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Ken Abroad travels first class by high-speed train from Xi'an to Wuhan for $100. He navigates security at the large Xi'an station, finds his carriage, and shows the spacious seats, legroom, and complimentary snacks. He compares the station's cleanliness and organization with his experience in Germany and notes how the train stops at smaller cities. After arriving in Wuhan, Ken uses the metro to reach his hotel, but struggles because the hotel is difficult to locate on Google Maps and he cannot easily use a Chinese maps app. He finds tomato beef noodles at a local restaurant, describes the portions as large, and comments on Wuhan's quiet feel despite its population. Ken feels safe walking at night and eventually reaches his hotel, where he shows his room and city view. The trip takes about 4 hours and 31 minutes.
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First class from Xi'an
Ken Abroad starts his trip at the large Xi'an train station, where he goes through security and searches for the right carriage. Chinese train stations use airport-style security checks, and foreign travelers are generally asked to show a passport. Tickets are tied to a passport or ID number, which is also needed for boarding. Ken notices how clean and organized the station feels compared with his experience at train stations in Germany.
His first-class ticket costs $100. Once aboard, Ken shows the spacious seats and legroom, and describes the first-class interior. Complimentary snacks include crackers, peas, dried beef, and dried fruit, while other food may be available to buy later. He observes that first class is not always the most expensive option and comments on the speed and efficiency of the rail network. The journey from Xi'an to Wuhan takes about 4 hours and 31 minutes, with stops at smaller cities along the way.
Finding a way through Wuhan
After arriving in Wuhan, Ken continues by metro toward his hotel. This part proves more difficult than the train trip. He cannot easily locate the hotel using Google Maps, and has trouble using the Chinese maps app as well. The experience highlights the limits of relying on map apps when the place name or address is difficult to communicate. Having the hotel name and address written in Chinese can help when asking a taxi driver for directions.
Ken eventually finds a local restaurant and orders tomato beef noodles. He describes the meal as delicious and non-spicy, with a very large portion. Friendly local interactions add to the stop. The city feels quiet to Ken despite its large population, and he says he feels safe walking around at night.
Reaching the hotel
The search for the hotel is the most challenging part of the trip. Ken's difficulty with both English and Chinese map apps delays him, but he remains calm and uses the setback as a chance to explore. He eventually arrives and gives viewers a look at the room and the city view. The video includes both the smooth first-class rail ride and the less predictable navigation after arrival.
Ken's practical advice includes using a passport or ID for train travel, considering a multilingual ticket app such as Trip.com, and keeping a Chinese hotel address ready for taxi drivers. His account presents a personal journey from Xi'an to Wuhan: a $100 ticket, snacks on board, a 1000-kilometer rail journey, a metro transfer, and an eventual meal and hotel stay.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
- Q: How much did Ken’s first-class ticket cost?
- A: His first-class ticket from Xi’an to Wuhan cost exactly $100.
- Q: What snacks were provided on the train?
- A: The complimentary snacks included crackers, peas, dried beef, and dried fruit. Ken thinks travelers may be able to buy other food later in the journey.
- Q: How long was the train ride?
- A: Ken says the total high-speed train journey from Xi’an to Wuhan took about 4 hours and 31 minutes.
- Q: What was the hardest part of the trip?
- A: Finding his hotel in Wuhan was difficult because it was not on Google Maps and he could not easily use the Chinese map app.
- Q: What did Ken eat in Wuhan?
- A: He had non-spicy tomato beef noodles that he found delicious, with very large portions.
- Q: What unexpected event did Ken mention?
- A: Ken said that his videos had been featured on a Chinese news app, which surprised him during the trip.
