Train travel can be a great experience in China. On my visit during October 2006 we had the opportunity to travel to a remote village to experience life untouched by modern China.

To get to our destination we travelled by train for seven hours and then a further two hours by taxi.

This was my first experience on a Chinese train and, to be honest, I was impressed. They were on time!

Arriving at the train station in Beijing we were amazed by the size of the station, it was massive compared to any train stations I have been to in the UK.

Twenty minutes before our departure time, the ticket collectors began to inspect tickets, there must have been 600+ people waiting their turn to get their tickets clipped. We didn't think there would be enough time for everyone to make the train and the allocated time for leaving.

We were worried as we were at the end of the queue and we may not have got on board in time. But having our own guide made the difference, she called a porter to carry our bags to the train. This was a great decision, the porter cost very little and he took us to the train by an underground walk way, by-passing the the 100s of people who were patiently waiting.

Once on board the train we located our accommodation. We had reserved a soft sleeper. This was a cosy compartment for four people and each had their own bed. The upper bunk beds cost a little less than the lower bunks. Each bed comes with its own bedding, ample for our needs.

A flask of hot water was provided and topped up as required by staff.

There are bathrooms located on each carriage, but don't expect western facilities, unless you use a T train.

Overall it was a really relaxing experience and later this year when i travel from Beijing to Xi'an I will use the train instead of flying.

So consider the train if you are travelling overnight, its a worthwhile experience.

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