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16-Hour China Sleeper Bus: Kunming to Mohan

Could You Survive 16 Hours On This 'V.I.P.' China Sleeper Bus 🇨🇳

Destination:ChinaProvince:YunnanCity:Kunming
Could You Survive 16 Hours On This 'V.I.P.' China Sleeper Bus 🇨🇳
Alan & Shannon20 min

Could You Survive 16 Hours On This 'V.I.P.'. This was filmed by Alan & Shannon. Watch the full journey and explore the filming details and destinations on this page.

Despite numerous warnings not to, we took a sleeper bus in China. We have experienced high speed trains, regular trains, buses and now sleeper busses. We travel from Kunming in Yunnan, and head down towards Mohan, near the Loas border which we will then attempt to cross.

--- Alan & Shannon
March 11, 2024, Spring in China

Travel Guides & Tips in this video

Locals warned Alan and Shannon against it, but they take an overnight sleeper bus from Kunming toward the Laos border anyway. The 'VIP' bus starts well: the double beds are roomier than they expected and there's plenty of storage. Then the air conditioning fails, the bus makes a long unplanned stop, and a fellow passenger snores loudly enough to ruin any chance of sleep. At the end they try self-heating instant noodles, which they like a lot. The ride is far from relaxing, but it shows what long-distance bus travel in China can really be like, problems and all.

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Could You Survive 16 Hours On This 'V.I.P.' China Sleeper Bus 🇨🇳

Buying tickets at the bus station

Alan and Shannon have been warned by locals not to take a sleeper bus in China, but after high-speed trains, regular trains and ordinary buses, they want to try one. The trip runs from Kunming in Yunnan toward Mohan, near the Laos border, which they plan to cross next. At the station they buy their tickets and admit they're a little nervous about the ride ahead. Finding the right bus takes longer than expected. Many of the buses they pass have no beds, so they're relieved when theirs turns out to be a real sleeper.

Inside the VIP sleeper bus

The bus is old but clean, and it has more room than similar buses they've taken in other countries, including India and Vietnam. They point out how much storage space there is and how comfortable the beds are; one bed easily fits both of them. Given the warnings they'd heard, the quality is a real surprise. Passengers take their shoes off on board to keep the bus clean.

Service stations and a pipe

The first hours go smoothly, and the air conditioning is a relief after the heat at the station. At the first service station stop they're still impressed by how spacious and comfortable the bus is. They also meet a man smoking from a large pipe, and he offers Alan a try.

The night goes wrong

The second half of the trip is much harder. The air conditioning breaks down, and a fellow passenger snores so loudly that neither of them gets much sleep. They call this the most uncomfortable part of the whole journey. On top of that, the bus makes an unexpected four-hour stop, which adds to their frustration and pushes their arrival back.

Self-heating noodles at the end

They do reach their destination, well behind schedule. To close, they try self-heating instant noodles, a popular and convenient travel food in China. You don't need boiling water, the noodles are spicy, and they taste a lot like street-food noodles, which makes for a good end to a hard trip. For anyone weighing a sleeper bus, their ride is a frank look at both the comfort and the problems of long-distance bus travel in China.

FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)

Q: What is a sleeper bus in China like?
A: Pretty comfortable, Alan and Shannon say, with double beds and lots of space, much better than the ones they rode in India and Vietnam. Then the AC broke down and a man snoring like a monster made the night hell.
Q: What did they eat on the bus?
A: They tried self-heating instant noodles and loved them. The noodles were spicy, tasted just like street-food noodles and were easy to make, with no boiling water needed.
Q: How long is the sleeper bus from Kunming to Mohan?
A: Alan and Shannon's ride took about 16 hours, and it ran late after an unexpected four-hour stop.
Q: Do you take your shoes off on a Chinese sleeper bus?
A: Yes. Passengers remove their shoes to keep the bus clean, a common practice in many parts of Asia.

Previous travel video:

16-Hour China Sleeper Bus: Kunming to Mohan

Alan & Shannon's epic 16-hour sleeper bus ride through China from Kunming towards the Laos border. An unforgettable journey!

China Sleeper Bus Journey: Kunming to Mohan Border

Alan and Shannon ditch the usual travel methods and opt for a unique Chinese adventure: a 16-hour sleeper bus journey! From Kunming in Yunnan province, they embark on an overnight trip towards Mohan, near the Laos border. This daring choice provides a firsthand look into a less-conventional side of Chinese travel, promising an unforgettable experience filled with unexpected twists and turns.