Z20 train is the fastest and most modern long distance trains in China, running on routes Xian to Beijing. Leave Xian at 20h16, arrive Beijing at 07h17 next day. These trains are soft class only (no hard class) with 4-berth ordinary soft class sleepers, 2-berth deluxe soft class sleepers with private toilet, restaurant car.

Z-Series of trains
They are fastest and among the best trains in China. Z means "Zhida" in Chinese, or "Direct Express". Typically they don't stop in the middle, and is very effecient to travel for long distance, like from Beijing to Xian, without stopping in the middle.

'Z' category trains are the fastest and most modern long distance trains in China, running on routes such as Beijing to Shanghai and Beijing to Xian. They are composed of the very latest air-conditioned sleepers, plus bar and restaurant.

Z20 train Xian to Beijing
The sleeping accommodation is first class. Passengers also have 0pportunities to meet and enjoy conversations, sometimes only in written form I may say, with a number of Chinese people sharing one compartment. These superb trains have top-quality brand-new air-conditioned sleeping-cars.

These trains are soft class only (no hard class) with 4-berth ordinary soft class sleepers, 2-berth deluxe soft class sleepers with private toilet, restaurant car (with menu in Chinese and English, beer a reasonable RMB15, the crispy fried prawns) and bar. It is reported that the on-board staff are helpful and speak some English, and the berths are even fitted with small TV screens. 

Soft Sleeper
There are four bunks in a compartment which has a door for privacy. Each bunk will have a blanket and pillow. Toilets are at the end of the carriage and may be a western toilet however they may not always be clean as they are used by people from other carriages. No toilet paper is provided in the bathrooms. Overnight trains are available between big Chinese cities, the most popular train travelers taking is.

Deluxe Soft Sleeper
2 berth per compartment (the deluxe soft sleeper between Beijing & Shanghai equipped with private washroom).

Train stations in Xian
Xian station is noisy and busy, and some people find them confusing. So arrive in plenty of time for your train!

When you reach the station, you must first go through airport-style security controls into the departure area. For soft sleeper travel, you must then find the appropriate waiting lounge for your train. There are a number of different waiting lounges, and the electronic message boards show which is the right one for each specific train. Tickets are checked on entering the lounge, so you can be sure you are in the right place. Inside the lounge, the electronic message boards show the trains departing from that lounge, for the next 24 hours.

Trains are usually allocated between lounges so there is ½ hour or more between each departure from that lounge. Most trains are shown as 'on time', but the most immediate departures are shown as 'waiting'. Once a train is ready for boarding (normally about 30 minutes before departure) it is shown as 'check in', meaning you can proceed through ticket control to the platform. About 5 minutes before departure the barrier is closed and the train is shown as 'check out'.

Check-in Baggage
Baggage space is limited and must be storred in your compartment so it is wise to travel with small baggage rather than large suitcases. 

Hand Baggage
Most train stations have a considerable number of stairs to climb to reach the platforms. Bags have to be carried up and down these stairs. Most stairs have a steep ramp so that wheeled bags can be dragged up as you walk up the stairs.

Departure and arrival
Train No.: Z20 (Leave Xian at 20h16, arrive Beijing at 07h17 next day)

Pikup in Beijing
Arrive Beijing at 07h17 next day. Pikup by our English speaking tour guide from the train station and transfer to the hotel in Beijing.  Check in the hotel, fresh up and have breakfast in the hotel, then you start your city tours in Beijing.