high speed train Beijing to Hong Kong

[Vic]

Has anyone had an recent experience comments about the high speed rail service from Beijing to Hong Kong.

I've done some research, the official ticketing is only 15 days in advance, but there are other sellers, like the Man in Seat 61 offers tickets for a few months from now.. That seems legit enough for me. Just wondering about the process. I assume a large number of seats are released with the offical window opens.

Also interested in whether this is an ok trip for a westerner to do on their first visit to mainland China.

Looking at this as I have an unexpected spare day to get back to Hong Kong for Qantas flight home and I would need to call up to change the Qantas flight back due to already having made a change.

 

[markis10]

High speed trains in China are relatively easy to use. Plenty of resellers like trip.com if you cannot be bothered to with 12306 CHINA RAILWAY, the offical site. The terminus in Hong Kong is not the best located but easy enough to get to the airport. Business class which is the top cabin is $650 odd so bit cheap

 

[elanshin]

Has anyone had an recent experience comments about the high speed rail service from Beijing to Hong Kong.

I've done some research, the official ticketing is only 15 days in advance, but there are other sellers, like the Man in Seat 61 offers tickets for a few months from now.. That seems legit enough for me. Just wondering about the process. I assume a large number of seats are released with the offical window opens.

Also interested in whether this is an ok trip for a westerner to do on their first visit to mainland China.

Looking at this as I have an unexpected spare day to get back to Hong Kong for Qantas flight home and I would need to call up to change the Qantas flight back due to already having made a change.

It's not particularly difficult to book. Personally I use trip.com for this. The real question is if you want to be on a train for literally half the day (between 8-10h) or just take a fligth and go around HK.

If you do go for the train option, I'd consider at least 1st class if not business class (business > 1st > 2nd). The other thing to note is if you do go from the train option to arrive well early for your first HSR in china experience. Think of it like going to the airport.

 

[Vic]

Thanks both.
I started to go into my alternative but then stopped. I'm booked to fly back from Hong Kong on Sunday. The business part ends one Friday in Beijing, compared to the original plan to end on Saturday.
I've got a free hotel in Beijing if needed and maybe spend time with friend/collegues. (hope that terminology makes sense.
But I'm just killing time with that option.
I could ring Qantas and move the Sunday return to Oz over to Saturday night, and then fly Beijing to HKG. That might be more sensible - but I would need to call qantas and not sure the cost.

So if I'm killing time anyway, maybe adding a high speed train to see big sections of China is an ok option. Cost train ticket - definitely Business as I saw that is the best, and a hotel night in Hong Kong.

Thanks appreciate the help