While the fast train and obviously flying are the quickest way to take this route if you want a truly old school China authentic experience then consider taking the slow train from Guangzhou to Beijing.
Be warned though there are many different classes to this journey and at 22 hours this for the true train lover rather than the Casula visitor.
More than just class, taking the train in China
I will eventually do a full article on taking the train in China, but for now I will give the basics. Until about 29 years ago China had a fully slow train network. While slow though it was extremely extensive and covered the whole country.
Since that time a fast network of yo to 300 km an hour has been introduced. This has all but taken over the old trains, although they do exist in tandem still. For context taking the train from Guangzhou to Beijing is 22 hours or more on the old network and 8 on the fast.
Now while this might look like a no brainer in fact the fast train is more akin to taking a flight while the old train offers beds and a true train experience.
What are the train classes and prices?
First class has Business, first and second class, as well as sleeping. These range from (add prices). There are also some fast trains that offer sleeper quarters, but again it works slightly different.
On the old network you have the two bed sleepers on some trains that are close to $300, soft sleepers with 4 bunks that cost close to $200 and the 6 berth hard sleepers that are just over a hundred.
At the bottom though is the hard seats (or standing) that cost closer to $30. This is something everyone has to do once, but once only I promise you.
Taking the slow train from Guangzhou to Beijing – the stops?
The journey starts at Guangzhou Baiyun although the train actually starts in Hainan before transferring on a boat. This is a journey I have previously taken and it is pretty boss.
After this you get about ten stops, or so over the 22 hours which includes some minor stops as well as Changsha, Zhengzhou and lastly Shiijiaahzng before getting to Beijing at almost 7 am.
Said journey is particularly interesting from a temperature point of view with me stating my journey at 31 degrees and finishing at 7. Of course this goes in stages with me getting out in my shorts at pretty much every stop.
Whats it like taking the premium room from Guangzhou to Beijing?
I have done this two bed room with a private bathroom before and I have to say that for the train geek it is epic. This obviously makes sense when you factor in that the worst parts of a Chinese train are other people and the toilets. The only problem is that once the genie is out of the bottle it is really hard to go back.
Another plus of this room is that it makes bringing your own food a bit easier with there are also being your own hot water jug provided. Yes you can expect to eat a lot of noodles. There is also a restaurant cart next door, people driving around with food, as well as hawkers at the station feeding people.
It is well worth noting that the food on the old train is lightyears above that of the fast network, my epic spagbol from Shenzhen to Guangzhou not withstanding.
And that is my truth about taking the slow train from Guangzhou to Beijing. This for me at least is like a step back into the recent fun that China truly was.
You can check out our China tours here.