allset2travel

Jiejie,
Kudos to you for the enormous effect of pulling together such a comprehensive thread of info. ^^

I particularly enjoy reading the “train” section, as I am comtemplating of doing a train trip in China in the winter.
While researching for train travel info, I noted plenty of inconsistancy from site to site. So much stuff out there is plain out-dated. Not being a Chinese reader, pure Chinese sites are out of the question.
I found your advice helpful because you wrote them with the FT perspective.

Openly, allow me to solicit info and suggestion from ALL on the following trip itineraries:
· Beijing to Hangzhou (over-night)
· Hangzhou to Shanghai
· Shanghai to Hong Kong (deluxe soft sleeper, 2 pax to cabin)

Is western Christmas and New Year a normal train-travel season in China? I am partiularly concern about when to purchase tickets. I will stick with travel over night for all above itineraries.

Discussion, advice, suggestions are welcome. Thanks in advance.

anacapamalibu

Should be normal, Jan 1 is a legal holiday in China but not too much
extra train travel.

Don't believe you should have any problem to get the schedule you
desire close in.

moondog

Fly.
Easy.
Fly.

As much as I love trains, you'll be best served by sticking with airlines, even in spite of your inevitable delays. It's really not that bad as long as you prepare yourself in advance.

anacapamalibu

[QUOTE=moondog;16545379]Fly.
As much as I love trains, you'll be best served by sticking with airlines, even in spite of your inevitable delays. QUOTE]

+1
CRH overnight is pretty stupid unless you like warm Heineken and 7 up.

jiejie

Thanks for kudos, which I'll share with all the FT China Ambassadors who are collectively putting their accumulated knowledge together and then splitting up the compilation/writing tasks for the various China FAQ and Master topics.

As for your specific itinerary questions: I would suggest to wait for another 4 months (say, October), follow developments on FT that might relate to your travel, then repost any lingering questions in a new thread. The high-speed rail network along at least some of your routes is undergoing improvement and also new purchasing requirements. Let's see how it shakes out before deciding train vs plane on the long segments. Hangzhou-Shanghai is an easy purchase once there. Christmas-Western New Year is not a travel period for Chinese so there are no special issues on that dimension and no particular pressure for you to commit early to a transport method. I'm unwilling to make recommendations at this time based on changing situation, and very limited information provided by you as to travel context and limitations.

Finally, I would request that this particular thread NOT be used for any more posters' specific itinerary requests, let's keep this one for general transportation topics, comments, observations that have wider-ranging implications. Otherwise, this thread will quickly become unwieldy and less useful for updates.

mnredfox

I agree with the other comments already. Train super easy Shanghai-Hangzhou, pretty fun route now that it's HS rail.

Fly the other routes, overnight trains on China are nothing but a cultural experience. Not the same charm as riding rail in Europe.

Timing of purchasing tickets is fine. Many companies in China don't even have Christmas holiday. AFAIK, train tickets can still only be bought 10 days in advance.

The only train you should NOT miss in China IMO is the train that runs in/out of Tibet.

allset2travel

Hi all,
Thanks for chiming in.
I shall reconsider flying at least the PEK-HGH and PVG-HKG.

Sorry, no intention to messing up this thread.

moondog

I would go by air in both cases.

Regarding PEK-HGH, you're looking at 6+ hours on the train, HGH is more efficient than SHA, and air fares aren't crazy expensive.

As for PVG-HKG, thanks to those cheap airlines that none of us dare to fly, air fares are reasonable. And, there is no HSR.

susiesan

Here's a question that's especially pertinent for me with the tiny bladder. How are the toilets on the trains in China? Are there toilets on the trains that run short distances, 1-2 hour trips? What are toilets like at the train stations? I always go before leaving a hotel, but it seems I always need to go again while on the train. Something about the jiggling motion...

anacapamalibu

Here's a link to show the toilet's on "D" train. Not sure about the facilities
on "G" or "C" trains.

http://cnreviews.com/life/travel-tou..._20100226.html

mnredfox

Any G or D trains toilets are pretty good. Should have the sit variety and are clean. K/T or other trains don't expect much, you may only have a squat but typically have at least 1 sit (for handicap).

Train stations are hit or miss. If it's a newer station (i.e. for G train) then you're ok. Outside of the major cities it is...well simply a cultural experience.

Then again, I can't comment on female bathrooms, haven't been in one.

Jiatong

The Tuesday June 14th China daily has a good story on the new high speed rail launch between SH & BJ. And a nice map of the 24 stations with a chart on the train to air comparisons. ( page 5 )

mnredfox

QQ China Daily link is nice.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/usa/chi...t_12689109.htm

"Maintenance workers will spend four hours checking the tracks every night."

"A patrol guard will be stationed every kilometer along the line to look for safety hazards."

I can guarantee they will be sleeping.

susiesan

Question about possible scenario. You have purchased tickets in advance for a specific train and time. There's a traffic jam on the way to the station and you miss your train.

Can you exchange the tickets for another train? How would you do this-go to a ticket window, show them the ticket, and hope they can understand English enough to help out?

Do you get a refund? Do you have to buy another ticket?

Are you SOL?

anacapamalibu

Yes