T98 Train from Hong Kong to Beijing

[ckc_ucl]

An appeal to anyone who has recently made this journey:

I have to pick up my non-Chinese speaking friend on Monday from Beijing West Train Station; does anyone know where the train arrives and how to get there from the main (north-facing) entrance?

Many thanks!

[valikor]

I actually took that train about 5 days ago.

I believe what you should look for is the customs area. It was on the ground level (not the elevated part), facing north (as you said), and was approximately in the middle (sorry, I can't be more specific than that)

It might be even easier if you just chose a landmark.. there's a big pedestrian bridge that goes over the main road there, right at the station. It's impossible to miss, so you could meet on that bridge. She or he would only need to walk for about 1 minute to get there...

Good luck.

David

[889]

Meeting at the pedestrian bridge is not a good idea -- the flow of people there makes it a very bad place to wait. And besides, there are two pedestrian bridges.

[ckc_ucl]

Thanks David! As always, invaluable information from those in the know at Chinese Forums

If there is no designated 'arrivals area', I think I will just turn up early and find a landmark at which to meet my (distinctive-looking) friend and drop them an sms to let them know where to meet.

Many thanks once again!

[roddy]

As you're approaching the station from the north, the Hong Kong arrivals / departures bit is to your right (ie the west end of the concourse). It's past the normal arrivals and departures bit, and also past the ticket offices. Look for signs for customs or immigration or something - I don't recall what they say exactly, but they're there and should be easy to spot. Just meet your friend there - aim to be there more or less as the train arrives, as the formalities won't take long, and they'll be easy to spot when they come out of immigration. I wouldn't meet anywhere else, just tell your friend to step outside and stop and wait - a newcomer trying to find anything at Beijing West would be forgiven for turning round and getting back on the train.

Don't fancy your chances of meeting on the footbridge - there are at least two, as said, and at busy times the police will give you very short thrift if you try to stop and wait.

[ckc_ucl]

Thanks Roddy! I'll arrive early to find the area you suggest

[ckc_ucl]

Just to let anyone else who's interested know: Roddy is absolutely right, there is an immigration area to the west of the main entrance where you can meet passengers arriving from HK. It is clearly signed and has a small waiting lounge (though it doesn't open until about 20 minutes after the train arrives).