Trans-Siberian Journeys
The longest train journey in the world is traversing the Trans-Siberian railroad, connecting Moscow with Vladivostok 9288 km from each other. In addition, two Trans-Siberian routes connect Moscow with Beijing: the Trans-Mongolian, via Ulan-Bator and the Gobi desert, 7867 km, and the Trans-Manchurian, via Harbin, 9001 km.
Siberian journeys can be undertaken year-round. In winter, views of the snowy Russian countryside from warmly-heated train compartments evoke scenes from Doctor Zhivago, and city museums lack crowds. Warmer months are more conducive to those interested in outdoor activities, such as hiking expeditions around Lake Baikal, or horseback riding in Mongolia.
There are generally two classes of train travel: 1st class, a place in a two-person sleeping compartment, and 2nd class, a place in a four-person sleeping compartment. However, levels of comfort will vary between trains. The train connecting Moscow with Irkutsk, the "Baikal," is Russia's premier train, with a single shower available for passengers. Some of the Chinese international trains offer a shared wash-basin between deluxe 1st class compartments, which contrast to Chinese domestic trains which offer two classes of travel, "hard class," a sleeping place in a common, open area, or "soft class," a place in a four-person sleeping compartment.
Train tickets must be booked for specific trains on a fixed date, reserving a sleeping compartment space. If one wishes to stop at an intermediary city before reaching the destination listed on the ticket, one forfeits one's sleeping compartment, and so one generally books separate train tickets for each leg of a journey (stopping at locations is more expensive than booking a straight-shot ticket).
