Travel Guides & Tips in this video
- Tip 1Plan to arrive early at the station; use passport for security and boarding checks; expect an airport-like experience. (00:55)
- Tip 2Choose business class for comfort if you want a premium but affordable one-hour ride; second class is much cheaper. (04:45)
- Tip 3Use English signs and a translation app to navigate stations and menus; don’t stress about language barriers. (07:30)
- Tip 4From arrival to hotel: exit the station via a straightforward route; plan transit to your Hangzhou West Lake hotel. (11:25)
In this personal travel diary, Always Away takes viewers on a solo journey from Shanghai to Hangzhou aboard China’s high speed rail in business class. The video opens with the relatable feeling of stepping into an environment that feels like an airport, complete with security checks and vast, terminal-like spaces. As she navigates gates and boarding, she shares the thrill of upgrading to a business class seat for around £23, highlighting how affordable and approachable this experience can be for first-time riders. Inside the train, she describes the cabin as luxurious and comfortable, with red leather seats, a sizable pillow, a retractable table, and a control panel for reclining. A curiosity moment emerges with the QR code that offers food delivery to the seat, a feature she tries but finds it limited to certain stations. The service approach mirrors air travel, with a trolley of snacks, a sailing collection of drinks, and a wireless, airplane-like ambience. She notes the practicality
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More about the current video:( 11 / 20 )
Always Away heads on her first solo rail adventure, boarding a high-speed train in Shanghai and moving toward Hangzhou in business class. She describes arriving at a station that feels like an airport, the ease of gate checks with just a passport, and the long train layout. Inside the cabin, the leather seats, ability to recline, a large pillow, and a snack pouch feel luxuriously comfortable. A QR code promises food delivery to the seat, though it mostly works at major hubs. She compares prices with a UK journey, noting the astonishing affordability of a one-hour ride in business class for about £23, and emphasizes the overall ease of navigation even for non-Chinese speakers thanks to English signs and translation apps. The journey concludes with a sense of accomplishment and excitement to explore Hangzhou West Lake, followed by logistical plans for exiting the station and continuing the adventure. Traveler Always Away reflects on the independence of solo travel, the appeal of modern Chinese rail, and the supportive community that fuels her diary-making.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
- Q: Is business class on China's high-speed rail worth it for first-time riders?
- A: Yes, especially for solo travelers who want comfort and a calm onboarding experience, with affordable pricing that makes it a practical upgrade.
