By continuing you agree to eChinacities's Privacy Policy .
Sign up with Google
Sign up with Facebook
Q: Is taking a train really as soul crushing as it seems?
Found a flight for a good price to go on holiday but coming back .....hella expensive. I'm thinking screw it, i got time, 20 hours on a train cant be so bad right?? And it seems every other day an article on this site sais you havent lived unless youve taken the train in China... but its a major holiday... Should i just bite the bullet and pay for the flight?? or is the train really not that bad??
I am using trains very often. Chinese train schedule is on http://www.cnvol.com/.
If you take sleeper, or even soft seat, train is not that bad. Try and buy ticket 10 days before departure.
Hard seat is the cheapest price you will pay, but traveling will be full of (free) cigarettes smoke.
Don't forget your ipod, either!
Look at G (bullet) train. It is faster than plane in some distances.
Being a major holiday, you may want to take a flight, mainly because of the crowds.
Trains are not that bad, in and of themselves. I've done some over-night trips (Shanghai and Hong Kong) where we rented a sleeper, and once I got used to the motion of the train, I slept pretty good. It is also a good way to meet other people, which I always enjoy doing. I also did a four hour trip from Harbin to Yabuli in the middle of December. That was interesting, as most of the folks were from the country-side and acted like they had never seen a western person before. It was on a soft-seat, and we had a great time, but there were 10 of us, so we just had a rolling party as all the seats were together.
None of these trips were during holidays, but the trains stations were still jammed packed. You know how the crowds are here; people pushing and shoving, smoking, etc., etc. Now, imagine that during the upcoming holiday!
I guess it all depends on your "Spirit of Adventure."
I like train travel, I took a soft sleeper, bottom birth. My bunkies were Austrian and a Chinese student that spoke English, so I had an audience. The western toilet was the only bad thing, doubt it had ever been cleaned. Usually if I went from Guilin to Gz, I took express bus because it was faster than trains. Sometimes I'd fly but it cost ten times as much with luggage.
difficult to generalize about train travel. It can be way nice,,, like the 'Z' sleeper train between SH - BJ.
or,, it can be misery defined. Think 3rd class on a busy hot day,, SRO,, packed like sardines, enclosed in a gaseous cocoon of CO2, b.o., cig fumes.... Loudest people u ever wanna meet.... -
.... personal space concept? not bloody likely mate... enjoy! 
I like the idea of train travel, harking back to my younger days and that independent streak and spirit of adventure.
However as a married man with a young daughter the realities of a travelling with a young child are bad enough when you fly, by train................ In comparison Seppuku would be trivial!
Its true though, taking the train is something you should at least try once since you're already in China.
Having said that, I wouldn't go on any train ride longer than 10 hours again, unless there was absolutely no other way or unless I'm traveling with a really good friends.
If you do decide to take the train, then try to get a middle sleeper or one the bottom one. The top one doesn't really allow much space to move and it gets freaking cold up there.
The sleeper cars are quite comfortable.
Long journeys in the seating cars can be quite sh*t.
Taking the train is fun, just don't take it if the only option is 'hard seat'.
well if its 20 hour journey you would be crazy to go for a seat, hard or soft sleeper are both fun, nothing wrong with them unless you want to spend a little more and be in a closed room, but dont plan anything right after since the trains are always late, the other option is the high speed train a little bit more expensive but very quick and on time but i guess they dont have that for all the routes, i often go from guangzhou to changsha, take the high speed train to go and the slow train hard sleeper on the way back to gz and its fine.
but you will be woken up very early on the slow train and lots of noise lol ow and make sure you ask for a bottom bunk the head room is much taller you can actually sit on the bed lol
Thanks guys! Seems pretty unanimous... seats suck... beds are ok! Im gonna go for a hard bed.. soft maybe more comfortable but ill be trapped in a room and not be able to see whats going on.... so hopefully i wont go crazy... Thanks again!
I love travelling by overnight train - it's one of my favorite ways to travel if I have the time, but sleeper beds are an absolute must.
Mike, icn's advice is very good. I wouldn't call it soul-crushing..you just have to be patient and mentally prepared..especially for overnight trips. During a big holiday like this..I WOULD NOT take the train..too MANY Chinese! Or, be on an expressway or highway! Yes, fly!! Or, delay your travel plans for a few weeks. I know a Chinese gal that's going to do that. I know of another Chinese gal who said she might just stay in her locale and get together with her boyfriend..do simple things there..and not travel outside of their location. I have also delayed my travel plans..albeit for a shorter time period. * If you do take the overnight train as you alluded to..definitely get a sleeper!! Happy trails!
like everyone else said, for long trips with a bed it's fine. quite enjoyable usually.
as for the holidays, ive never gone on a train during the holidays but i had to drop someone off at a train station during a holiday once. the crowds were INSANE. took me literally like over an hour just get inside the station because the sidewalks/entrances were so packed.
If you taking a sleeper its not to bad as long as you got some electrical entertainment. Seat however no way that would be a killer.
