Hong Kong West Kowloon – Guangzhou South by High Speed Train

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Hong Kong – Guangzhou by High Speed Train, The Best Way

Starting from September 23 of 2018, it has been available to travel between Hong Kong and Guangzhou by direct high speed trains. There are frequent direct high speed trains linking Hong Kong West Kowloon Station and Guangzhou South Station in 48 – 60 minutes. This page explains you how to travel between Hong Kong & Guangzhou by trains.

How far is Guangzhou from Hong Kong: the distance is about 180 kilometers or 111 miles.

High Speed Railway & Station Map

hk-shenzhen-humen-guangzhou-high-speed-train-route

train-station-map-guangzhou

How to Take a Train from HK West Kowloon

Photos courtesy of Keith Wong, a Singaporean working in HK & ChinaTrain12306 visitor.

Photos courtesy of Keith Wong: Entrance to HK West Kowloon Station from Austin MTR Station. Passengers can get to HK West Kowloon Station by MTR by arriving at Austin Station or Kowloon Station.Photos courtesy of Keith Wong: Entrance to HK West Kowloon Station from Austin MTR Station. Passengers can get to HK West Kowloon Station by MTR by arriving at Austin Station or Kowloon Station.

Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): Link way from Austin station to West Kowloon Station.Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): Link way from Austin station to West Kowloon Station.

Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): Towards departure area for security checks.Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): Towards departure area for security checks.

Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): Self-service ticket machine for HK citizens. These don't accept foreigner's passports. Visitors & passport holders must collect or buy tickets from ticket counters next to machines in HK West Kowloon Station.Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): Self-service ticket machine for HK citizens. These don't accept foreigner's passports. Visitors & passport holders must collect or buy tickets from ticket counters next to machines in HK West Kowloon Station.

Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): Towards HK and China Immigration Area. No photos allow in this area. You clear both China and HK immigration in HK West Kowloon Station.Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): Towards HK and China Immigration Area. No photos allow in this area. You clear both China and HK immigration in HK West Kowloon Station.

Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): depaturesPhotos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): depatures

Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): Queue to go down to train platform by escalator.Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): Queue to go down to train platform by escalator.

Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): Trains from HK West Kowloon Station to China cities (Xiamen). Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): Trains from HK West Kowloon Station to China cities (Xiamen).

Hong Kong – Guangzhou by Direct Bullet Trains Book Online

Hong Kong West Kowloon Station begun operation on Sept 23, 2018 and introduced high speed rail service to or from Guangzhou South. The high speed trains depart from or arrive at West Kowloon Station in Hong Kong and Guangzhou South Railway Station, running 34 times per day, costing CNY215/HKD 247 in a secold class seat and taking about 48 – 60 minutes. The bullet trains are running on the Guangzhou – Shenzhen Hong Kong Express Rail Link, calling at Shenzhen Futian Station, Shenzhen North Station, Humen Railway Station in Dongguan and Guangmingcheng Station.

Schedule, Ticket Price & Duration

• Stations used in HK: West Kowloon Station (香港西九龙站, Google map)
• Stations used in Guangzhou: Guangzhou South (GuangzhouNan, 广州南站, Google Map)
• Top speed: 300km/h in maind land & 200km/h in Hong Kong
• Travel time: 50-60 minutes
• Train type: CRH G trains, Vibrant Express
• Distance: 180km

HK West Kowloon Station is located near Kowloon MTR station and Austin MTR station, both of which are linked to West Kowloon Station via subway or footbridge (just 10 minutes walk). Passengers who want to go to West Kowloon Station by MTR can get to Kowloon Station or Austin Station first, then walk to West Kowloon Train Station. You can use HK MTR journey planner http://www.mtr.com.hk/en/customer/jp/index.php to plan your route and fares.

Guangzhou South Station: it can be reached by metro line 2, line 7. (see Guangzhou metro official site: http://cs.gzmtr.com/ckfwEnglish/)

How to Buy Tickets for HK – Guangzhou High Speed Trains

Where to buy tickets

Buy at train stations

In Hong Kong: You can buy train tickets with your valid passport at ticket counters in Hong Kong West Kowloon Station. There are 28 ticket counters & 39 self-service ticket machines there, but the ticket machines don’t accept foreign passport. You will have to buy at counters. The ticket counters accept HK dollars or Chinese RMB. Note: You can only buy tickets starting from or ending at Hong Kong (eg: HK to Guangzhou or Guangzhou to HK)at most ticket counters in HK West Kowloon Station. If you travel beyond Hong Kong (eg: Guangzhou to Shenzhen, or Guangzhou to Chengdu), you need to buy at the 5 designated ticket counters or using a ticket agent.

In Guangzhou: You can buy tickets at Guangzhou South Station, Guangzhou East Station, Guangzhou Train Station or Guangzhou North Station, etc. Just choose the one close to you. Be expect queue lines there.

Book with a trusted online ticket agent

If you are outside China, and want to buy tickets in advance online, you can turn to use an online ticke agent. Below are two trusted ticket agents who get positive reviews and recommended often on Trip Advisor:

• Buy at www.chinahiglights.com/china-trains/ (Sharon offers help)
• Buy at http://www.china-diy-travel.com/en/ (Promo code: ct123. Helen offers help)
• Service time: 24/7 hours Payments: Paypayl, Visa, MasterCard, Alipay, etc

You can place your order any time with the agents, who will buy tickets for you when tickets are released. You can check English train timetable on their site and select a window seat or aisle seat. The agents can deliver tickets to your hotel as well as English instructions on how to take a train in China, how to get to the station, etc.If you run into any troubles, or need to refund or cancell tickets or change trains, they will offer you professional help. A additional service or delivery fee will be charged by the agents.

Buy at Hong Kong Website

Hong Kong MTR Group has launched its online ticketing system both in Chinese and English version, where you can check train schedule, ticket fares and book tickets with your passport.After buying tickets online, you will have to collect them at West Kowloon Station.

• Buy ticket at Hong Kong MTR site
• Check train timetable
• Check train fares

When to buy tickets

Train tickets go on sale 30 days in advance for bookings online or 28 days in advance for bookings at train stations.

What are the trains like

Vibrant Express run by Hong Kong MTR Group are used to run along the Guangzhou – Shenzhen – Hong Kong Express Rail Link. The train set is based on CRH380A EMU high speed train, and has two classes of seats: second class and first class seats.

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standard-class-seat-vibrant-express

Visitor’s Travel Reviews

Travel reviews from Alexandra, a visitor of ChinaTrain12306.com who traveled between HK and Guangzhou by high speed train on a business class seat. Here is his insider tips:

More Bullet Trains from Hong Kong to

Shenzhen, Shanghai, Beijing, Guilin, Xiamen

Hong Kong – Guangzhou Through Train Book Online

The Guangzhou – Hong Kong Through train, or commonly called Guangzhou – Kowloon Through Train is an inter-city train service running between Guangzhou East Station and Hung Hom Station in Kowloon of Hong Kong, jointly operated by MTR Corporation of Hong Kong & Guangzhou Railway Group.

The through trains run 12 times a day between Hung Hom Station and Guangzhou East Station (Guangzhoudong) with some of them calling at Changping Station in Dongguan & one continuing to Foshan Station. Live train schedule & ticket price can be found at its official site:

• Hong Kong – Guangzhou Through Live Train schedule (official site)
• Buy Guangzhou – Kowloon Through train tickets (using a ticket agent)

Through Train Schedule & Fares

The timetable below are used from MTR’s official site.

Trusted Online Ticket Agents:

Option 1: China Highlights is a reliable online agency  for China train ticketing. They get positive reviews on TripAdvisor & Trustpilot. Sharon and her team help you buy tickets & plan rail routes even deliver tickets to your hotels with a service fee from $6.

Book a Train

Option 2: China DIY Travel  is also a trusted online ticketing agent & get recommended for their excellent service on TripAdvisor. Helen & her Australian husband, team are always helpful buying tickets for foreigners. ChinaTrain12306 users can use PROMO CODE “ct123” to reduce booking fees.

Book a train