Recently took a 17 hour train ride from SH to HK. No seats available for us. Warning for all of you guys out there, don't ever do this ****. You gonna regret it.

Aren't there like thousands of relatively inexpensive flights between SH ahd HK (or Shenzhen, at a push)? Which get you there in about 2 hours? Why would anyone (other than a local) opt for 17 hours on a train?

Klick wrote:Aren't there like thousands of relatively inexpensive flights between SH ahd HK (or Shenzhen, at a push)? Which get you there in about 2 hours? Why would anyone (other than a local) opt for 17 hours on a train?

For starters....

- The fun of the journey.
- People who are scared of flying.
- People who like train journeys.

findus wrote:For starters....

- The fun of the journey.
- People who are scared of flying.
- People who like train journeys.

She should try taking bus coming back to Shanghai. At least she gets to sit during the entire journey

Never tried, never will now. Standing 17 hours must be terrible.

also train washrooms can be very gross after 17 hours =(

findus wrote:
For starters....

- The fun of the journey.
- People who are scared of flying.
- People who like train journeys.

Right. But: does 17 hours on an ordinary train in China sound like fun to you? I get the idea of traveling around by train, and spending a cumulatively large amount of time on trains, exploring from place to place. Or a luxury journey like the Orient express. But 17 straight hours? Maybe you and I have really, really different ideas of fun. I have a fear of flying, but as I have chosen to live an international lifestyle and want to actually go places rather than be ruled by this fear, I suck it up, down some Xanax and get on with it. Presumably most people here on this board from the US, Aus, NZ, Europe etc travel between SH and 'home' by air, do they not? Including the ones who have a fear of flying?

If people want to do it because they just really, really love traveling by train then hey, by all means, have at it. But then, don't bitch about it, if it's what you chose, is all I'm sayin'.

I did a hard seat from SZ to Shanghai, that sucks.

Also recently did a sleeper bus from SZ to Shanghai, instead of 17 hours it was 21.

Tanna wrote:I did a hard seat from SZ to Shanghai, that sucks.

Also recently did a sleeper bus from SZ to Shanghai, instead of 17 hours it was 21.

Looking at the map, it appears you're going uphill that way, hence the extra 4 hours.
Just thought I'd share my knowledge of Chinese geography with you.

Hey Tiffany
Cmon... Share some stories with us .....

catur wrote:

Tanna wrote:I did a hard seat from SZ to Shanghai, that sucks.

Also recently did a sleeper bus from SZ to Shanghai, instead of 17 hours it was 21.

Looking at the map, it appears you're going uphill that way, hence the extra 4 hours.
Just thought I'd share my knowledge of Chinese geography with you.

Yeah but that's offset by the wind assistance travelling eastwards.

Ok, my story is different. In mid June, I took the so called through train from Shanghai to HK with my son and daughter. They loved it very much. Of course, we reserved the deluxe sleeper, that is, a private room with a bunk bed and toilet, we paid about RMB1200 for three of us because my daughter was less than 5, she rides free, and I paid discounted fare for my son.

catur wrote:

Tanna wrote:I did a hard seat from SZ to Shanghai, that sucks.

Also recently did a sleeper bus from SZ to Shanghai, instead of 17 hours it was 21.

Looking at the map, it appears you're going uphill that way, hence the extra 4 hours.
Just thought I'd share my knowledge of Chinese geography with you.

I took the sleeper from Shanghai to HK 5 years ago. In those days it was 38 hours of pure hell.
To make matters worse I was trying to sleep over a squeeling wheel. The train headed inland at one stage, for 5 hours in reverse, then back again.
Things HAVE improved.

Klick wrote:

findus wrote:
For starters....

- The fun of the journey.
- People who are scared of flying.
- People who like train journeys.

Right. But: does 17 hours on an ordinary train in China sound like fun to you? I get the idea of traveling around by train, and spending a cumulatively large amount of time on trains, exploring from place to place. Or a luxury journey like the Orient express. But 17 straight hours? Maybe you and I have really, really different ideas of fun. I have a fear of flying, but as I have chosen to live an international lifestyle and want to actually go places rather than be ruled by this fear, I suck it up, down some Xanax and get on with it. Presumably most people here on this board from the US, Aus, NZ, Europe etc travel between SH and 'home' by air, do they not? Including the ones who have a fear of flying?

If people want to do it because they just really, really love traveling by train then hey, by all means, have at it. But then, don't bitch about it, if it's what you chose, is all I'm sayin'.

Yes.

I've taken five long (>8 hours) train journeys in my time here (two 40 hours, the rest from 15-24 hours). They have all been excellent adventures, from the people I've met to the scenery/'life outside the window' I've seen, from just the pleasure of being on a train itself. There have been annoyances, for sure, but you get that with flights too.

Loosen up

findus wrote:Yes.

I've taken five long (>8 hours) train journeys in my time here (two 40 hours, the rest from 15-24 hours). They have all been excellent adventures, from the people I've met to the scenery/'life outside the window' I've seen, from just the pleasure of being on a train itself. There have been annoyances, for sure, but you get that with flights too.

Loosen up

Well, I'm not sure what it is you reckon I need to 'loosen up' about. I mean, I have taken all that Xanax, so I'm good

Like I said, we maybe have different ideas of 'fun'.

i ever travelled on a bus ride from Luoyang to Shanhai as well 17 hours, though had seats but was a disaster. had to cramped with villagers and they stink (barefooted and the stuff they carried)

Took the overnight from Beijing to Shanghai.
Sleeper car.
Cheaper than a hotel room.
And I was the h*** out of Beijing when I woke up.
That alone was worth twice the price. True.

Spaniard wrote:also train washrooms can be very gross after 17 hours =(

That depends on the country. In some countries, the people are very civilized and they don't screw up toilets - and on top of that, the staff will clean the toilets regularly. Whereas in some other countries, it can be quite the opposite - uncouth people and infrequent cleaning!

Train travel can be fun -- even long ones such as 2-3 days -- IF it is comfortable, you have good company, good books, and good scenery -- or take your portable dvd player, ipod nano, whatever.

To the P. Next time, buy a first class ticket.

Tiffyannny wrote:Recently took a 17 hour train ride from SH to HK. No seats available for us. Warning for all of you guys out there, don't ever do this ****. You gonna regret it.

Does that mean you had to stand for 17 hours?

I've been in a hard sleeper (16 hours) from Shanghai to Xi'an. Not terrible, lack of privacy, and if something smells bad or very noisy, you can't get away from it.

I've been in a soft-sleeper (25 hours) from Lhasa to Xining. Very clean, good rooms, friendly staff; I loved it and would definitely opt for it over a flight. Lots of space to walk around, meet other travelers, etc.

Secret to riding trains is head straight to the dining car if you dont have a seat or have a horrible seat. In the dining car keep buying stuff a bit at a time so they dont kick you out. Last time I was on the slow train I went to the dining car and three university girls invited me to their table and it turned out the boss of the dining car was one of their mothers so we got free food the whole way.

- People who are scared of flying.

Who? B.A Baracus?

I like trains however I prefer to fly during the day. However the night trains are cool. I find out that there are some differences between the trains even the G trains. In term of sleepers, probably how they were producing it they find out that not everything is good so they made some small changes to improve it. So fare my experience is good. Just people may be a bit more friendly as they are a bit surprised that they have foreigner in their cabin.

one big - they sell Heineken beer on the trains for some unknown reasons. I hate it.

beenaroundworld wrote:That depends on the country. In some countries, the people are very civilized and they don't screw up toilets - and on top of that, the staff will clean the toilets regularly. Whereas in some other countries, it can be quite the opposite - uncouth people and infrequent cleaning!

oh I cringed just from the thought of it! uuuuugh~

One of my best nights in China was spent on an overnight train from Xian to Chengdu (standing in between carriages so I could smoke) with some random chinese guy (he no English, me no Chinese) singing happy birthday and twinkle little star (our only common ground) and doing beer runs to the dining car (much to the annoyance of everyone).

Get loose!

hahaha. Nice one.

Lordlunchalot wrote:One of my best nights in China was spent on an overnight train from Xian to Chengdu (standing in between carriages so I could smoke) with some random chinese guy (he no English, me no Chinese) singing happy birthday and twinkle little star (our only common ground) and doing beer runs to the dining car (much to the annoyance of everyone).

Get loose!

this is cool trip.