Train to Beijing

We, a family of 5, took the deluxe soft sleeper option, last year (lockable from inside, own toilet). We looked at the 4 berth soft sleeper but decided the convenience of our own toilet facilities was worth the extra cost.


We had two cabins and an extra bed in a third cabin. The other bed in the third cabin was taken by a family of 3 who had a child of the same age as one of mine and all 4 kids used this space as a play room - neither child slept in these bunks.


This worked well. We had two laptops so the kids watched DVDs in one cabin and we did the same in the other. We could all fit into one cabin when we all wanted to be together and could also divide up - 24 hours can be a long time in a small space! For sleeping, we had one adult per cabin and the two smaller children shared a bunk.


We took our own dinner and snacks but the food in the dining car was fine. It is a great way to get to Beijing (there is also an HK- Shanghai train that takes 20 hours) if your kids are old enough to appreciate it. It could be hard work if your child is very young and active - lots of walking up and down aisles and cannot/doesn't read.

PS agree that smoking is a problem - the deluxe sleepers are next to the dining car. If this bothers you too and you go with this option, get the last cabins (9 and 10) in this car so you are further away from the smokers.