Travelling by Train in China

Travel by rail is an enjoyable, relaxing, and inexpensive way to see China's countryside. New or modernized equipment has replaced the old train systems in most areas. Travelers who lack the time to cover vast distances by train can still get a delightful taste of rail travel by journeying on popular short distance routes from Shanghai to the nearby cities of Suzhou, Wuxi, Nanjing, or Hangzhou; or from Beijing to Tianjin. Amenities have been added to first-class train travel (known as "soft seat"), including comfortable waiting lounges at some train stations. Tardy travelers should note that the trains are consistently punctual.

Trains are generally convenient in China. However, if you're traveling from a large city you may have trouble buying tickets. Thus you should purchase your tickets two or three days ahead of time. If you are traveling from a smaller city or town you will often not be assigned a seat. If all the seats on the train are already full you'll have to stand or sit on the floor, which can be inconvenient if you're in the aisle because you will need to move out of the way frequently to let people and food carts gets by.

Chinese trains have three classes of seating. The lowest class is known as yingzuo, “hard seat”. Most seats available on a train are of this type. Despite the name the seats aren't hard or especially uncomfortable. The seatbacks don't recline though, which usually makes it hard to sleep unless you have a window seat and a pillow.

The international railway through special expresses shuttle between Beijing, Ulan Bator, and Moscow, and Beijing, Manzhouli, and Moscow; Beijing and Pyongyang; Urumqi and Alma Ata; Beijing and Hanoi; and Beijing and Ulan Bator. It takes six to seven days from Moscow to Ulan Bator and from Manzhouli to Beijing.

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