I’d been considering a high-speed train travel in China for long, and last month we did experience the bullet ride with the help of a travel agency. China’s high-speed train is really extraordinary in many ways, like unbeatable speed and punctuality. And more importantly, they are non-smoking and rather clean in all classes of service. In this article, I would like to share with you how the train goes and perhaps some useful tips for your China tour 2020.

A transfer from Beijing to Xian was included in our scheduled tour. A direct flight takes no more than 2 hours, but we chose to take the high-speed train G87 with a duration of about 4.5 hours. In fact, it could be the quickest option with much less hassle considering the early arrival and long queue for check-in of an air journey. Besides, unlike planes, high-speed trains in China are very rarely delayed nor canceled. Multiple departure options are available per day, and our G87 was just in perfect timing by arriving in Xian in supper time.

In our experience, you do need to reach the train station much more than 30 minutes prior to train departure, as I saw long lines at the ticket counters and security check gates. Fortunately, our guide had helped us collect the tickets before our arrival. If you head to the train station on your own, you also need to make sure that you go to the right one as Beijing (as I know) has four train stations in service so far. An ultimate guide of how to take a train in China is quite helpful for you to be better prepared for your train trip.

Actually, the security work in Beijing West Railway Station was kind of easy. We tossed our suitcases and bags onto the running belt, walked through the body scanner, picked up the baggage and were on our way to search for the right check-in area. There were big LED screens with numbers and check-in counters for you to navigate accordingly. Surprisingly, our tickets were not checked by manually instead of inserting it into an automatic machine. We learned it when we saw many other people doing the same.

I had no idea about the official rules of the luggage allowance of high speed trains in China, but we boarded the train with our three big suitcases and five carry-ons with no problem. All the seats were clearly labeled and there were friendly attendants directing us and helping with the luggage. We booked the business class with sightseeing seats. With spacious legroom, the seats enabled us to lie flat totally. Hot water dispenser was available on board, and we were served with options of bottled water or orange juice and a nice box meal. As the business class is the top class of service, I was not sure if passengers of other classes could enjoy such thoughtful service, too.

Gladly, the onboard bathrooms were facilitated with Western-style toilets. However, the rule of thumb in China is to always carry your own tissue paper and hand sanitizer. Though the tissues are provided on the train, they might soon run out. So I’d still advise you to bring some. There was a small TV, but only Chinese channels were available. There were socket outlets where one could charge my phones. I also heard that some high-speed trains in China offer free Wi-Fi on board, but sadly this train does not.

One thing you definitely need to know is that sometimes the train attendant will recheck your ticket on board. I didn’t expect that, and it took a good while for me to toss my bags searching for the ticket while the attendant was just waiting there and seeing how awkward I was. I later learned that the ticket also needed to be checked by the automatic machine again after disembarkation. Thus you’d better place it somewhere easy to find, like the side pocket of your bags.

Comparing to air journey, rail rides fly quickly with most time spending in web surfing on cell phone. For a China journey within 6 hours, I would definitely skip flying and opt for bullet train again.