The main building of Beijing South Railway Station has two storeys above the ground. The first floor is for arrival and second floor for departure. The second floor departure hall has four entrances (or exits) – east, south, west and south. Of the four entrances, north and south entrances are on the first floor, so you are requested to take escalators up to the second floor departure hall while east and west entrances are directly on the second floor.
For departure, using the east and west entrances are highly recommended.
The East Entrance to the Departure Hall
The East Entrance to the Departure Hall
Entering the entrance, you are requested to go through an X-ray machine.
You are requested to go through an X-ray machine
Over your head haning a huge timetable eletronic board showing the live train schedule. From the timetable board, you get your latest information on the check-in gate for the train you are going to take.
A huge timetable eletronic board showing the live train schedule
There are totally two parallel 24 check-in gates in the middle of the hall from south to north. Between the two rows of opposite gates, there are plentiful rows of seats for passengers taking a break as well as spaces for lining up in front of the check-in gates.
There are totally two parallel 24 check-in gates in the middle of the hall from south to north
Inside the departure hall, by the both sides of both east and west entrances, there are four train ticket selling outlets, practically a ticket office in each corner of the departure hall.
Train ticket selling outlets
Beside manual ticket selling, there some automatic ticket selling machines in the middle of the hall.
Automatic ticket selling machines in the middle of the hall
If you have some leisure time in the departure hall of Beijing South Railway Station before your train starting, you have several places to kill your time, coffee shops, restaurants…
McDonald’s
McDonald’s
Coffee
Coffee
Today I take G11 starting 8:00am from Beijing to Shanghai, which is scheduled to take about 4 hours and 55 minutes. We are lining up at the Gate 13 ansd 14.
Tip: Hassle-free Beijing Guided Tours
If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours, here are some options for Beijing guided tours:
