We are travelling from Beijing to Xian by overnight train in a soft sleeper compartment. We will have 2 medium sized suitcases & a trolley. Will these fit into the compartment? or is there somewhere else on the train where they store your luggage until arrival?

Sorry of course in the topic it should rean Xian.

There's room under the bed. Or if they're relatively light, you can haul them up to the storage area above the corridor (but inside your cabin). It may be hard to explain, but the corridors in the deluxe soft sleeper cars don't extend to the roof. That space is accessible from inside each cabin.

You want to keep all belongings with you and not check them (even if it's available).

Thanks rkkwan, we'll probably be ok because although the suitcases are medium sized we're going to Xian at the beginning of our trip so we won't have bought anything.

I came by some pictures on a different forum, and remembered this thread. A picture is better than a 1,000 words:

http://www.hkitalk.net/HKiTalk2/view...php?tid=266926

Typical soft sleeper. If you get the deluxe soft sleeper on the Z train between Beijing and Xian, it'll be more luxurious.

But look at the 7th picture. You can see where the storage area is above the corridor.