China - never a dull moment!

[JackMiles]

Return today is Linpingnan-Hongqiao with newer herringbone seats - never had these before:

Oh wow, this looks fantastic. All the comfort of a very good J seat plus the big window and passing scenery of a train. What a superb way to travel. Is there a bar car to stroll to as well??

 

[TheEmu]

Do you have an undeclared interest in Chinese HSR mate?

View attachment 518704

Tongren?

 

[TheEmu]

Oh wow, this looks fantastic. All the comfort of a very good J seat plus the big window and passing scenery of a train. What a superb way to travel. Is there a bar car to stroll to as well??

Not that I've found. Last time I used one, the overnight sleeper trains didn't have a dining car - there's an area at the end of each car with hot water dispensers for your 2-minute noodles.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

No unfortunately no boozer onboard

 

[markis10]

Not that I've found.

Drinks and food can be ordered with the offical App and gets delivered to you seat, there is also an option to order off site food and nominate a stop for it to be delivered to the train.

 

[JackMiles]

Drinks and food can be ordered with the offical App and gets delivered to you seat, there is also an option to order off site food and nominate a stop for it to be delivered to the train.

That's all very good, especially the delivery to station option, but I'd still like the romance of a bar/dining car. Where else to assemble all the suspects of the mysterious murder??

 

[Chatswood]

Onboard catering - dodgy warm sweet coffee and snack box which I will ‘gift’ to the next kid I see
View attachment 518670

That snack is from the Park Hotel in Shanghai, supposedly they have snacks or pastries that are quite famous and attracts queues. What was inside?

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I didn’t open it - I gifted it to a kid - mostly cough inside these boxes on trains

 

[Chatswood]

I didn’t open it - I gifted it to a kid - mostly cough inside these boxes on trains

That’s true, when I was in business class the snack box was full of what appeared to be pick-and-mix selections from Walmart China. It’s really unfortunate because the actual meal wasn’t too bad

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Hilton across China as of this month adopted a new ‘Status Recognition’ activity of placing a small tier identified Status Star on your table at breakfast:


Rolled out only this month across all Hilton brands.

OMG we all know the Chinese adore status recognition

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Weather in PEK has caused delay 12:00 flt SHA-PEK with no confirmed dep ATPIT - what does one do? MU V2 Lounge airside and watch the footy on Foxtel Go on iPad hotspotted to iPhone via Vodafone $5 / day - what an amazing era in which we live



Oh and of course post midday Sat def drinkies time



2 Aussie reds - albeit of marginal quality - the world is a small place now is it not?

 

[anat0l]

So September school holidays are coming up. I have a clear week of holiday available - I have to get back to Australia a bit early for a year 12 day workshop and then another robotics competition over the final weekend.

That gives me between the 19th and 30th.

I have found a seat to Hong Kong, so I am thinking a city in China, plus Macau on the way back. My thoughts, for no particular reason, gravitated towards either Guilin or Hangzhou. I'd probably have 3-4 clear days in either one. I can't likely do both, or it wouldn't be great to do so.

Anyone have an opinion either way?

My GenAI tells me that while both are great, Guilin and the surrounding area would likely be a better option. Hangzhou is good almost all year round, but Guilin is particularly nice around September. HSR from Hong Kong, then HSR to Zhuhai for Macau, then either ferry or bus back to HKG. There's somewhat more to do in Guilin (could even do more than 4 days if wanted), but Hangzhou is really just Xihu and that's about it.

Not to mention my trip coincides close to the Mid-Autumn Festival and the Chinese National Day - I won't be in the country for the latter but can't avoid the former. And it's typhoon season....