for the peasant class, and are filthy, crowded, and dangerous.
- Use of illegal drugs will get you an instant talk with security and eviction, at best, and a trip to the station at worst.
Related wikiHows
- How to Travel to Hangzhou from Shanghai
- How to Travel from Moscow to Beijing by Train
- How to Pack for a Trip to China
- How to Travel in Hong Kong
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