As China’s economy is expanding, so is its transport system. One only needs to look at China’ train stations. In major cities, there are at least two train stations. For the first time traveler to China, this sometimes can cause confusion.
Take Shenzhen, the neighboring city of Hong Kong. It has Shenzhen Station, which is the biggest and busiest station in Lowu. If you go to Hong Kong from China, you would want to arrive at the Lowu train station, as the border crossing at Lowu is easier - both Hong Kong and China’s passport control points are located in the same building. After the Hong Kong control point, you reach Hong Kong railway system (KCRC) right away, which, with transition to the city’s underground system (MTR), can take you to almost any corner in the city.
Shenzhen has Shenzhen East Station, which is newer, smaller, and is about one hour taxi to Lowu (about RMB70-90) and the city centre. The location is a bit remote. From here it is shorter distance to reach Huanggang border crossing to Hong Kong. Bus connection is available at the Hong Kong side.
So beware which station in the city you are headed to. On the train ticket, if it is written “to Shenzhen”, then it is to the Shenzhen Station in Lowu. If it is to the Shenzhen East Station, the ticket will show the word “East”. When you check out train transport information, do look out for which station of the city the train goes to. Most of the time, the train table you can find may not show the information.
8 comments ↓
Maybe it’s also important to mention that you can buy tickets at one railway station for trains departing at the other station. At least I could do that once, but I’m not sure if it is always possible.
[...] If you travel to China, and if you depart from Hong Kong or Macau, it is likely that you will use the train stations in Guangzhou, or Dongguan in southern China. Note that, these two cities have two train stations, both with the newer one at the eastern part of the city, called Guangzhou East Station and Dongguan East Station respectively. The original and old stations in the cities are simply called Guangzhou Station and Dongguan Station. As mentioned in my previous post, do pay attention to which station you will land at or get to. Otherwise, you will have big troubles, especially when you are catching a train. [...]
The best way to get to the mainland from HK is by ferry. So much more comfortable and the queues at immigration are so much shorter than at Lowu.
Dear Sirs
I am enquiry on the return train fares for 2 soft-sleepers for 2 persons. We shall be travelling from Shenzhen to Xian on 12th December 2008 and returning to Shenzhen on 17th December 2008. Kindly confirm where we could purchase the tickets and when should we do it bearing in mind that we are only travelling sometime in December.
Please revert urgently so that we can planned ahead.
Thank you and hoping to hear from you then.
Maggie
Maggie, Go to China Travel Service agent to buy the train tickets, if your country has branches.
But you won’t be able to buy the tickets until much later this year, probably one month before your departure date.
Dear Anna
Thanks for your useful respond. I shall enquire from China Travel Service Agent in my country but I doubt they sell it here. I guess I have to purchase when I am in Shenzhen.
Thanks for your information.
Maggie
i will be travelling from ganzhou to shenzhen east station , how can i get to hong kong from shenzhen east station to mong kok in hong kong? what is the easiest way to get after the hong kong immigartion?
it depends on which shenzhen east station you mean. you mean the lowu train station? if yes, that is very easy. After the Hong Kong Immigration, it is Hong Kong’s MTR East Rail Line’s Lo Wu station. Take it all the way to the line’s second last stop Mongkok East station.
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