Train travel in China is always exciting, I just love it. But Chinese high speed train is even more scintillating! With an influx of new routes, super clean, super fast trains, the age of smoky, shaking Chinese carriages are fading out. In the last year I have taken a few trips on the high speed rail in China. And even splashed out on “First Class” just to sample it! That’s a “backpacker” travelling First Class (and guess what even the First Class was cheap enough!).

Try taking the epic Shenzhen North to Shaoguan train. This is not a very common route but is marvellous for getting a good experience on a high speed trains in China. If you’re heading there the mountains of Danxiashan with some groovy rock formations are worth a look.

How to book your train in China

Don’t book anything in advance. Just turn up on the day and get it booked at the station. If you’re out of luck and it’s full, just get the next one, or find an alternative route. Remember this is China, the possibilities are always endless here. Join the queue and get your ticket booked.

The hardest thing while booking a high speed train ticket in China will be the communication. When buying a ticket, I’d recommend writing in Chinese the name of the place you want to go. This will make it easy for them to get you the correct ticket. If there’s a country you can easily get lost in, it’s China!

Worst case scenario check out some of the China tours offers by The China Travel Company.

Taking the Shenzhen North to Shaoguan route

11.50 – In Shenzhen North Station. Head through the barrier and find your allocated seat. It will leave within a few minutes and Shenzhen will be gone in a blink of the eye.

12.26 pm – Stop at Guangzhou South for a few minutes. I’ve opened a can of Guinness and we leave Guangzhou trailing in our wake. A tough ask, given that it’s a massive city. We reach a speed of 308 kilometres per hour at 12.44pm – this turns out to be the maximum speed we reach on the trip.

1.45 pm – Arrive at Shaoguan Station and we get off. Shaoguan is not the last station on this high speed train which heads much further north.

Things to do on a Chinese High Speed train

– Update your travel blog

– Check out the amazing views

– Enjoy a relaxing beer

– Have a sleep

– Relax

– Admire the fast speed of the train

– Eat (there will be a food trolley on board or bring your own)

– Read a book on travel

You will love the high speed train in China.