China really knows how to travel by train – it’s clean and efficient. Plenty of space and airy carriages make it a very pleasant experience indeed:
And it’s fast:
Because the lines are straight – as I’ve mentioned previously, they’ve money and vast amounts of land (and I’m guessing, but I suspect a Communist government helps – as Sene said, the big wigs decide, nobody dares object and it gets done).
Outside, the landscape changed very quickly (no, not just because we were going almost 250kph):
But was still defined by lots of karsts:
Passing through numerous towns and cities, the homogeneity of the buildings was marked – metal and concrete, box-like, mostly symmetrical. Aesthetics clearly aren’t valued, which surprised me a little considering their elegant written script, descriptive language and cultural heritage.
The metro was in the same vein as their trains, the glass screen improving efficiency – very similar to London’s Jubilee line, the newest Tube line, so their transport system is clearly quite new. Plastic tokens this time, instead of thin card tickets – you place them on the sensor to enter through the barriers, and put it in the slot to exit. Efficient, sustainable and environmentally friendly. Regular travellers had plastic cards, again a better solution. Another difference was the seats – plastic and not divided by arm rests. I’m in two minds: on the downside, everyone was sliding all over the place as the train pulled away stopped at stations (which a metro is wont you do); on the other hand, they’re easy to clean. Eating was not allowed – this wouldn’t be a popular change on the Tube, but it would improve the experience for everyone (and I say this as a regular Tube eater although, for the record, I’m extra careful not to make a mess).
And another baffling slogan for the collection:
As usual, we hadn’t booked a hotel but as soon as we exited the metro we were presented with an offer of a hotel. The trick is to know the going rate (thanks, TripAdvisor). Rudy negotiated from 188¥ to 148¥, so we followed the guy to the hotel… where the room rate was set at 168¥. Dilemma: we were prepared to pay 168¥ but didn’t want to encourage his dishonest practice. Or let him off the hook. We put him on the spot; he did the Chinese embarrassed laugh and shaking of head. Point made, we went for dinner – a local(spicy) fish specialty which was delicious (also saw an African woman – haven’t seen any Africans during my travels so was a point of note):
… And then checked in at the hotel he’d brought us to 🙂
Another hotel aimed at Chinese, but I’m used to them and they’re good value for money (and usually come with respirators which is obviously very important).
We’d ended up in the * real* part of town – a trading estate near the station. Walking round that evening, we immediately noticed all the Africans – the lady in the restaurant hadn’t been a one off. Stopping to talk to a group hanging out on the street, it turns out they’re here to trade, sending (fake) goods back home – most of them are from Tanzania here on a one-year visa. But they can only stay thirty days at a time, so each month they make a day trip to Hong Kong. And with the Africans come African home comforts (mostly food). So on our last day in China, we found Little Africa 🙂
