Catching a train

Catching a train between cities is an experience! I prefer train because I think my blood pressure rises too much on a bus, as the driver speeds in an out of traffic. Speed limited? Sure, one hears the beeper going all the time when the driver exceeds the speed.

But train travel is a little daunting.

There are huge waiting halls, where everyone waits for the train. The halls are full of noise, people, baggage, food, public announcements (in Chinese!). When you buy your ticket, you know the departure time, the gate number, your carriage number and your seat number. Pretty easy to understand on your paper ticket - even if English is your only language. (At least that has been our experience!)

There will be an announcement that your train is boarding. Everyone queues up to go through the gate where your ticket is checked. Then you walk to the platform and line up at the number of your carriage.

When the train pulls in and other passengers have disembarked, you can board and hope to find that your seat is empty waiting for you. Not always so, but the Chinese people will make sure that you have a seat. Not necessarily the one you paid for.

The trains always travel through very interesting scenery - much more relaxing than the traffic on the roadways.