Huangshan Trains

This is my first time coming to China and would like to see some of the country side as well as the mountains. Thus I am going to Huangshan from Beijing and would like to take the train. However I am having a bit of trouble establishing a route. Any suggestions?

I'm sharing more from my own experience as an international traveller, so others may give different input.

It's worth the effort to go to Hangzhou first for the West Lake and then continue the journey to Huangshan using organized tour, either from the hotel's travel agencies or book a private taxi to Huangshan.


From the train schedule aspect, there are 2 options.

a) standard type which stops at numerous towns along the Beijing - Huangshan's route ( I did not use this route, since i's about 20 hrs' ride)

b) Z train which is nonstop, >12 hrs from Beijing -Hangzhou.

Then, have a 1-2 days stopover and continue to Huangshan.


Recently, I wanted to experience the China's train ride, so I took the Z train with sleeper bed from Beijing to Hangzhou. It is really comfortable, aircon etc.


There are 2 classes

-soft seat which is a sleeper bed, 2 double bunker per cabin/room for 4 people.

- hard seat is similar to airplanes coach class but can be noisy as there's about 80 travellers per coach.


Depart around 7pm and arrive the next day at 8am the next day.

There is a small dining car selling meals/drinks during dinner time and a breakfast pushcart selling Chinese style of breakfast.

Recommendation is to buy takeaway/drinks and bring aboard.

The soft seat sleeper cost about RMB529 for lower bunk bed and upper cost RMB506.

Best to book lower bunk, so that you can sit upright when you are not sleeping as the space for top bunk is limited if you are a tall person.

Single or return train ticket can be bought 10 days ahead for non holiday period, directly at the Beijing train station(called Beijingzhan). At the ticketing office, mid way the ground floor, turn left and you can proceed to the special counter for international travellers.


This is a link to browse for train information. Just key in the departing and arriving cities.

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/china-trains/


If you need more details, PM me .

Are you doing a round-trip from Beijing, or what?