Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SOFT-SLEEPER
Soft-sleepers (
ruǎn wò
) are very comfortable, with four air-conditioned bunks in a closed
compartment. They tend to cost as much as discounted airfares to the same destination.
All Z-class trains are soft-sleeper trains, with very comfortable, up-to-date berths. A
few T-class trains also offer two-berth compartments, with their own toilet. Tickets on up-
per berths are slightly cheaper than lower berths.
HARD-SLEEPER
Just over half the price of soft-sleepers, hard-sleepers (
yìng wò
) are the golden ticket that
everyone wants. They tend to be comprised of six air-conditioned bunks in an open-ended
doorless compartment. There is less room than in soft-sleeper, but they are still comfort-
able (clean bedding is still provided), and they are much more social affairs, offering a
better chance to meet people than the rather sterile environment of a soft-sleeper. There is
a small price difference between berths, with the lowest bunk (
xiàpù
) the most expens-
ive, then the middle (
zhōngpù
), then the highest bunk (
shàngpù
).
As with all other classes, smoking is prohibited. Lights and speakers go out at around
10pm. Each compartment is equipped with its own hot-water flask, filled by an attendant.
Hard-sleeper tickets are the most difficult of all to buy; you almost always need to buy
these a few days in advance.
SEATS
Soft-seat class (
ruǎn zuò
) is more comfortable but not nearly as common as hard-seat
class. First-class (
yīděng
) and 2nd-class ( è
rděng
) soft-seats are available in D-, C- and
G-series high-speed trains. First class comes with TVs, mobile phone and laptop charging
points, and seats arranged two abreast.
Second-class soft-seats are also very comfortable; staff are very courteous throughout.
Overcrowding is not permitted. On older trains, soft-seat carriages are often double-deck-
er, and are not as plush as on the faster and more modern high-speed express trains.
Hard-seat class (
yìng zuò
) is not available on the faster and plusher C-, D- and G-
series trains, and is only found on T-, K- and N-series trains, and trains without a number
prefix; a handful of Z-series trains have hard-seat. Hard-seat class generally has padded
seats, but it's hard on your sanity; often unclean and noisy, and painful on the long haul.
Since hard-seat is the only class most locals can afford, it's packed to the gills.
You should get a ticket with an assigned seat number, but if seats have sold out, ask for
a standing ticket (
wúzuò
or
zhànpiào
), which gets you on the train, where you may find a
