Best travel mode for getting from Hong Kong to this destination in southern China?

[kamchatsky]

It’s 48 min from Shenzhen to Dongguan and then change to line 2 metro for one stop to Chashan, alternatively from West Kowloon catch the G6566 at 0748

Agreed. Chashan is close to Dongguan HSR station. Most HSR from West Kowloon to Guangzhou Dong/East would work. G6566 would be the first train available in the morning.

 

[RSD]

Many thanks @markis10 and @kamchatsky .

I have run into one problem - I'm trying to book tickets on the 12306.cn China Railways website - but for departure station it is not recognising anything that I try - doesn't recognise "Hong Kong", doesn't recognise "West Kowloon", or "Kowloon" or anything that I try.

Any suggestions or any idea what I am doing wrong?

 

[markis10]

Many thanks @markis10 and @kamchatsky .

I have run into one problem - I'm trying to book tickets on the 12306.cn China Railways website - but for departure station it is not recognising anything that I try - doesn't recognise "Hong Kong", doesn't recognise "West Kowloon", or "Kowloon" or anything that I try.

Any suggestions or any idea what I am doing wrong?

Book it on Trip.com or use 香港西九龙 on the Chinese site

 

[RSD]

Book it on Trip.com

OK cheers will do.

 

[RSD]

Looks like all the trains before 11:15 departure for this Friday are sold out!

 

[markis10]

From Hong Kong they only go every 4 hours, you might be better getting the MTR to Shenzhen and grabbing a train from there which go every 10 minutes @ Lo Wu border crossing, the HSR station is next door to the border crossing. Don’t go to the other MTR border crossing.

https://www.rome2rio.com/map/Shenzhen/Chashan-Station#r/Train

 

[RSD]

From Hong Kong they only go every 4 hours, you might be better getting the MTR to Shenzhen and grabbing a train from there which go every 10 minutes @ Lo Wu border crossing, the HSR station is next door to the border crossing. Don’t go to the other MTR border crossing.

https://www.rome2rio.com/map/Shenzhen/Chashan-Station#r/Train

I'm going to have to - just got an email from Trip.com saying my 11:15 booking failed and the earliest available is now 18:15.

Best to book tickets or just turn up and jump on the MTR East Line @Kowloon and then connect at Lo Wu?

 

[markis10]

Book the shenzhen tickets and then catch a MTR to make it, give it 50 mins transit @ Lo Wu although early morning should be a breeze, other option is to grab the 0748 departure from Kowloon at Futian which would require a 15min MTR ride in Shenzhen, I wouldn’t bother

 

[RSD]

Book the shenzhen tickets and then catch a MTR to make it, give it 50 mins transit @ Lo Wu although early morning should be a breeze

Cheers! I would be lost without you guys! I just don't know this area and the ways and means to navigate this neck of the woods - I'm much more at home in somewhere like Egypt or Italy etc.

 

[markis10]

If the factory keeps moving then maybe you are dealing with a trader rather than a factory rep. Not sure what your trying to source but Shenzhen is worth a good look for anything electronic, and worth an overnight stay, it’s much cheaper than HKG in every way

 

[RSD]

If the factory keeps moving then maybe you are dealing with a trader rather than a factory rep. Not sure what your trying to source but Shenzhen is worth a good look for anything electronic, and worth an overnight stay, it’s much cheaper than HKG in every way
View attachment 439586

Was more a case of having to swap factories as the first couple couldn't provide the quality needed for the application.

Am sourcing 12V flexible graphene heating panels for clothing. If the factory that I am visiting on Friday can't provide what I need then I will spend a couple of days in Shenzhen on my next trip over at the end of May.

 

[RSD]

Well THAT was an experience! I didn't associate Easter with "most of Hong Kong wants to go to China"!

It was something like a railway station in India in the 1990's - took 95 minutes getting through the border formalities, then 70 minutes just to get into the railway station on the Shenzhen side - the border control points and the entrance to the station were just far too small for the amount of travellers today.

And then just to really top off my day - when I got to Dongguan the Didi app wouldn't recognise either the English or Chinese versions of the address that the factory had sent to me in both languages! I ended up going for a walk away from the station and then screenshotting the Didi app map to the factory so as they could see where I was so as they could organise a car to pick me up.

Did have what I thought was a very positive meeting though which made the craziness worthwhile!

 

[skylabsea]

Well THAT was an experience! I didn't associate Easter with "most of Hong Kong wants to go to China"!

It was something like a railway station in India in the 90's - 95 minutes getting through the border formalities, then 70 minutes just to get into the railway station on the Shenzhen side - the border control points and the entrance to the station were just far too small for the amount of travellers today.

And then just to really top off my day - when I got to Dongguan the Didi app wouldn't recognise either the English or Chinese versions of the address that the factory had sent to me in both languages! I ended up going for a walk away from the station and then screenshotting the Didi app map to the factory so as they could see where I was so as they could organise a car to pick me up.

Did have what I thought was a very positive meeting though which made the craziness worthwhile!

I’m one of those HKG based people that travelled to SZX today — I should have warned you about the Easter long weekend hoarde

 

[RSD]

I’m one of those HKG based people that travelled to SZX today — I should have warned you about the Easter long weekend hoarde

I certainly wasn't expecting it - when I finally got to the Shenzhen side and saw the crowd waiting to get into the railway station I very nearly threw the towel in and turned to head back to Hong Kong!

 

[kamchatsky]

Well THAT was an experience! I didn't associate Easter with "most of Hong Kong wants to go to China"!

It was something like a railway station in India in the 1990's - took 95 minutes getting through the border formalities, then 70 minutes just to get into the railway station on the Shenzhen side - the border control points and the entrance to the station were just far too small for the amount of travellers today.

And then just to really top off my day - when I got to Dongguan the Didi app wouldn't recognise either the English or Chinese versions of the address that the factory had sent to me in both languages! I ended up going for a walk away from the station and then screenshotting the Didi app map to the factory so as they could see where I was so as they could organise a car to pick me up.

Did have what I thought was a very positive meeting though which made the craziness worthwhile!

That also explains why the HSR tickets were sold out earlier this week. Yes, all HK public holidays + school holidays are peak season to China.

At least you got on the peak time. So next time you should have a much better/smoother experience.

 

[RSD]

That also explains why the HSR tickets were sold out earlier this week. Yes, all HK public holidays + school holidays are peak season to China.

At least you got on the peak time. So next time you should have a much better/smoother experience.

Yes - I will be closely checking holidays in Hong Kong before any future trips!

 

[markis10]

Yes - I will be closely checking holidays in Hong Kong before any future trips!

Golden Week is always interesting, last year went to Shenzhen on the second day and felt like I was the only one in the city! This year it’s 1-7 October, not to be confused with Japans golden week occurring later this month.