Beijing Travel Forum

hi,

we are going to beijing next week. We will like to get the beijing-xian night train on the day we arrive (about 4pm 21 march). Will it be possible to get the tickets or it will probably be full ?

Also, anyone knows the approximate cost of flights from beijing to xian ? i checked elong.com and there is little discount - 20%. or should i just buy a last minute at the airport when i arrive ?

And one last question - what about flights from beijing to shanghai for 30mar ? Again, when i checked its about Y570 + 150 tax ? is there any child fare ?

Many thanks !

Normally tickets are available on the day. But on the one hand this is Easter weekend, on the other hand, so what? that's no Chinese holiday. Also, tickets aren't normally available very far in advance. It used to be four days, but I think now it's seven. Looking at the timetable, there seem to be at least seven trains available to you. By the way, it's Beijing West station.

There are several classes of ticket on trains: the most expensive is soft sleeper (ruanwo), with lower berth slightly dearer than upper berth. Two upper&lower to a cabin with a door. Next is hard sleeper (yingwo). To me this is not noticeably worse than soft sleeper, except it is a lot more public. Three levels of bunk, with the lowest dearest. Two triples to a bay, but no door onto the carriage. There can also be soft seat (ruanzuo), hard seat (yingzuo), and standing.

For the air fare, discount depends on time of day and day of week.

ctrip lets you enquire on child fare. That seems to be the same as discounted adult, 570+ (and I imagine the airport tax is the same regardless of age).

You would do better here to take the overnight train. I think all accommodation is soft sleeper, and some trains give free dinner.

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

the non-stop train from beijing to xian set out from 21:24, get
xian at 08:25. soft sleeper seat cost RMB417. Not sure you could get the train ticket in the same day, as March 21 is Friday, near weekend.

Flight far from beijing to xian is 1050+150tax, and hard to get more discount
For children, it's 50% discount, tax is same with adult.