Thorn Tree travel forum

1

Consider an overnight train for that route.

If fly, there are plenty of flights every day. Look on elong.net to see. Buy a day or two before departure. The only time you need to buy in advance is around national holidays such as October 1.

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cycle couriers of the world unite

2

Yes, please. Overnight sleeper train is much more preferable.
Oh and if you want plane or train tickets you might want to look me up. I'm studying in Shanghai (plenty of people on here know this) and I also regularly help travellers out with tickets.
Cheers!

3

The sleeper train will actually take less time out of your schedule than flying, and put far more real Chinese experience IN!

www.seat61.com/China.htm will explain the sleepers, train types, cost, and hoiw to buy tickets. Your hotel (if youve pre-booked one) will probably be willing to arrange a train ticket for you for a small fee, or try an agency like www.chinatripadvisor.com.

The Man in Seat Sixty-One "...Never travel without a good book and a corkscrew..."

4

Thanks for the feedback, I'm going to make my decision soon. Though, I'm curious on how an overnight train ride is less time then a 2 1/2 hour flight? If' it's not a lot more money seems like flying would save me time? I would only take the train if i could see some sights along the way, and an overnight trip I wouldn't see as much?

5

Flights also involve travel to and from the airport which is out of town, while train stations are usually in the city centre.

You need to check in early for your flight and then wait around in the departure lounge. For trains arrive a few minutes before departure.

You have to go through security controls in airports.

You have to wait for your luggage when your plane arrives.

The train is an overnight journey when you would be sleeping, so you are 'saving time and money' that would otherwsie be spent in a hotel or travelling. If you fly daytime, it is basically taking a big chunk out of your day.

Other factors that make an overnight train preferable include:

- you can take your own beer or wine on a train.

- you can stand up and walk around easily

- much less stressful

Hong Kong & Macau FAQs | Off the Beaten Track in Hong Kong | Hong Kong & Macau Places to Eat Trip Reports Guangxi, Guizhou & Hunan | Fujian & Eastern Guangdong | Huangshan / Huizhou villages | Taiwan | HK to Saigon | Sicily | Sichuan & Chongqing | Kaiping | Yunnan 07 | Yunnan 09 | Gulangyu island | China Rail Assistance | HK Map | A day in Hong Kong
cycle couriers of the world unite

6

#5 has said it all in a nutshell. Your opinion in #4 is a common misconception of newbie travellers to China.
Cheers!