China - Which Hotel Near Beijing West Station

I would appreciate it if someone can advise me on what are the hotels that are near to the Beijing West station as I have an early train to catch to Shijiazhuang. Also what's the reliable transport from the airport to the hotel. I'll traveling with a 25" luggage if that helps to narrow down the choices.

I would appreciate it if someone can advise me on what are the hotels that are near to the Beijing West station as I have an early train to catch to Shijiazhuang. Also what's the reliable transport from the airport to the hotel. I'll traveling with a 25" luggage if that helps to narrow down the choices.

If you're going to be out the door before 730a, you can stay pretty much anywhere because traffic should be okay. If you really want to stay near Beijing West Station, the Doubletree comes to mind (I know it is close because I walked between there and BJ West a few weeks ago, and it only took 15 minutes). Financial Street wouldn't be bad either. You can take a taxi from the airport (to anywhere).

ETA: I just noticed that your location appears to be Kuala Lumpur. If you are originating there, you might consider flying to SJW. According to wiki, there are flights to SJW from a number of cities that also have nonstop service to KUL (CTU, CAN, HGH, PVG, SZX, HKG).

If you are literally spending one night in Beijing between landing at PEK and train the next morning, I'd still recommend staying in the Chang'an/Wangfujing, Financial Street or other near-west side area vs anything on the East/CBD side.

But if you are first going to be in Beijing for a few days before going to Shijiazhuang, and have lots of business on the CBD side, or in University/Zhongguancun area, etc. then I'd stay near where the majority of your business will be, and then just taxi to the Beijing West area of town and leave a bit earlier. Shouldn't be too much of an issue if your train is scheduled for 8:00 am or earlier, meaning you should be at the station by around 45 minutes beforehand to do the walking and get through security and to boarding area. (Assuming you already have train ticket and don't need to queue to purchase.)

Just take a taxi from the official queue from PEK to your selected hotel.

Thanks for the replies. It's reassuring to get replies from the local experts.

Moondog, I did purposely choose to land in PEK as I've never been there and always wanted to be there, and so I'll spend the weekends, after two weeks of crazy schedule, in Beijing on my return trip. Not nearly enough time for Beijing but still. And TG schedule works for me.

Jiejie, didn't know Wangfujing is on the west side (didn't bother to check:)) would surely stay there even if it's just a night before heading to Shijiazhuang.

On another note, I know I can enlist the help of hotel concierge, but just to be on the safe side, how far in advance do we need to purchase the fast train？

Jiejie, didn't know Wangfujing is on the west side (didn't bother to check:)) would surely stay there even if it's just a night before heading to Shijiazhuang. Not having to battle 1 hour traffic to the Beijing West, I hope?



It's not on the west side, but it's pretty close to the center (Tian'an Men).

Ok just booked Doubletree Beijing for a great rate. THanks.

Wangfujing is what I consider central vs Beijing West which is on the "near west" side. Before 7:30 am traffic from former to latter is not bad. But at any rate, you've found your hotel.

If you need to be in Shijiazhuang by a specific time, which then narrows your specific train departures, you should have hotel concierge get the ticket day before. If you have a bit of flexibility (say arrival target range covering 3-4 hours), then you can probably do as a walk-up for next available train. Normally cut-off time for sales is 30 minutes before scheduled departure, and your passport # will be needed. I don't recommend this for rookies though, as BJ West station ticket queues can be formidable at all hours. If you have a partial day in Beijing the day before, the hotel can point you to the closest remote ticketing office, where queues are minimal, and purchase is quick and easy. RMB 5 surcharge for remote ticket purchase, and take your passport.

Finally: make sure you know where you want to end up: Shijiazhuang (main) or Shijiazhuang North station, in case it matters. The first 6 trains leaving between 7:00 and 8:40 are the D123, D2001, D137, D4561, D2003, and D121. The D2001 and D2003 got to North station, the others go to main. All are under 2.5 hours. Go for the first class seats since the premium over second class is negligible.

Thanks again for the candid reply. I reckon I will reach the hotel around 1700hrs. Are the ticketing offices still open for the concierge to purchase for me the ticket? If not I really have to email them in advance.

Thanks again for the candid reply. I reckon I will reach the hotel around 1700hrs. Are the ticketing offices still open for the concierge to purchase for me the ticket? If not I really have to email them in advance.

The hotel I'm affiliated with is completely unwilling/unable to book train tickets for anyone, let alone people who haven't fronted cash. While I wouldn't say this is typical, it's fairly common, even for 5-star establishments.

But, you should try that angle first.

Failing that, I suggest the following:

1) find someone here to do the online booking thing for you, and pick up the tickets will call
2) I have two friends who work at the Doubletree that I'd be happy to ask to procure tickets on their personal time; I would wire them money (plus a service fee because buying train tickets really is annoying), and you would pay me back
3) try your luck at the train station; I'm doing this myself tomorrow

Remote ticketing offices are generally open daily until 20:00. Ticketing at the train station itself pretty much all hours. Whether concierge or yourself, should be able to procure in that period after your arrival at hotel.

Remote ticketing offices are generally open daily until 20:00. Ticketing at the train station itself pretty much all hours. Whether concierge or yourself, should be able to procure in that period after your arrival at hotel.

The one near me closes at 7p. Those guys shot me down today because I didn't bring an actual passport scan (I've been doing it for the past 3 weeks with passport numbers only). I'm not happy about tossing the dice at the train station, but sometimes we have to 忍耐.

The one near me closes at 7p. Those guys shot me down today because I didn't bring an actual passport scan (I've been doing it for the past 3 weeks with passport numbers only). I'm not happy about tossing the dice at the train station, but sometimes we have to 忍耐.

That's the minority condition. Most remote offices close at 8 pm. A few as early as 6 pm or late as 9 pm. That said, I think as soon after this OP arrives at his hotel, he should get working on the train ticket for the next morning. If the concierge will do it with prepayment, go that route. Otherwise, have the hotel give clear directions to nearest remote office. Good to point out that he should take the passport(s) for each traveler, or print outs of info pages if he already has those.

It's not a lot of fun fighting Beijing West ticket queues and managing luggage and fending off pickpockets simultaneously. So if traveling with somebody and you have to deal at the station, park them in a corner with luggage and nominate the person with the sharpest elbows and best battlefield disposition to take the passports and jump into the fray...I mean the ticket queue.

Moondog, thanks for the kind offer. I will just stick to the concierge service
when I arrive, though they won't do advance purchase for me.

Jiejie, tell me about China's rail stations. Been to a few, some are old and chaotic but the newer ones were a breath of fresh air, like Nanjing South Station. Now your story of pickpockets has put me in alert mode. Have just bought a travel pad lock for my carry on, where my passport and travel wallet stay. It's the last thing I want to lose on my travels.

Just to update. Paid 30 yuan for the rail ticket to be delivered to my room. The hotel seems to hire a runner of sort for this service.

DT is a nightmare for flagging taxis in the morning. Eventually took a 黑车for 30 yuan with concierge's help. Beijing West is a lot better than I expected. Been to worse in China.

Just to update. Paid 30 yuan for the rail ticket to be delivered to my room. The hotel seems to hire a runner of sort for this service.

DT is a nightmare for flagging taxis in the morning. Eventually took a 黑车for 30 yuan with concierge's help. Beijing West is a lot better than I expected. Been to worse in China.

Thanks for the update. Good service and reasonable cost to avoid getting the tickets in person. And you're obviously comfortable enough to get a black car (do you speak Chinese?), since most newbies would not be (including myself, when I first arrived).

tb

Thanks for the update. Good service and reasonable cost to avoid getting the tickets in person. tb

The amount charged is about right as I've done it in other cities of China. The train was a pleasure as I had a cubicle of four 1st class seats all to myself and I had a bit of work done on my notebook on the train, it's got power outlets as well so I could charge my notebook. All this for 98yuan for the 2 hour journey.

And you're obviously comfortable enough to get a black car (do you speak Chinese?), since most newbies would not be (including myself, when I first arrived).
tb

More out of desperation rather than being comfortable. I guess I added a bit of street cred in Beijing :) but really I had the concierge negotiated the price for me before I boarded and it was an uneventful 15 minutes trip and to what was a hardworking lady driver trying to eke out a living in this migrant city. I guess my speaking of Chinese helps also.