It is more than a hundred years since the railway system was first established in China and it is now the backbone of the nation's internal transportation network and a vital part of the infrastructure. With the inception of reform and an opening up to the outside world, China's railway has enjoyed huge investment resulting in new building, reconstruction and modernization as well as raising the standards of the overall high quality service.
With Beijing as its hub, the railway links all the provincial capitals providing a network that serves all parts of China. There are sixteen trunk lines crisscrossing the country. Of these the Beijing-Kowloon line is the longest covering more than 2,500 kilometers (1,553 miles). Other notable long distance routes link Beijing with Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Harbin. The very latest and probably the most exciting development has been the already world-famous Tibet Railway, a quarter of which is electrified. Opened in July 2006, the traffic along the line has already covered a total of some 80,000 kilometers (49,710 miles). The railway operates at the highest land altitudes ever and the passenger compartments are pressurized in the same manner as civil aircraft.
International railways serve the routes to Ulan Boator (Mongolia), Moscow (Russia), Pyongyang (North Korea), Alma-ata (Kazakhstan) and Hanoi (Vietnam). Train ticket price vary according to the standard of the seats you require. There are four kinds of train seats in China - soft berth, hard berth, soft seat and hard seat. These can be distinguished as follows:
Hard Seat – Hard Seat is used by a large percentage of the population as it is probably the cheapest way to travel in China. Sitting only carriages, they are usually crowded and often more tickets are sold than there are seat available so the competition for a seat can be fierce. You will not want to visit the toilet.
Soft Seat – Soft Seat is available on the inter-city lines and provides a better level of comfort. Soft Seat is quite comfortable inexpensive method of travel for a journey of a few hours. Don’t be concerned if people take your reserved seat, just find another.
Hard Sleeper – There are six narrow bunks to a compartment that has no door so there is no privacy. They are usually very noisy and with a squat toilet at each end of the carriage. The condition of the toilet will get progressively worse as the journey progresses. Food trolleys pass back and forth along the train so it is possible to eat quite cheaply. A blanket and small pillow are supplied with each bunk.
Soft Sleeper – There are four bunks in a compartment which has a door for privacy. Each bunk will have a blanket and pillow. Toilets are at the end of the carriage and may be a western toilet however they may not always be clean as they are used by people from other carriages. No toilet paper is provided in the bathrooms.
Passenger trains are numbered by numerals with the capital Chinese phonetic letters in front. Different letters imply different trains like following:
Z - Through Train
T - High-speed Train
K - Express Train
N - Fast Train
L - Passenger Extra (Temporary Train)
Y - Tourist Train
Only four-bit figures without any letters in front - Local Train (Slow Train; Accommodation Train)
Other Tips
1. As demand means that train tickets are generally difficult to come by in China, do purchase them as early as possible; make your booking through a travel agency or your hotel may prove more helpful.
2. After you have purchased your ticket, you should arrive at the train station at least half an hour ahead of the published departure time if you are not to miss your train.
3. The China Ministry of Railways stipulates that the weight of hand luggage you carry onto the train is limited to a maximum of 20 kilograms (44 pounds); other baggage can be checked onto the train and the related formalities should be transacted at the railway station before your departure.
4. The announcement of the railway station is broadcast in Chinese, but in some big cities like Xian, Beijing and Shanghai, it is also broadcast in English, and the bilingual signs in both Chinese and English will be helpful.
5. Trains stand in stations just long enough for people to get on and off. For that reason it is wise not to alight from a train during your journey for any reason as it may well leave before you can get back on board.
6. Most overnight trains have a dining car where you can take a meal. On all trains, a trolley service selling items of food, drink, socks, magazines and other small wares, will go regularly back and forth through the carriages during your journey.
7. Do keep safe and be careful to guard against theft. Never leave your seat empty or unattended at any time.
8. Be prepared to cope with the crowds and some inconvenience, rail travel in China is a cultural experience to be enjoyed; it is bound to be memorable!