Hong Kong to Guilin
#16
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 380
What's your plan there? If you're looking for natural beauty, Yangshuo is the place to go. It's about an hour from Guilin.
Yangshuo is a stunningly beautiful place and I couldn't recommend it more.
I've been there in August and it is very hot - but it wasn't that unbearable and the humidity was lower than Hong Kong. That said, I wouldn't plan days of bicycle riding unless your very used to extreme heat.
I've never taken the train as I flew with Cathay Dragon. If you're worried about price, check out Cathay's FanFares page as Guilin comes up quite regularly. I flew using British Airways Avios (4500 Avios + 13 each way).
I have though been to Shenzhen North station and it can be a pain.
It takes 60+ minutes to get from HK island to Lok Ma Chau.
The border takes X minutes long. If I had pre-booked tickets, I would allow, at an absolute minimum, 60 minutes. Double that if it's a holiday. You could do it in 15 though. I have found Lo Wu quicker as they have a separate queue for foreigners so you may want to consider there if it's a holiday.
It then takes 30 minutes to get from Lok Ma Chau to Shenzhen North station. I have always found Chinese train stations to be pretty manic and Shenzhen North WILL be manic throughout the holiday period (July and August). 60 minutes would be the absolute minimum I would allow to collect tickets. 120 minutes is more realistic to grab tickets and find the boarding area.
As you can see, five hours after leaving the hotel, you have just collected your tickets. Not a quick or easy journey.
I'm sure someone will jump in and say that they've done it in three hours. Possible? Perhaps - though not for a normal human on a normal day.
For the flight, I would plan to be on the train in HK station about 75 minutes before departure time if I had only hand luggage.
Yangshuo is a stunningly beautiful place and I couldn't recommend it more.
I've been there in August and it is very hot - but it wasn't that unbearable and the humidity was lower than Hong Kong. That said, I wouldn't plan days of bicycle riding unless your very used to extreme heat.
I've never taken the train as I flew with Cathay Dragon. If you're worried about price, check out Cathay's FanFares page as Guilin comes up quite regularly. I flew using British Airways Avios (4500 Avios + 13 each way).
I have though been to Shenzhen North station and it can be a pain.
It takes 60+ minutes to get from HK island to Lok Ma Chau.
The border takes X minutes long. If I had pre-booked tickets, I would allow, at an absolute minimum, 60 minutes. Double that if it's a holiday. You could do it in 15 though. I have found Lo Wu quicker as they have a separate queue for foreigners so you may want to consider there if it's a holiday.
It then takes 30 minutes to get from Lok Ma Chau to Shenzhen North station. I have always found Chinese train stations to be pretty manic and Shenzhen North WILL be manic throughout the holiday period (July and August). 60 minutes would be the absolute minimum I would allow to collect tickets. 120 minutes is more realistic to grab tickets and find the boarding area.
As you can see, five hours after leaving the hotel, you have just collected your tickets. Not a quick or easy journey.
I'm sure someone will jump in and say that they've done it in three hours. Possible? Perhaps - though not for a normal human on a normal day.
For the flight, I would plan to be on the train in HK station about 75 minutes before departure time if I had only hand luggage.
Last edited by TravelDream; Apr 24, 2018 at 1:31 am Reason: Typos
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Norway
Posts: 14
Actually Yangsguo was on my itinerary, but I was planning to go there from Guilin, and then a river cruise back to Guilin again.
Does that seem like a good plan or do you have any other suggestions?
#18
Suspended
Join Date: May 2006
Location: HKG
Programs: A3, TK *G; JL JGC; SPG,Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,952
What exactly do you want to see anyway? It is not like you can get off and take a picture.
For travel within Mainland China, the less the better because there are simply too many uncertainty. Even for flying, you can get delayed for 6 hours at no fault of the airline.
Beside - unless you have your own MB to drive, any public transportation is not as comfortable as you think.
For travel within Mainland China, the less the better because there are simply too many uncertainty. Even for flying, you can get delayed for 6 hours at no fault of the airline.
Beside - unless you have your own MB to drive, any public transportation is not as comfortable as you think.
#19
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SIN
Programs: KF, MPC, BAEC // Bonvoy, WoH, Honors
Posts: 1,461
I would take the train (generally my preferred mode of transport if going from HK to anywhere in Southern China), which is a 3h ride from Shenzhen. Flying in and out of China can be unrealiable and the total travel time might be longer anyway given you have to get to HKG, arrive early, account for any delays etc. Trains in China are very reliable compared to flying in terms of delays.
#22
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 3,090
The airport, beautiful as it is, stunningly beautiful in fact, does have an extended linear design that always seems to produce extended linear walks to and from the gate. But as partial compensation, the express Metro line really speeds the journey now to and from central Shenzhen.
#23
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: HAM
Programs: BA Gold, A3*G, LH FTL, IHG Diamond
Posts: 288
Hallo, found this old thread and maybe adding my question here:
It seems CX / KA is not really flying to Guilin daily? Or is this a seasonal thing or just looking too early?
I am looking for flights in November and it looks as if they only fly 3x a week or something which would not fit to my preferred travel days.
It seems CX / KA is not really flying to Guilin daily? Or is this a seasonal thing or just looking too early?
I am looking for flights in November and it looks as if they only fly 3x a week or something which would not fit to my preferred travel days.
#29
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 41,819
#30
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 1999
Programs: FB Silver going for Gold
Posts: 21,751