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Hong Kong is well-connected by land, water and air. By land, the only way into Hong Kong is through mainland China. Since the handover, transport options have increased dramatically, connecting places as close as Shenzhen and as far as Beijing. Although the Hong Kong SAR is now an integral part of China, visas are still required to cross the border with the mainland. Trains run between Hong Kong and Guangzhou (Canton), Shanghai and Beijing (about 30 hours). Big-spenders can take the Trans-Siberian Railway from Europe to Beijing and on to Hong Kong. Most train travellers arrive from mainland China. The Kowloon-Canton Railway East Rail runs between Hung Hom in Kowloon and the Luohu in Shenzhen, Foshan, Zhaoqing, Dongguan of Guangdong Province and Guangzhou East Railway Station, Shanghai and Beijing West Railway Station, etc. linking mainland China to Hong Kong. Traveling by train is a good alternative for casual budget-conscious travelers as the train ticket price is one-third that of an air ticket. The Beijing-Kowloon train journey takes 25 hours and about 26 hours from Shanghai. For those who prefer train to air, this journey is a wonderful sightseeing opportunity. The peak train travels are at Spring Festival and summer holiday. Tickets may be booked up to two months in advance at Beijing West Railway Station and Shanghai Railway Station. Some sales offices have 10-day advance bookings available. Ask hotel reception for assistance with train travel. Twelve scheduled trains ply daily each way between Guangzhou East Station and Hong Kong. The journey lasts about 2 hours. Tickets for same-day travel are sold at the railway station and are also available 20 days ahead. The Kowloon–Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC) operates a service from Kowloon to Guangzhou (formerly Canton), several times a day. There are also services from Hong Kong to Foshan and Changping. Restaurant cars are only available if travelling first class. Local KCRC trains run regularly (every five to 10 minutes) to Lo Wu, the last stop before the Chinese border. It is then possible to cross the border to Shenzhen, a special economic zone, in China over the border. To go as far as Lo Wu, travellers must hold a visa for China; otherwise it is only possible to get to Sheung Shui. Children under three year's old travel for free. Children aged three to nine years pay half fare.
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