Mini Getaway #1 to Xi'an

I know it has been a while since I posted. I didn't think I'd get so caught up with life here in Beijing and then 5 months flew by. I am no longer living with my Chinese host family and I've been interning at the International Medical Center - Beijing for almost 3 months now. Since I have about a month left here in China, I debated on where I should head on my 1st mini vacation, and decided on the historical city of Xi'an (西安) as I've been wanting to see the Terracotta Warriors and Horses (兵马俑) since I was little.

So wanting a real, authentic Chinese experience (and a more affordable experience) I took the train from Beijing to Xi'an so this entry will be more informational about the train and navigating around Beijing West Railway Station.

There are lots of trains going from Beijing West to Xi'an, only a few are direct, others have stops along the way. After looking at the time tables I chose the T55 because it fit my plans. My coworker helped me buy the ticket for the Hard Sleeper, Middle Berth (will get to my review of hard sleeper later). My train departed at 4:45pm and I wanted to arrive at the station by 3 and I did.

Directions to Beijing West: Currently the Military Museum on Line 1 is the closest station to Beijing West, but I heard that Line 9 will open next month and it will have a station that stops at the Train Station. But for me, I took the Military Museum, exit B (to the Busses/Public Transport) and looked for busses with 北京西站 as a stop.

Once you get off the bus, follow the mass of people to the overpass. I followed the signs to the Waiting Halls (候车室) and it led me to the Entrance. There you will need to show your tickets to inspectors and then pass through security. From then on, refer to the electronic boards to find your train number and you're corresponding waiting hall. There are large signs to direct you to your waiting hall.

My experience on the T55 Hard Sleeper was great. The name "hard sleeper" actually doesn't mean it's very hard (actually it's the same as the soft sleeper, mattress wise). My bunk mates were all Chinese and kept to themselves so it wasn't noisy. People on the bottom bunks get a lot of vertical room as you can sit up, but sometimes you have others sitting on your bunk (ex. dinner time); top bunks look uncomfortable as you don't get a lot of head room (even less than middle berth). But middle berth is more comfortable than top and gives you the privacy of not having to let people sit.
(Note: Hard Sleepers on trains are all different. Some only have Top or Bottom bunks OR Top, Middle, Bottom. The T55 had both.)

Train attendants will come by and switch all sleeper tickets with cards (hold onto them because they will be collected later!) and ask for ID. Because Xi'an isn't the last stop on the T55, I was worried about what would happen if I overslept and missed my stop. Luckily, the train attendants come by around 30 min before you're arrival and swap your cards for your tickets, so it sort of acts as a wake-up call.

Me laying down on the T55, Middle Bunk (gives you sort of an idea on how much headroom you'll have)