Posted 21 Jan 2010

One journalist has offered some tips on taking the train during a gap year or while volunteering abroad in China.

According to Paul Simon, who was writing for the Guardian, taking a train in China to flit from city to city and enjoy all the country has to offer "isn’t as crazy as you might think".

Mr Simon himself tried this method with a family in tow, he explained.

"We ended up with an adventure that I’m sure will stick in our children’s memory for a very long time," he explained.

The columnist added that there are options for all levels of comfort on China’s trains, from hard sleeper couches to luxurious cabins.

Furthermore, something that may be music to the ears of those planning a gap year in China is that fares offer amazing value for money.

The train journey from Beijing to Shanghai cost the writer just £45 per person at the station – a bargain when you consider the money saved on a hotel room.

However, tickets often only go on sale at stations around ten to twenty days before departure – something that may be ideal for gap year travellers with time to spare, Mr Simon concluded.

Travelling through China by train may also be of benefit to those who are eager to practice responsible travel and avoid using hire cars on their gap years abroad.

Category: Asia