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Josie Lifts Things takes a high-speed train from Shanghai to Beijing, beginning in the busy Shanghai station and ending at Beijing’s large station. She describes the ride as smooth and fast, though the seats are compact. She and her companion encounter language barriers while ordering food and learning how to use the train’s amenities. The video also mentions Starbucks and snacks onboard, frequent stops and clean smaller stations. Josie recommends booking train tickets in advance, securing preferred seats and considering hotels outside city centers to use affordable metro systems.
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Departing from Shanghai
Josie Lifts Things begins the trip at Shanghai’s busy railway station, where she and her companion work through a system that is new to them. The station feels chaotic but fascinating to them, and its procedures are unfamiliar to the Western travelers. They face language barriers while finding their way and getting ready to board, but are determined to experience the journey. Their attempts to navigate the station and arrange food give the trip several humorous moments before they settle into the ride. The train’s seats feel compact, but Josie is surprised by how smooth and fast the ride is. She and her companion try to order food and use the onboard amenities, with some humorous moments along the way. Starbucks and snacks are available on the train, and the view of another high-speed train passing makes the speed especially noticeable.
The journey to Beijing
Frequent stops let Josie observe smaller stations, which she describes as clean and efficient. When the train reaches Beijing, the size of the station stands out. The vlog briefly includes their hotel and local food after arrival, giving a short look at what they do once the rail journey ends. The contrast between the busy Shanghai departure and the vast Beijing station helps frame the trip as both a long-distance ride and a first encounter with unfamiliar transport spaces. Josie recommends arranging tickets ahead and arriving early to secure preferred seats, especially during peak periods. For a stay in Shanghai or Beijing, she suggests considering a hotel outside the city center and using the affordable metro to reach attractions. She also mentions that members of hotel loyalty programs such as Hilton Honors can use points for a better rate or upgrade, sometimes for less than a lower-rated hotel in the city center. For travelers who spend several days or a week in China before taking a train, she recommends arriving early to confirm tickets and assigned seats. Her advice focuses on avoiding last-minute seat-selection problems while keeping lodging costs down through metro access.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
- Q: What was it like traveling on China’s high-speed rail?
- A: Josie says the ride was smooth and fast, although the seats were compact. She also found it interesting that Starbucks was sold on the train.
- Q: What was the hardest part about traveling in China?
- A: The lack of English was challenging, especially when ordering food and navigating the journey.
- Q: What was Josie’s overall impression of China?
- A: She liked Beijing and found it more homey than a huge metropolis.
