Beijing- Shanghai one way either 24th/25th Mch 2016

[theageofthetra]

Hi am looking at either high speed or sleeper options. I am only interested in the sleeper if a solo berth is available though. Has anyone done this trip recently and can I use FIP on either? Thanks for any help.

 

[185]

No FIP.
Tickets all bookable for foreigners on Ctrip website and others (inc China Travel Depot).
Collect tickets with booking reference and passport at station of departure ticket office window.

 

[jamesr]

I haven't done this precise trip but I have done a handful of Chinese sleeper trips over the past years and they certainly don't come with the charm of the Penzance sleeper! I don't remember a solo option being available but different routes might have different options.

The biggest problems with the Chinese sleepers from my perspective is that they're always boiling hot or freezing cold, the Chinese tend to ignore smoking restrictions (even in supposedly non-smoking carriages, and since the ban in some areas), and, as much as I love China and the Chinese, you will be woken by the sound of someone clearing their throat loudly every 10 minutes!

The Chinese High Speed trains are wonderful, though! They also tend to be much easier to buy tickets for, locate, and board purely by virtue of having some Latin script around. Generally quite stress free!

 

[johnnychips]

Get the high speed train and splash out on first class!

Watch out for something called tomb-sweeping day, which is about then, but I'm not exactly sure what the date is this year. Many people visit relatives (but not to the same extent as New Year) and the trains can be full and you would be advised to book well in advance.

 

[185]

Agree with the above. Unless you are a die hard traveller and want the slower 14 hour journey, use a G-train. It's under 4hrs from Beijing Sth to Shanghai H, and perhaps twice the price, but you arrive awake and not stinking of smoke like on a K/Z train.

 

[bb21]

All advice echoed to get the High Speed service (G or D prefix) if you could. The Z trains are fine but I don't know whether any still exist on that route.

I had been a hard-core for the sleeper but the last trip in a stinky hard berth carriage on the T109 overnight train for a Beijing - Shanghai journey really put me off. Funny how before we had the luxury of High Speed trains this was never an issue but now they appear distinctly shabby in comparison.

 

[Shinkansenfan]

I've ridden both the Z trains (deluxe sleeper with TV screens inside a 2 berth cabin) as well as the HSR trains.

Checking the schedule it appears the Z trains--which were comfortable--are no longer running on this route.

If you travel by HSR note that there are three classes of service:

- Business Class (top level of class/service): lie flat seating (akin to airline business class seats) with meals included.

- First Class: 2 x 2 seating.

- Second Class: 2 x 3 seating.

If taking the HSR train, I suggest either First or Business Class for better comfort.

The overnight trains leave from the closer, classic station in Shanghai while the HSR trains leave from the more distant Hongqiao (Rainbow Bridge) Station, which is connected to the airport of that same name.

 

[flymo]

Watch out for something called tomb-sweeping day, which is about then, but I'm not exactly sure what the date is this year. .

Its April 4th this coming year, a Monday.

 

[bb21]

Get the high speed train and splash out on first class!

Watch out for something called tomb-sweeping day, which is about then, but I'm not exactly sure what the date is this year. Many people visit relatives (but not to the same extent as New Year) and the trains can be full and you would be advised to book well in advance.

I have never heard it called that.

The Qingming Festival is not just about tomb-sweeping, but yeah travel around that time of the year can get quite hectic for a few weeks. Not necessarily for long-distance journeys but some local trips can be very busy.

Generally falls on 4th April in a leap year and 5th April otherwise, but not always.

The overnight trains leave from the closer, classic station in Shanghai while the HSR trains leave from the more distant Hongqiao (Rainbow Bridge) Station, which is connected to the airport of that same name.

Hongqiao station is now easily accessible, connected to the city centre via two Metro lines. It is clean and modern, and offers a much better travel environment than the old central station.

 

[theageofthetra]

Thanks for the advice. Will go for the high speed day service. I was aware that the only public holiday whilst I was there was Qingming- would it be best to make sure we weren't travelling a day either side of it, also do all businesses close up on the day itself? Thanks

 

[bb21]

Thanks for the advice. Will go for the high speed day service. I was aware that the only public holiday whilst I was there was Qingming- would it be best to make sure we weren't travelling a day either side of it, also do all businesses close up on the day itself? Thanks

No public holiday in China sees all businesses close up. Some sectors (government departments for example) may have a few days off but most places (especially the service industry) will remain open 24/7/365.

It is not the days either side of Qingming that get exceptionally busy. It is the weekends either side of it, especially the one immediately before.

 

[theageofthetra]

So this year it falls on a Mon 4/4 so we should avoid travelling the Sat 2 & Sun 3rd? Is it a big problem travelwise in the whole country or just the big cities?

 

[johnnychips]

I have never heard it called that.

The Qingming Festival is not just about tomb-sweeping.

Perhaps that's what they call it around Qingdao, the city which I am most acquainted with in China. As well as literally cleaning the graves of their relatives, the residents light small fires in the streets.
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So this year it falls on a Mon 4/4 so we should avoid travelling the Sat 2 & Sun 3rd? Is it a big problem travelwise in the whole country or just the big cities?

It's not a problem as long as you book tickets in advance, and of course if you do this over the internet in the UK, you will be guaranteed tickets and a seat, but naturally pay a commission. Last year when I went to Qingdao, I forgot about tomb sweeping day, went to the station two days before I wanted to travel, and found most of the trains were full. I'm going to avoid this this year by booking in the UK and paying the commission.

Just a generality about booking tickets in China: if you do have to book a ticket at a station, there are 'English Speaking' counters at stations in the biggest cities, but it really helps if you know the number of the train you want to catch, write this down with the arrival and departure times of the stations, how many people, and which class. The level of English at the counters varies from excellent to dubious, and something in writing really helps. Even better if you can get someone in your hotel to write it in Chinese script below yours. Touch wood, though, the Chinese railway staff have always been really helpful and welcome tourists.

 

[bb21]

So this year it falls on a Mon 4/4 so we should avoid travelling the Sat 2 & Sun 3rd? Is it a big problem travelwise in the whole country or just the big cities?

It depends on the city, but generally the local (regional) services tend to be exceptionally busy, whereas the long-distance ones less so, but again it depends on the quota distribution of the train. If a big quota on a long-distance service is available for short-distance journeys then you can find yourself on a busy service.

For Shanghai, which is where I assume you will be, services terminating short of Nanjing/Nanking and Hangzhou (especially those calling at Suzhou/Soochow) are likely to be exceptionally busy, so avoid these. Most long-distance services from Shanghai will not have quota available for destinations short of these two cities so should be OK, but as johnnychips says, as long as you have a ticket, it should be fine. I won't say much about the way the industry works but it is recommended that you book your tickets with an agent if possible. The commission (about £2.50 per ticket) is what many of these agents (many ex-railway workers) survive on and you will likely find that tickets on popular services will not be open for public sale at all in reality (especially overnight sleepers).

Bear in mind that even long-distance services can be busier than usual, given that the Qingming Festival this year falls on an extended weekend. Make sure that you get your ticket nice and early.

Whatever you do, enjoy yourself. Travelling on a busy Chinese train can be an experience in itself.

 

[theageofthetra]

Thanks the advice.

 

[Shinkansenfan]

Can't decide between HSR and sleeper?

Why not try both at the same time. Consider taking a HRS sleeper train between those two cities.

This article provides more details:
http://news.xinhuanet.com/tech/2015-12/15/c_1117470520.htm

Use Google Translate to read.

This YouTube video shows the inside:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIImMWuptUk

Of course you'll have to share with 3 others, but there aren't that many railways in the world that operate EMU sleepers (in fact I can think of only one other country).

If you depart from Shanghai Hongqiao Station beware that it is one metro stop further than the airport of the same name. Metro Line 2 can be very crowded during peak and off peak hours, which is why I prefer the classic Shanghai Station located closer to the city center. Not to mention the shorter journey time.

 

[bb21]

Not a bad idea. I didn't think they still existed but they apparently do. Trains D311 (2116d 0858a) and D321 (2123d 0912a) will both set you back around 615 yuan for a soft berth, as opposed to 553 yuan (£1 roughly 10 yuan) for a seat on HSR, and should not be as bad as the stinky T109 train I had to endure last time (although T109 is considerably cheaper).

 

[theageofthetra]

After a good shake down by some big blokes with guns in Cairo a few years ago I am somewhat cautious about taking photos of trains abroad- what is it like in China? I am talking about taking snaps on a phone not a big pro type camera. Also any suggestions on any preserved steam or heritage/scenic lines?

 

[Shinkansenfan]

After a good shake down by some big blokes with guns in Cairo a few years ago I am somewhat cautious about taking photos of trains abroad- what is it like in China? I am talking about taking snaps on a phone not a big pro type camera. Also any suggestions on any preserved steam or heritage/scenic lines?

In China, I've had no issues with railway, metro or LRT photography. And this is using a big SLR camera over numerous trips.

This is very much unlike the situation in the New York City area where photography of those modes are legal, but you have sometimes encounter unpleasant staff (and Police) who sometimes think otherwise. In fact the very night before my latest trip to China I encountered such a staff member at one of the NYC subway stations.

Preserved lines? Not much of a preserved railway culture in China that I know of.

 

[bb21]

After a good shake down by some big blokes with guns in Cairo a few years ago I am somewhat cautious about taking photos of trains abroad- what is it like in China? I am talking about taking snaps on a phone not a big pro type camera. Also any suggestions on any preserved steam or heritage/scenic lines?

No one will bat an eyelid. (99.9% sure)

I am not aware of any preservation scene myself, as land tend to get sold off quickly. Beware of straying off by yourself, as much of private railway is on military land, especially in Shanghai, so don't trundle off along a disused track by yourself.

 

[NY Yankee]

In China, I've had no issues with railway, metro or LRT photography. And this is using a big SLR camera over numerous trips.

This is very much unlike the situation in the New York City area where photography of those modes are legal, but you have sometimes encounter unpleasant staff (and Police) who sometimes think otherwise. In fact the very night before my latest trip to China I encountered such a staff member at one of the NYC subway stations.

Preserved lines? Not much of a preserved railway culture in China that I know of.

This is not a comparison. I'm just addressing this post

In the NYC subway, they're ok with photography (don't use flash). However, on PATH and the Airtrain (which are distinct systems), they frown on photography.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Hi am looking at either high speed or sleeper options. I am only interested in the sleeper if a solo berth is available though. Has anyone done this trip recently and can I use FIP on either? Thanks for any help.

I'm not sure if this helps, but there are flights from Beijing to Shanghai for about £850 round trip

 

[185]

I'm not sure if this helps, but there are flights from Beijing to Shanghai for about £850 round trip

Don't pay that.

My UK-China flights are usually £280rtn. Then it's about £94-98 return from Beijing-Shanghai Pudong