I am refining my Asian trip for next winter. I may have to depart China from HongKong,
instead of from Shanghai as originally planned. (Complicated explanation having to do with possible FF tickets) I have visited HK twice before, but my most recent visit was about 20 years ago.

I had a very good experience on the overnight Beijing-Shanghai Z-train sleeper two years ago. The trains from Shanghai to HK seem to have T sleepers only.

I looked at Site61 but would like to hear general comments and reports from anyone who has taken this trip. Scenery? Comfort level of sleepers? Other comments?

Thanks!

Just realized: Perhaps I should be looking at Shanghai to Shenzhen..true?

No, I think you should be looking at Shanghai to HK, the days of walking across the border are almost dead.

There are certainly "through" trains and I would expect them to be of a good standard.

Shanghai - Kowloon direct <b>T99B</b> train runs every other day. They have deluxe soft-sleeper (2 in a cabin) as well as regular soft-sleeper. Unless things have changed recently, this route still uses the older sleeper cars, which are very comfortable with two lower berths (no climbing). But they don't look like the modern Z sleepers on routes like Beijing-Shanghai with flat screen monitor, etc.

If you are going on a day with no direct service to Kowloon, then yes, you can take <b>T211</b> to Shenzhen, cross the Lowu border, and then the regular East Rail train in HK to the city. [This train departs Shanghai <b>South</b> and arrives Shenzhen at 6am, which you may or may not like.]

Or on the day that T99B to Kowloon doesn't run, there will be a <b>T99A</b> that terminates at Guangzhou <b>East</b>. Just switch to a "Through train" to Kowloon at Guangzhou East.

Many thanks, Rkk! So the trick would be to go on a day when there is direct service to keep the baggage schlepping to a minimum.

Do they leave Shanghai at the same time every other day?

This sounds like a great option!

Yes. T99 departs Shanghai main station 5:09p each day.

It will either terminate at Guangzhou East at 10:19a next morning, or continue to Kowloon and arrive at 1:05p.

T211 departs Shanghai South 12:34p each day and arrive Shenzhen at 6a.

Despite both trains going to southern Guangdong, they use different routes for the second half of the trip. T99 uses the Beijing-Guangzhou line, while the T211 uses the Beijing-Jiulong/Kowloon line to the east.

Excellent! My travel companions are most interested in taking this train so I will build it into the schedule! Many thanks!

Rkkwan: Do the T-sleepers have private toilets? If not, do you think that the toilets are cleaned at all during the overnight trip?

T97 & T98 have 2-berth 'deluxe soft sleeper' with private toilet, normal 4-berth soft sleepers, hard sleepers & restaurant car. T29/30 & T15/16 have soft & hard class sleepers & restaurant car.

Info taken from the man from seat 61

Aloha!

Aloha! Many thanks! I also see that T99 and T100 have the toilets. As usual, I missed the pertinent info on the first glance.

I want to take the T99B to Kowloon on Mar 25th. How far ahead can you purchase tickets? Deluxe soft sleeper if possible. I have been advised to avoid buying through online ticket agencies because they add a healthy premium and may not be safe. I could buy tickets in Shanghai myself on March 19th if I could be sure that they would still be available. Do these tickets usually sell out fast? Does anyone know the "real" price? Thanks

I am not so sure if there's actual private baths in deluxe soft sleepers on these trains. I thought they were still using the older cars which don't. And the pictures on seat61.com also show the older cabins.

Anyways, even if there's no private bath, it's still pretty good. As there are only 9-10 cabins in one car, so about 20 people maximum total, sharing two bathrooms (one on each end). And the attendants do clean them regularly.

Thanks, Rkkwan! I guess I have a greater-than-normal leeriness about filthy bathrooms..you have put my fears to rest!

Ekscrunchy, I have been reading your trip report from Rome and it is great but since it is an old post I dont know where to ask you a question except here. Tell me where to post so I can put the question in the appropriate place. It is about your hotel in rome. Thank you so much

This is unbelievable. The OP's posts are so scattered and delinquent that responders have to track her down on different fora (forums to you Bob) and attempt to obtain information from her. Is she lost in the space-time continuum? Maybe we can get Mr. Peabody to rescue her.

What is OP?

Okay Old Posts. Thank you. Can you guess I am a newbie well sort of.

TimeTraveler: Please ignore the interruption from Poster Panda. As you will learn..well, never mind, you will learn about his wily ways soon enough if you stick around here.

I will bring the Rome report to the top on the Europe board and you can ask the question there by submitting a question in the response box.