Eric's Beijing Diary

Hong Kong to Beijing express. It's a very convenient way to go. Get on in Hong Kong, and you're good to go until you get to Beijing West. It's a bit unusual, though, because they lock you in for 24 hours. I am used to getting off and buying stuff from platform vendors as I am traveling across the country. Not this time. The reason is because you exit Hong Kong before you get on the train, but entry into China is not processed until you get to Beijing. A French guy told me he tried to get off in Guangzhou, and they stopped him at the door. But it's a nice run, because it isn't crowded. I have a cabin to myself, with a 220 outlet under the table so I can plug in my laptop. If it were a bus, I would probably be upset, but 24 hours in the soft sleeper is no problem. The food here in the dining car is not bad, either, and the prices are moderate compared to what I have paid before on trains.