China Travel Forum

[Vincent]

Hi,
My wife and I are coming to China from late March and plan to travel by train and stay in the following cities:
Beijing ->Tianjin ->Datong ->Hohhot ->Taiyuan ->Xian ->Luoyang/Shaolinsi ->Nanjing ->Shanghai
with a couple of extra days thrown in for travel etc. it will be for a total of 3 1/2 weeks.
Our main concern is that we have seen people saying that getting seats on trains can take up to a couple of days to organise. Is this true? some of the cities we are visiting we are just passing through and only want to stop for a day to break up the train trip, would this be a problem (being only 1 day)?
Is it realistic that if we can't get a hard seater we will always be able to get a soft sleeper (if it means we can stick to our schedule we don't mind paying the extra yuan)?
We also read that suitcases are not recommended for train travel. Is this true or is it ok?
Is there much theft on the trains?
Thanks very much

[Craig]

Since the time you choose is not the peak of tourism. It would be better for you to buy you next ticket at the railway station as soon as you get off the train. And remember not to buy tickets from those vendors around the ticket sales window, which should be one of the only two places you buy ur ticket. Another is the hotel u check into.
As the route u choose is almost in Northern China except from Luoyang to Nanjng and Shanghai. The landscape is almost the same so u can also consider traveling by air. The air ticket at discount costs almost the same as a soft sleeper berth.
As to suitcases, u never put ur visas or money in the suitcases but in ur money belt. I think this is the same else where in the world as in China. U can leave ur suitcases at ur hotel or at railway station luggage care center. Be alert when u r on a bus or in market. Generally speaking, travel in China is safe and interesting! Enjoy it!