Trains in China

[adma]

Hi! I hope this is the right place to post this. I am going to study in China this year and although I already know my route to Beijing, I still don't know how I should go to Xi'an (where I'm going to study). At first I thought going by plane, but it's too expensive, and since I heard good things about the Z trains from Beijing to Xi'an I thought on giving it a go. The problem is, I don't know how to get the ticket. I searched a few sites and they're all saying the same thing: ask your hotel to take care of it. The thing is, I won't be staying in Beijing, I'm going to get off the airport and go straight to the rail-road station... Do you have any advice?

Thank you!

[skylee]

How much is that plane ticket BJ to Xi'an? And how much is that train ticket?

[Lyons]

Ten years ago, I bought my ticket from Beijing to Xi'an at the train station, a couple of days before travelling. Only hard seats left though.

There's some good advice here: "http://www.seat61.com/China.htm#Beijing - Xian" together with links to sites where you can buy tickets online.

[adma]

The plane ticket was ¥790, the train ticket (soft sleeper) was ¥440, I think... I saw the plane price in this site, but I can't figure out how it works and if the price will rise T_T

[Lantos]

Hi adma!

On this route the train could be much cheaper option. Especially if you take the hardsleeper (not too much difference between hard and soft, just 2 extra people in the cabin, and half price).

It's not much sense to check the plane tickets so early, because in China usually they start making the special offers (=cheaper price) 2-3 weeks before the departure.

At qunar, the prices are more or less right, but you need to calculate that they show the prices without tax (so extra 190RMB on this route), but my prediction the flight tickets will be around 500-600 RMB (with tax). But, you can only use foreign credit cards on ctrip, elong and travelzen. Rest of the booking sites (including most of the airlines official sites) do not accept VISA, MasterCard, AmEx and this kind of international cards, so it can be a bit 'mafan' to book a ticket.

For checking the train tickets this could be a good site.

[liuzhou]

The thing is, I won't be staying in Beijing

You'll probably have to. You can't usually just turn up at a station in China, buy a ticket and hop onto the next train. You usually have to get your ticket a few days in advance.

[Kiz]

The tickets for trains from beijing to xi'an are quite hot. You can get tickets for Z trains in advance for 15 days at most. But I don't think you can get the ticket you want on the same day you reach beijing. There're too many people here.

[adma]

wow thank you so much for the great advices and information! ;)

Yeah, it seems I have to either stay in Beijing or ask someone from there to buy it for me, which I'm not that comfortable on doing so... I think I have to take the plane... :unsure: Do you this this site is trustworthy? The cheapest flights I found are from this site, so I'm kind of not believing in it LOL

[skylee]

Not sure about that website. AFAIK, reliable websites where you can buy tickets online using foreign credit cards include ctrip, elong and zuji. The first two are Chinese websites and charge a 3% fee for payment with foreign credit cards.

There are many flights PEK/SIA each day. I wonder if one can just show up and buy a single ticket at PEK. Somehow I've got the idea that this is feasible and that discount tickets might be available last minute. Can someone comment if this is right or wrong?

[Kiz]

Somehow I've got the idea that this is feasible and that discount tickets might be available last minute. Can someone comment if this is right or wrong?

Usually discount tickets for flights need to be booked in advance for more than at least one month. And most flights always have passengers cancel their flights in the last days. Then sometimes you can get discount lowest to 30% tickets at last minute. But there's no guarantee.

[China MBBS]

It depends on when you are planning to come to Beijing. There are few seasons, when you almost find the trains empty and can easily get a train ticket to Xian. However if you are coming in the next couple of months, I would suggest you to just go online and buy a flight ticket OR a train ticket online itself. I am sure for now there is no season and reason for the tickets being difficult to get, you can easily get them at this time of the year ;)

[abcdefg]

Do you this this site is trustworthy? The cheapest flights I found are from this site, so I'm kind of not believing in it.

That "Travel China Guide" site serves mainly as a portal and just farms your reservation out some other booking agency to actually buy your ticket for you.

Stick with E-Long and C-Trip for the China plane ticket especially if you are doing it in English and with a foreign credit card. Make the reservation as much in advance as you can. When you compare air fares in China look to see whether the quote includes "airport fees and taxes" or not. On the Beijing to Xi'an route, for example, that adds 190 Yuan.

Prices for domestic air travel cannot be counted on to drop at the last minute in China, in fact they usually rise. But you can save a bit by booking your flight at an off-peak and less desirable time, such as mid week and very early in the morning or rather late at night.

I cannot advise you on Beijing to Xi'an trains.

EDIT:

Also look into just buying a through ticket from your point of origin all the way to Xi'an. The last leg of a long trip often costs less that way than it would if purchased separately.