China Travel Forum

[molden]

hi, I haven't seen anyone talking about this so wanted to ask for some informatopm:
this December around the 17th, I will be wanting to get from Xi'an to HongKong as a part of my tour, unfortunately I don't have time to stop off anywhere, unless you have a do-not-miss suggestion, but wanted to do it overland, as have come originally form London, overland and wanted to do the whole trip to HK wihtout leaving the ground.
I saw there is a train that goes to Guangzhou that takes about 26 hours, had anynoe done this? any other suggestions or ideas?
thanks a lot

[kamal]

I haven't taken this particular train, but the Chinese trains are quite comfortable so you shouldn't worry too much about the time it takes. Take a book, music, and some instant noodels and fruit and you would be alright. Also, trains are a great opportunity during your tour to meet some local people so be friendly....
I would, however, suggest you break your journey in Guilin and spend a few days nearby Yangshuo. This is certainly a do-not-miss suggestion as this is one of the nicest place I've seen in China even though it's a bit on the touristy side. OK, it's a lot on the touristy side but the area around the town is absolutely fantastic! Just hire a bike and paddle around for a day or two, or if you feel like it go climbing.
Enjoy!

[kendra]

I did train trips in China last year. The Trains are fast, safe, punctual, clean and comfortable. Get middle bunk 'hard sleepers.' The quality of the beds is the same as in soft sleepers. Hard sleepers are six to a compartment that does not have a door. Soft sleepers are four to a compartment with a door. It is much more fun in hard sleepers as you are in with the local people. Take instant noodles as each carriage has boiling water at the end. However, trains have restaurant cars. It is about a two hour ride from Guanzhou to Hong Kong. Contact me <kraff@bigpond.net.au> if you would like any more information or if you have any questions about train travel in China.

[makky]

I've taken that train. hard seat. I wouldn't suggest that.
But hard sleeper or soft sleeper? absolutely - best way to travel in China.
You can take a train, bus or mini bus from Guangzhou to Hong Kong really easily - if you can afford it I'd recommend the train (about 180 RMB). Trains leave from the Guangzhou EAST station (guang zhou dong zhan - you'll be arriving into the Guangzhou MAIN station from Xi'an). Otherwise you can take a bus from behind the Garden Hotel (Fa Yuan Jiu Dian - about 100 RMB) directly to Hong Kong.
If you're really trying to pinch pennies - the most economical way to get to Hong Kong is to take a bus to Shenzhen and then walk across the border and then take the local Hong Kong train into the city proper. You can pick up buses to Shenzhen near the China Hotel (zhong guo da jiu dian) - they should be 60 RMB or less. Those buses will drop you off at the Shenzhen Long Distance Bus Station - which is only a few hundred feet from the border to Hong Kong. You can walk across the border and then take the KCR train into Hong KOng proper. This is probably the worst way to go - especially since the direct bus is only a few RMB more.