Night train to Xi'an

Hard Sleeper
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Taking a train in China is quite an exciting experience. The crowds in the waiting hall are something to behold. Your little pink ticket tells you everything you need to know: train number, carriage, berth. Unfortunately it is in Chinese! Eugenie, our guide made sure none of us went astray and we all found our beds on the train. It was a 'hard sleeper' service; 6 beds per cabin (3 bunks per side, no door). The 1200km journey takes about 9 hours. Plenty of hot water for tea but none of us sampled the food on offer (we brought snacks). Four of us sat on the bottom bunk and played Hearts to pass the time. Many Chinese passengers looked in on us, interested in the card game. At 10pm sharp the lights went out abruptly halting our card game. We braved the toilet (hold your breath and it is not to bad) brushed our teeth and hit the sack. I slept pretty well and compared to long haul flights, this seems a pretty nice way to travel.

The crowds in the waiting hall are something to behold.