And Fast Trains sell out fast, even in normal times. They are only 8 cars long, and each car has 18 rows of 5 seats. First two cars is 1St Class, so 6 cars @ 90 Each is 540 seats, and the country has millions of people moving about on a daily basis between trains, planes and buses, never mind cars.
Tourism for locals is huge as well, foreigners are a spec of sand in a sea of natives.
If you're committed to this time frame, you need to not overdo it and you need to be prepared to fly between cities rather than take trains, which will be oversubscribed with holiday travelers, especially once you get into February. Though you can certainly try to get train tickets through an agent for some segments. IMO, you don't have time for both Chengdu and Guilin/Yangshuo and need to choose one or the other. My suggestion would be:
Jan 24-28 Arrival and Beijing
Jan 29 Morning fast train (or flight) to Xi'an, rest of day there
Jan 30 Xi'an all day. Night flight to Chengdu or Guilin, whichever is your choice. If Guilin, you can stay overnight there and get to Yangshuo next morning.
Jan 31-Feb 2 Chengdu or Yangshuo areas.
Feb 3 Get to Hong Kong, preferably by nonstop flight from Chengdu. From Yangshuo, you can check into flying from Guilin, or taking train to Guangzhou then bus/train to HK, or train Guilin-Shenzhen then cross border.
Feb 3 until departure day Hong Kong.
FYI- Security is very tight at Beijing South Railway (Fast Trains). Get there at least 2 hours before your train departs. Especially if you have to pick up tickets at the window, the ques can very long. Also, the traffic just getting into the train station is hell...many people bail from the taxi and walk...
FYI- Security is very tight at Beijing South Railway (Fast Trains). Get there at least 2 hours before your train departs. Especially if you have to pick up tickets at the window, the ques can very long. Also, the traffic just getting into the train station is hell...many people bail from the taxi and walk...
Really? I usually arrive no more than 30 minutes ahead when I need to pick up tickets. Security is no different there than other stations (and a bit of a joke). The subway is the best way to get there.
Well I was just there a week ago, and it was long lines. Maybe it was because it was the last day of the party congress meetings and a Friday to boot.
The subway with luggage is the funnest of trips, and it also depends where you are coming from and the amount of train changes/connections too.
Thanks for all your comments, I'm feeling like I may need to save China for another time of year!
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