I'm sorry for your experience, but this was also forced to be canceled due to weather. If you don't have a Chinese mobile phone, you won't be able to receive Chinese text messages. Just think of this as a life experience. The best thing about China's high-speed trains is the business class, where you can sleep. When the seats are extended, they are 2 meters long. Even if you are a giant, you can sleep in it. Plus there's free food. If you don’t like the free food on the high-speed train, you can scan the QR code on the seat and reserve food at the next stop. Wow, that will be a great experience.Have Fun in China....😃😋😁
Mate, it reminded me of travelling on China's High Spreed Rail at 350kph from Beijing to Shanghai. There were about 30 Aussies on the train and we found our way to the Cafeteria on the HSR Train. We sat there most of the journey and we drank out all the beer. LOL, The Train Hostesses were young and gorgeous. We all laughed and sang together. The Train Hostesses wear these colourful caps, and they allowed us to take turns wearing their hats and taking selfies with them. It was one of the best memorial moments I had in China, just human beings, different cultures being together, laughing and having fun.
I guess the video was taken on 13th December? I was going to Beijing at the same day, many trains have been cancelled due to severe snow storm in Beijing. A very rare case. Didn’t you receive a message on the phone number which you used for ticket booking? To order food on the train, simply scan the QR code on the armrest. There are options not only limited to the on-board food, but also restaurants from the next stop station (KFC, Starbucks, etc.). People will bring food to your seat in real-time or when the train stops.
Usually the 12306 would send a notice if it is cancelled. Maybe you didn’t use China number, so they can’t reach you guys. But it is really annoying not to get warned of the cancellation.
You can actually order food by scanning the bar code besides your seat. The food, Chinese or western fast food, will be delivered at next station if the station is not a small one.
@@gantenbeinable Yup, have been able to do this for past 6-7 years. It gets given to the carriage steward who brings it to your seat. Its why the food on the train sucks because no one orders it as everyone just orders takeaways brought onto the train at the next station.
Loving the Chinese series, there is a massive demand for this type of content and appreciate the train journey did not go as expected for the 1st class. This just shows that your 'expectations' have increased a lot simply by being in China for a few weeks! In comparison, for a shorter journey from Glasgow to London, you'd be paying 3 times the price for the standard tickets and for the price difference between standard in 1st class, you also don't expect a massive difference in comfort and definitely no free hot meal served!
8:39 That snack is made from tofu, but it's not like regular tofu. It is made by drying, compressing, and adding various spices to the tofu during its production.
Guys when you say you bought the tickets through c-trip, did you use a English langauge version of the app? if you buy your tickets through Alipay if you have that setup you will receive notifications. My Chinese wife and I often travel by train to Shanghai and she buys tickets using Alipay and she gets notications in the app about delays etc. The snack was a tofu based snack and the alcohol was Bai Jiu, pronounced (By Joe). I acted in a TV Documentary in Hengdian (China's Hollywood) in 2008 and most of the foreign cast were drinking that stuff as the bottle was small enough to slip inside the uniforms we were wearing for our characters. Helped keep us warm on set as it was in early spring. Usually there's a cart (even on trips of less than an hour) that works it's way through the train selling more snack and drink choices, perhaps in that province or on that route it's not an option.
I hear Ctrip does not keep you updated properly But that is usually the case when you use a 3rd party app/website Anywhere in the world Because it becomes the responsibility of the 3rd party that has to update you
I'm trying help them by offering some advice on how to pronounce it phonetically since these guys are not native Chinese speakers. I have lived in China for over 16 years and my wife is Chinese so sometimes it helps to hear the words spoken in a way that sound similar in English when trying to get pronunciation correct.@@HawaiiBO808
China's notification system often uses mobile phones to send messages by SMS rather than using email. Generally such shift cancellation notification text messages are sent automatically, so I don't know if you have received a message on your phone. Travelling is always a hassle, so I wish you all the best for the rest of your trip!
What we love to watch Alan & Shannon is that they’re truthful. There’s no pretending or fakery - when they don’t like things they criticise, and when they love the experience they appreciate. You guys have gain a massive fan. ❤
@@Alan_and_ShannonYou guys may need one China mobile number, there are two ways to get notice: SMS and ticket official app or website. Chinese people almost don’t use e-mail. So there is no notice announces by e-mail. Hope you have better experiences in China.❤
@@Alan_and_Shannon I fully understand you’re annoyed - £100 per head is a lot money even in the UK, but that’s what is because China is no longer a cheap cheap country like 20 years ago. Wait until Chinese Lunar New Year in February and you’ll see how expensive train tickets will become, when 1billion Chinese are traveling around the country within 10-15 days period. What a sight! You shall always be yourself and never be afraid to express your true feelings.
Yes, First Class is not that cost-effective, second class is more economic,if u pursue a extremely comfortable experience, choose Business class😂, it's even more expensive than a flight,but the experience is premium,Big room, quite,thoughtful service ,fully ,lie down ❤
The price of Chinese trains is mostly decided by the size of your seat, the 1st class is a 2+2 columns layout, while 2nd class is 2+3, plus the larger seat itself and the extra space between rows, the 1st class on average occupied ~60% more space than the 2nd class seat (51 seats vs. 85 seats per carriage). That reflects on the price was the 30$ extra money than the 70$ 2nd class ticket.
This is better than getting stuck in US airport with cancelled flight. It is all on your own in the US to check the status. Someone I know got her US flight to Europe cancelled after she flew to another US city for connecting flight. She ended up cancelling the trip after stuck at the other US airport for almost a day.
You should have gone for Business Class (which is above First class). You get individual seats and because it only seats about seven people it's extremely spacious. You also get full meals and if the trip is long enough they'll even serve you a second meal. A good thing to know is you can actually order food from any fast food restaurant (like KFC or Mcdonald's) and they'll deliver it to you at the next stop. And you can get Starbucks on the train but I suppose you guys didn't want that.
Take business class and it is totally different experience. It is confusing for European people as normally you will think 1st class, then business class. In China, it is business class and then 1st class😂
This. We travelled from Chongqing to Xian in business class recently and it was a mind-blowing experience. Business class lounge when you arrive at the train station, dedicated staff escorting you to the train whilst skipping the queues, Seats that recline fully flat, and complementary lunch as well. Best experience ever!
If you want to experience a first-class or business-class seat, I recommend doing it for short-distance travel, maybe just one or two stops. For most people, second-class seats are already quite comfortable, and there's generally no need to book a first-class or business-class seat.
You could order online on your phone in McDonald’s the first city they stop. The delivery 🚚 guy waited in the station. They’ll bring to your seat 💺. I know train food very expensive and you could save money.❤ If you order online and will notice in your phone 📱. (Train tickets)
I guess the reason there is not much food choice in the train café is because people usually bring their own food/snacks or order Meituan (Chinese Uber Eats) on the train, your food will be delivered to you on the next stop of the train.
8:36 it’s dried tofu, it’s when tofu is dehydrated, so it taste a bit solid and chewy, but then cooked in soy sauce and other flavorings in order to add flavors to it. Beans r always good for ur health, and I think it tastes quite good
Trains being cancelled is very rare in china. It is pure bad luck. If you use a Chinese phone number, you will definitely receive sms at least hours before. Email is far less commonly used in china as in western countries (I studied for years in Canada ). If you can receive sms, you won’t miss any important reminders. SMS is so commonly used in china.
14:04 it’s 红星二锅头, a baijiu brand that’s famous for how strong it is. Baijiu is a famous spirit in China and it’s fermented from rice, the interesting part of baijiu is when u actually drink a high quality baijiu and got drunk, surprisingly u wont find ur self feeling sick the next day or anything.
While they were eating the snacks, I was observing the Coke on the window. Although the train is traveling at high speed, its liquid level fluctuates very little.
Please remember to make reservations online in advance in order to visit the Forbidden City, a must see in Beijing. If you do not know how to do it, ask young people for help. Some of them can speak some English
You should get trip software to compensate you. The train station only has trip reservation information. They can't send you messages without your email address. When we use Chinese software to book train tickets in China, we will be informed to cancel them.
@ChaiHarry I dont know if it's healthier but it's easier to poop when squatting because your intestine is rearranged better. I think humans have been squatting to poop for millenias. Seating toilets are only used in the last century. In my home sitting toilet I need a stool for my leg to poop easier.
Subbed for the good laugh! Im just lmao at you guys drinking that strong liqueur on the train. I also find it interesting that so many people complain about squatting toilets when they see it in china or japan because if you think about it its way more hygienic than sitting ones ( where everyone's asses been on). Being a woman from the US I'd honestly love public squatters to go do my business instead of having to sit on something that's clearly dirty or having to mess with paper covers that never seem to stay in place or cover 100%. P.S. the guy laughing at you guys in the back hahahaha keep up the good content guys!
I know what you mean. Sometimes it will cause numbness in thigh muscles when squatting for minutes. It's the same happened on Chinese and all human. However, mostly due to their psychological effect. Think about it. Many western people like to do squats to strengthen their thigh or butt muscles in the gym, which makes their butt look sexier. But they consider it rude to do like this in toilet...@@natn41r
The order of class tier on Chinese high-speed trains is different from the aviation system. The best class is business class, which is normally located at the end of the train, It offers wide foldable seats like first-class seat on a commercial airline. And you can also get a free meal(onboard meal of Chinese HS train sucks, I suggest you take your own food or order food delivery from the restaurants at the station ahead by scanning QR code on the seat armrest, the staff will bring you the food when the train arrives at that station). Then it's first class, kinda comfy seat with a free snack box. In the end, 2nd class, cheap with acceptable leg room but narrow.
I can't stop laughing when you guys said that little snack was a mini chicken breast. lol xD Goes to show though no matter what happens good or bad or where you're at, what's most important is who you're with. Love you guys! Safe travels Alan and Shannon.
HSR trains cancelled for extreme weather conditions. It's quite rare that happens but it does sometimes. And I certainly hope you guys didn't chuck that entire bottle of Red Star Erguotou (Twice distilled liquior) on the way to Beijing. That was a really cheap alcohol that people drink in the winter to keep themselves warm. Could give you a massive hangover if you are not moderate about it.:D
I think Erguotou is delicious, especially when paired with peanuts and cold vegetables. The small amount of Erguotou in this small bottle is small, and you will feel slightly dizzy after drinking it.
Despite the inconvenience, it's still a good value, given the distance. If you traveled from Edinburgh to Paris, which is a bit shorter distance than from Xi'an to Beijing, you would pay a lot more than $100 for sure. If budget allows, I bet you would enjoy the business class more, and definitely more legroom for Alan. On top of that, you also get a complimentary meal, and cotton slippers depending on the distance.
The train station got so many restaurants there like McDonald KFC and other Chinese restaurants is for customers to buy what they would like to bring onto the train. Not many people would buy a meal from the train because normally they taste bad and expensive.
One annoying/confusing thing about Chinese rail classes is that, unlike airlines, where first-class means the best, first class is below business class in on Chinese trains. This throws people off big times.
I clicked on your video for the liquor bottle. It is a Beijing working class blue collar liquor, Red Star Erguotou. It is a grain type liquor distilled twice. Super affordable way to get wasted. 😂
The journey will inevitably encounter various problems. Clearly, there is room for improvement in China's railway services, especially for foreign travelers. Information service is particularly important for overseas visitors. I hope you all have a sense of curiosity and enjoyment during your journeys!
If you don't make your own strategy when traveling abroad, what is the reason to blame China's high-speed rail? If you don't pay attention to the release of information, you have to blame others. It really belongs to the arrogance in the bones of white people. China's high-speed rail is built for Chinese taxpayers
First class seats are generally not very popular and are quite a bit more expensive compared to second class, but the difference is not very obvious. People usually choose them only when second class is sold out. rich people prefer business class which can sleep flat...Chinese baijiu is generally an acquired taste that most people are not used to..
In Beijing food hunting If only one to try, Beijing duck If one more to try, hotpot lamb If add one more, maybe Beijing Bean Paste Noodle Good luck BTW, the little green bottle goes VERY well with hotpot lamb😂
take a boat tour at yangze river. go to the beach at sanya. there are glass walkways attached mountain in hunan or guilin. or chill out at a mongolian hut. these are some of things to do.
14:09 It is called baijiu, a type of Chinese liquor, very strong alcohol with alcohol percentage about 50-60%, even stronger than vodka, this brand is called red star erguotou, so it has a red star on the bottle, it is one of the most affordable baijiu brand in china
How long are guys planning to stay in China? If you have any questions or need any help, hit me up. I’m an American who has been here for a LONG time… Safe travels.
In China Railway high speed train the most luxery class is the business class, then first class, then second class, its different from the airlines, its kind of confusing. And I am very agree that first class does not worth the extra money, its just very few extra space, no much different compare to second class but much more expensive, it just make no sense. so business or second, dont try the first unless u have to (other classes sold out)
I've heard that you can actually order food through your mobile phone from restaurants in your next stop, and when the train stops at next stop, they will deliver the food to your cabin.
Love your videos guys and find them very helpful as I’m heading to Xi’an in March. I do laugh at the English subtitles though 😂btw the spirit is called Erguotou 🔥
Travel from cities in UK to London can easily cost over £100, with economy seat, so food or drink and unexpected delay or cancellation 😂. So I’d say for this speed and good seat, snack, £100 is very worthy.
Hi friends, I’m sorry the train is cancelled, but isn’t that part of the journey? If you are unable to check into the hotel on time due to irresistible factors, you can try to contact Ctrip customer service immediately to discuss canceling the order. There is a high probability that the order can be canceled for free. Hope it helps you. Of course, I hope you won’t encounter something like this again in the future. I just spent half a year completing a self-driving tour around China. There are still many places worth visiting in China, but of course there are also many shortcomings like all places. I hope you have a smooth journey and gain something.
you are guaranteed to get a formal meal for a business ticket. But you can order take-out on the train buy using the barcode on the armrest of your seat. what you drank is a liquor. I strongly recommend the first class. It is much better than the second class.
Reminders of delays in China are generally sent via SMS and APP, not email. There should be a reminder on the Ctrip APP, but you may not have paid attention. Extreme weather events will be canceled for safety reasons, and there have been related accidents in the past.
Hi guys. U did a quite good job, big fan of u, espacially Alan:) Personal opion of 1-st class highspeed train and the cost of the ticket as a Chinese: I'd like to pay the extra money for 1-st class ticket, so that I could have a quiet journey in an empty train (hate to seat around people everywhere I can see😂), espacialy when I am tired and could use some sleep, so, I'd say that the price of 1-st class ticket may be not worthy, but also not that bad. Although, ur thought also makes good point, that noone offered u some extra nice foods or drinks or other special severces, it's kindda disappointing. Btw, do not buy anything in speed train, buy them around ur hotel in downtown. And next time when u travel on a high-speed train, take a laptop, watch some movie play some video-games, meanwhile drink some tea, have some nice food, have some fun in an quiet and comfortable environment, maybe you will feel the true advantage of high-speed train than an airplane.)) Wish what I wrote reaches u guys, and u"ll have more fun during ur travel in China, good luck and Xiexie:))
In China (and probably few other Asian countries) Business Class is the top class, 1st class is a lower tier. The seats look like their 1st class, correct?.
If High Speed Train without battery powered by all along the track above the roof of the train, that would be much better , I mean train can be powered by battery installed in the train!
Yea how food works on trains is clearly not very well explained and could be quite confusing for foreigners. There is a food carriage it usually carriage 5 but not always. There is also a QR code on your arm rest that you can scan with WeChat to order food. Business class is what you should have opted for. It lay flat and a hot meal is included. When trains are cancelled they always text you. Not sure how you guys booked your ticket but the if you didn’t leave a phone number or gave it a UK number the system might not have worked. As with most things in China the hardware is top notch, but the way it’s operated or presented can be much improved. Really hope you guys are not too bummed out by this.
You can order McDoalnds in high speed train or KFC or any thing you want to next station in train . They will bring to you to train if you can put correct information ( train number and seat number ) Also have restaurant in train if you want buy food or fruit .
Highly recommend a picture translation App if you cant read any chinese, undertand the name of the food or menu or any instructions will help you a lot when you travel in non-english country
8:42 some kind of dried tofu, there are hundreds of type of tofu in China and this is one of them in china some Buddhist monks may take tofu as their "vegetarian meat"
That unknown snack you ate is beancurd, it is basically a harder version of tofu. Just like how there are soft cheeses and hard cheeses. The red star bottle is Erguotou it is a type of Chinese baijou, a spirit made from sorghum. There also should be meals sold on the train, did you ask the Train attendants?
@@Alan_and_Shannon thats because they do not know how to contact you guys, in china , services send notices to chinese phones and apps, email are not commonly used in china , also in railway station, there are notice boards for updating all the services at front gate of station, , thats a language barrier, because you guys do not read chinese , my suggestion is you guys better learn some basic local lanuagues, or better just ask more if you are not sure about things, there will be someone help you
that snack bar maybe egg toufu，clean and nutritious，the cooking method is just like we stew meat，so maybe that is the reason for why it taste like meat
I use the railway 12306, an app for buying train tickets in china. I checked with mine, in the settings it does have an english option, but it only allows login with foreign passports.@@Alan_and_Shannon
Yes it's very cold in Beijing and in the northern areas of China in general these days. It's not the best idea to visit Beijing in winter. Spring and autumn in Beijing are lovely, though.
As the one who lived in Beijing for nearly 20 year, I can tell you that spring is definitely not a good season for visiting Beijing: cold weather, bad air quality.
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I'm sorry for your experience, but this was also forced to be canceled due to weather. If you don't have a Chinese mobile phone, you won't be able to receive Chinese text messages. Just think of this as a life experience. The best thing about China's high-speed trains is the business class, where you can sleep. When the seats are extended, they are 2 meters long. Even if you are a giant, you can sleep in it. Plus there's free food. If you don’t like the free food on the high-speed train, you can scan the QR code on the seat and reserve food at the next stop. Wow, that will be a great experience.Have Fun in China....😃😋😁
抱歉啥又不是你错，不过的确他们需要关注了解作功课，中国人出国旅游游玩也是一样呀。
@@雅君墨客-i9z 这是英语的用法啦！比如说有人去世了，你说sorry for your loss， 并不是你对不起人家啦！
@@khoo713 哦哦，好吧对不起，我英语不好
Sorry非常多时候是表示遗憾的意思，而不是抱歉@@雅君墨客-i9z
他们不知道是用手机短信通知的 他们还停留在发邮件年代
Mate, it reminded me of travelling on China's High Spreed Rail at 350kph from Beijing to Shanghai. There were about 30 Aussies on the train and we found our way to the Cafeteria on the HSR Train. We sat there most of the journey and we drank out all the beer. LOL, The Train Hostesses were young and gorgeous. We all laughed and sang together. The Train Hostesses wear these colourful caps, and they allowed us to take turns wearing their hats and taking selfies with them. It was one of the best memorial moments I had in China, just human beings, different cultures being together, laughing and having fun.
sounds fun
Can see the train station staff at 1:00 is quite pretty, even with face mask on.
I guess the video was taken on 13th December? I was going to Beijing at the same day, many trains have been cancelled due to severe snow storm in Beijing. A very rare case. Didn’t you receive a message on the phone number which you used for ticket booking? To order food on the train, simply scan the QR code on the armrest. There are options not only limited to the on-board food, but also restaurants from the next stop station (KFC, Starbucks, etc.). People will bring food to your seat in real-time or when the train stops.
@ChaiHarry😂
They ordered the tickets by Ctrip, maybe that's the reason they didn't receive any message.
Likely the message is in Chinese, the message was likely sent and not read. That is the price of not knowing the local language.
@@rabbitbobo4131 Honestly, in the digital age, that's not an excuse anymore. There's always machine translators like Google Translator.
@@lieutsatan4257you‘re absolutely right that in China, notices are mostly sent within APP, instead of emails.😂
Usually the 12306 would send a notice if it is cancelled. Maybe you didn’t use China number, so they can’t reach you guys. But it is really annoying not to get warned of the cancellation.
You can actually order food by scanning the bar code besides your seat. The food, Chinese or western fast food, will be delivered at next station if the station is not a small one.
That is awesome! Thanks for the tip.
@@gantenbeinable Yup, have been able to do this for past 6-7 years. It gets given to the carriage steward who brings it to your seat. Its why the food on the train sucks because no one orders it as everyone just orders takeaways brought onto the train at the next station.
Loving the Chinese series, there is a massive demand for this type of content and appreciate the train journey did not go as expected for the 1st class. This just shows that your 'expectations' have increased a lot simply by being in China for a few weeks!
In comparison, for a shorter journey from Glasgow to London, you'd be paying 3 times the price for the standard tickets and for the price difference between standard in 1st class, you also don't expect a massive difference in comfort and definitely no free hot meal served!
UK trains are far better than chinazi trains
The reason they didn't receive the notice that was sent out, was because it's only sent to Chinese phone numbers.
8:39 That snack is made from tofu, but it's not like regular tofu. It is made by drying, compressing, and adding various spices to the tofu during its production.
Guys when you say you bought the tickets through c-trip, did you use a English langauge version of the app? if you buy your tickets through Alipay if you have that setup you will receive notifications. My Chinese wife and I often travel by train to Shanghai and she buys tickets using Alipay and she gets notications in the app about delays etc. The snack was a tofu based snack and the alcohol was Bai Jiu, pronounced (By Joe). I acted in a TV Documentary in Hengdian (China's Hollywood) in 2008 and most of the foreign cast were drinking that stuff as the bottle was small enough to slip inside the uniforms we were wearing for our characters. Helped keep us warm on set as it was in early spring. Usually there's a cart (even on trips of less than an hour) that works it's way through the train selling more snack and drink choices, perhaps in that province or on that route it's not an option.
I hear Ctrip does not keep you updated properly
But that is usually the case when you use a 3rd party app/website
Anywhere in the world
Because it becomes the responsibility of the 3rd party that has to update you
Bai Jiu should sound like exactly how it spells, not 'By Joe' 😂
I'm trying help them by offering some advice on how to pronounce it phonetically since these guys are not native Chinese speakers. I have lived in China for over 16 years and my wife is Chinese so sometimes it helps to hear the words spoken in a way that sound similar in English when trying to get pronunciation correct.@@HawaiiBO808
@@HawaiiBO808你那个是拼音，很多拼音外国人是念不出来的。
China's notification system often uses mobile phones to send messages by SMS rather than using email. Generally such shift cancellation notification text messages are sent automatically, so I don't know if you have received a message on your phone. Travelling is always a hassle, so I wish you all the best for the rest of your trip!
What we love to watch Alan & Shannon is that they’re truthful. There’s no pretending or fakery - when they don’t like things they criticise, and when they love the experience they appreciate. You guys have gain a massive fan. ❤
chinazi is failed country cuz there is nothing to criticize in normal countries like India, Japan, USA, Europe, South Korea
Thank you very much, not our best travel experience in China but it definitely won’t stop us from experiencing more.
So do I!
@@Alan_and_ShannonYou guys may need one China mobile number, there are two ways to get notice: SMS and ticket official app or website. Chinese people almost don’t use e-mail. So there is no notice announces by e-mail. Hope you have better experiences in China.❤
@@Alan_and_Shannon I fully understand you’re annoyed - £100 per head is a lot money even in the UK, but that’s what is because China is no longer a cheap cheap country like 20 years ago. Wait until Chinese Lunar New Year in February and you’ll see how expensive train tickets will become, when 1billion Chinese are traveling around the country within 10-15 days period. What a sight!
You shall always be yourself and never be afraid to express your true feelings.
Yes, First Class is not that cost-effective, second class is more economic,if u pursue a extremely comfortable experience, choose Business class😂, it's even more expensive than a flight,but the experience is premium,Big room, quite,thoughtful service ,fully ,lie down ❤
The price of Chinese trains is mostly decided by the size of your seat, the 1st class is a 2+2 columns layout, while 2nd class is 2+3, plus the larger seat itself and the extra space between rows, the 1st class on average occupied ~60% more space than the 2nd class seat (51 seats vs. 85 seats per carriage). That reflects on the price was the 30$ extra money than the 70$ 2nd class ticket.
that's right, but I did have the same disappointment like they did, that I could not get even a hot meal included in my ticket.
@@Sep-ty9hlyes I know, take away massage is don't buy 1st class when you can buy a 2nd class
It’s also the distance. Think about the similar distance and cost if you travel in Europe 😂
@@cocof8988 yes of course, what I meant to say is actually how the price gradient is decided
Considering xian is more than one thousand kms away from beijing. I think the price is just fine. i mean china is large.
This is better than getting stuck in US airport with cancelled flight. It is all on your own in the US to check the status. Someone I know got her US flight to Europe cancelled after she flew to another US city for connecting flight. She ended up cancelling the trip after stuck at the other US airport for almost a day.
You should have gone for Business Class (which is above First class). You get individual seats and because it only seats about seven people it's extremely spacious. You also get full meals and if the trip is long enough they'll even serve you a second meal. A good thing to know is you can actually order food from any fast food restaurant (like KFC or Mcdonald's) and they'll deliver it to you at the next stop. And you can get Starbucks on the train but I suppose you guys didn't want that.
No money
Take business class and it is totally different experience. It is confusing for European people as normally you will think 1st class, then business class. In China, it is business class and then 1st class😂
This. We travelled from Chongqing to Xian in business class recently and it was a mind-blowing experience. Business class lounge when you arrive at the train station, dedicated staff escorting you to the train whilst skipping the queues, Seats that recline fully flat, and complementary lunch as well. Best experience ever!
true👍
Business Class is higher than First Class
Yeah, the only way to have an included meal too.
Yes, first class is actually the second class, and business class is really luxurious.
On Chinese bullet train there is always a carriage used to provide food. You can ask the staff or just bound to No.5 carriage.
If you want to experience a first-class or business-class seat, I recommend doing it for short-distance travel, maybe just one or two stops. For most people, second-class seats are already quite comfortable, and there's generally no need to book a first-class or business-class seat.
欧洲人少，所以火车空间可以很大，没有可比性
You could order online on your phone in McDonald’s the first city they stop. The delivery 🚚 guy waited in the station. They’ll bring to your seat 💺. I know train food very expensive and you could save money.❤ If you order online and will notice in your phone 📱. (Train tickets)
I guess the reason there is not much food choice in the train café is because people usually bring their own food/snacks or order Meituan (Chinese Uber Eats) on the train, your food will be delivered to you on the next stop of the train.
8:36 it’s dried tofu, it’s when tofu is dehydrated, so it taste a bit solid and chewy, but then cooked in soy sauce and other flavorings in order to add flavors to it. Beans r always good for ur health, and I think it tastes quite good
Trains being cancelled is very rare in china. It is pure bad luck. If you use a Chinese phone number, you will definitely receive sms at least hours before. Email is far less commonly used in china as in western countries (I studied for years in Canada ). If you can receive sms, you won’t miss any important reminders. SMS is so commonly used in china.
Super rare for a train cancellation, its weird that trip didn't notify you, must have been a sudden cancellation.
14:04 it’s 红星二锅头, a baijiu brand that’s famous for how strong it is. Baijiu is a famous spirit in China and it’s fermented from rice, the interesting part of baijiu is when u actually drink a high quality baijiu and got drunk, surprisingly u wont find ur self feeling sick the next day or anything.
There usually a lounge inside the station to cater first and business class passengers, and there are food and drinks.😀
Generally speaking, if there is no one sitting there, you can change seats.
While they were eating the snacks, I was observing the Coke on the window. Although the train is traveling at high speed, its liquid level fluctuates very little.
Please remember to make reservations online in advance in order to visit the Forbidden City, a must see in Beijing. If you do not know how to do it, ask young people for help. Some of them can speak some English
They are obviously not using most of the APP that needed for traveling at China due to the concern of being "Spy" as told by their stupid government.
If you want exotic adventurous places. Look up glass bridges, mountain glass walkways, harbin ice festival, inner Mongolian rural
You should get trip software to compensate you. The train station only has trip reservation information. They can't send you messages without your email address. When we use Chinese software to book train tickets in China, we will be informed to cancel them.
In a public restroom I prefer the squatting toilet because our skin dont touch anything so it's more hygienic.
@ChaiHarry I dont know if it's healthier but it's easier to poop when squatting because your intestine is rearranged better. I think humans have been squatting to poop for millenias. Seating toilets are only used in the last century. In my home sitting toilet I need a stool for my leg to poop easier.
Subbed for the good laugh!
Im just lmao at you guys drinking that strong liqueur on the train. I also find it interesting that so many people complain about squatting toilets when they see it in china or japan because if you think about it its way more hygienic than sitting ones ( where everyone's asses been on). Being a woman from the US I'd honestly love public squatters to go do my business instead of having to sit on something that's clearly dirty or having to mess with paper covers that never seem to stay in place or cover 100%.
P.S. the guy laughing at you guys in the back hahahaha keep up the good content guys!
Actually squatting toilet can perfectly avoid infections from skin diseases on the buttocks, that's why it is used in China mostly.
A lot of Westerners seem to have trouble squatting though...I don't know if it's a biological or psychological thing.
Westerners have higher prevalence of rheumatism, hence many of them can't squat for longer time than typical Asians.
I know what you mean. Sometimes it will cause numbness in thigh muscles when squatting for minutes. It's the same happened on Chinese and all human. However, mostly due to their psychological effect.
Think about it. Many western people like to do squats to strengthen their thigh or butt muscles in the gym, which makes their butt look sexier. But they consider it rude to do like this in toilet...@@natn41r
中国人通常在家里安装西式马桶，但是公共场合还是习惯〃蹲厕〃，因为太多陌生人接触了，认为并不卫生。
The order of class tier on Chinese high-speed trains is different from the aviation system. The best class is business class, which is normally located at the end of the train, It offers wide foldable seats like first-class seat on a commercial airline. And you can also get a free meal(onboard meal of Chinese HS train sucks, I suggest you take your own food or order food delivery from the restaurants at the station ahead by scanning QR code on the seat armrest, the staff will bring you the food when the train arrives at that station). Then it's first class, kinda comfy seat with a free snack box. In the end, 2nd class, cheap with acceptable leg room but narrow.
I can't stop laughing when you guys said that little snack was a mini chicken breast. lol xD Goes to show though no matter what happens good or bad or where you're at, what's most important is who you're with. Love you guys! Safe travels Alan and Shannon.
HSR trains cancelled for extreme weather conditions. It's quite rare that happens but it does sometimes. And I certainly hope you guys didn't chuck that entire bottle of Red Star Erguotou (Twice distilled liquior) on the way to Beijing. That was a really cheap alcohol that people drink in the winter to keep themselves warm. Could give you a massive hangover if you are not moderate about it.:D
I think Erguotou is delicious, especially when paired with peanuts and cold vegetables. The small amount of Erguotou in this small bottle is small, and you will feel slightly dizzy after drinking it.
agreed on your experience on first class, it's like sitting on a business class from london to paris on british airways.
😂😂
有些服务行业不规范就是不规范，不要为他们找借口好吗同胞们，他们订票是通过trip 也就是携程海外版，你既然赚了佣金就有必要做好售后，取消了要尽办法通知。他们肯定也留了其他联系方式
In normal countries like India, USA, Europe, Japan, South Korea, all service industries are standardized. Thats why chinazi is a failed & backwards
Despite the inconvenience, it's still a good value, given the distance. If you traveled from Edinburgh to Paris, which is a bit shorter distance than from Xi'an to Beijing, you would pay a lot more than $100 for sure. If budget allows, I bet you would enjoy the business class more, and definitely more legroom for Alan. On top of that, you also get a complimentary meal, and cotton slippers depending on the distance.
The train station got so many restaurants there like McDonald KFC and other Chinese restaurants is for customers to buy what they would like to bring onto the train. Not many people would buy a meal from the train because normally they taste bad and expensive.
你们不知道是用手机短信通知的 高铁上是有高铁餐厅车厢的就是所说的高铁餐车 你们不知道 高铁餐车一般是位于车厢的中部。假如车厢共有8节车厢，那高铁餐车就会位于5号车厢里，以次类推，假如有16节车厢的话，那就位于9号车厢里。
要是车厢是由两个8节车厢组合成的16节车厢，那么餐车会在5号和13号车厢里，在到不到的情况下可以直接询问乘务员。
You guys are true warriors to go to Beijing in these extremely cold days with your spring outfits😂
我不太清楚这个，因为我是中国人，我们的行程如果有变动，可以在手机的app看到消息的。甚至晚点几分钟都可以看见，更何况取消行程一般都会有通知。
Oh talking about unexpected cancellation, German Bahn and Dutch NS are the champions.
welcome to Beijing. As a reminder, scenic spots in Beijing, such as Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, require reservations in advance.
They are not there to see China but more of trying to make it look bad, these westerner are liar.
去北京干嘛，预约麻烦的要死
I suggest you go to HaerBin(哈尔滨) during this season， ice and snow world is very famous
One annoying/confusing thing about Chinese rail classes is that, unlike airlines, where first-class means the best, first class is below business class in on Chinese trains. This throws people off big times.
Business class is the one that makes the difference. You can make the chair flat to sleep on.
I clicked on your video for the liquor bottle.
It is a Beijing working class blue collar liquor, Red Star Erguotou. It is a grain type liquor distilled twice. Super affordable way to get wasted. 😂
The journey will inevitably encounter various problems. Clearly, there is room for improvement in China's railway services, especially for foreign travelers. Information service is particularly important for overseas visitors. I hope you all have a sense of curiosity and enjoyment during your journeys!
If you don't make your own strategy when traveling abroad, what is the reason to blame China's high-speed rail? If you don't pay attention to the release of information, you have to blame others. It really belongs to the arrogance in the bones of white people.
China's high-speed rail is built for Chinese taxpayers
没用的，生活在两个维度，这已经不是文化差异的问题了，而是科技发展水平差距，中文不好又没有使用APP的经验就是无解，你不能指望给每个外国人都安排一对一的指导服务。
@@xworld021至少可以准备一本多语言，或者至少有英文的小册子介绍，介绍他们可以怎么使用车上的服务。如果中国希望更多外国游客来，就要认真去体会他们遇到的困难，多加改善。
@@ctourmaline你怎麼不用相同的標準要求歐美國家呢？歐美國家沒有中文指南，在機場及火車站也沒有能說中文的人員，你怎麼不抱怨呢？
@@吉祥如意-v5e 搞清楚，是中国希望更多外国的游客来，不是外国游客哭着喊着求着来。文化自信是好的，但是也要认清现实，不要盲目自大。
First class seats are generally not very popular and are quite a bit more expensive compared to second class, but the difference is not very obvious. People usually choose them only when second class is sold out. rich people prefer business class which can sleep flat...Chinese baijiu is generally an acquired taste that most people are not used to..
First class in China is actually like business class and business class is actually the highest class
In Beijing food hunting
If only one to try, Beijing duck
If one more to try, hotpot lamb
If add one more, maybe Beijing Bean Paste Noodle
Good luck
BTW, the little green bottle goes VERY well with hotpot lamb😂
I'm watching this a second time because I think the thumbnail makes it deserve more views.
take a boat tour at yangze river. go to the beach at sanya. there are glass walkways attached mountain in hunan or guilin. or chill out at a mongolian hut. these are some of things to do.
14:09
It is called baijiu, a type of Chinese liquor, very strong alcohol with alcohol percentage about 50-60%, even stronger than vodka, this brand is called red star erguotou, so it has a red star on the bottle, it is one of the most affordable baijiu brand in china
How long are guys planning to stay in China? If you have any questions or need any help, hit me up. I’m an American who has been here for a LONG time… Safe travels.
In China Railway high speed train the most luxery class is the business class, then first class, then second class, its different from the airlines, its kind of confusing.
And I am very agree that first class does not worth the extra money, its just very few extra space, no much different compare to second class but much more expensive, it just make no sense.
so business or second, dont try the first unless u have to (other classes sold out)
旅行的真谛就是永远会有意想不到的事情发生，有时候是坏事，有时候是好事，祝你们在中国玩的开心❤
@Alan and Shannon- you guys should fly immediately after Beijing to the city of Sanya and experience the tropic side of China 😂
* Shannon
@@shanebarker3131❤
I've heard that you can actually order food through your mobile phone from restaurants in your next stop, and when the train stops at next stop, they will deliver the food to your cabin.
What you drank at 13:30 is Baijuu, the go to liqour in China. Made from the sorghum plant.
Your travel vlog is Informative, entertaining, and genuine.
Thank you so much ❤️❤️❤️
Look at about 3:45 . There was a McD and other food right behind you !
The spirit is called Red Star Er Wo Tou. It used to be a cheap wine for the grassroot.
Love your videos guys and find them very helpful as I’m heading to Xi’an in March. I do laugh at the English subtitles though 😂btw the spirit is called Erguotou 🔥
The rubbery stuff is dryed or concentrated tofu, cooked in soysauce. It is a very common Chinese snack, loved by quite some Chinese😂
Travel from cities in UK to London can easily cost over £100, with economy seat, so food or drink and unexpected delay or cancellation 😂. So I’d say for this speed and good seat, snack, £100 is very worthy.
Hi friends, I’m sorry the train is cancelled, but isn’t that part of the journey?
If you are unable to check into the hotel on time due to irresistible factors, you can try to contact Ctrip customer service immediately to discuss canceling the order.
There is a high probability that the order can be canceled for free. Hope it helps you. Of course, I hope you won’t encounter something like this again in the future.
I just spent half a year completing a self-driving tour around China. There are still many places worth visiting in China, but of course there are also many shortcomings like all places.
I hope you have a smooth journey and gain something.
That baijiu you can drink with Chinese food , this bottle is not soft type.
You guys better go south of china (Hainan, Guangdong, Fujian provinces etc), the weather will be much warmer.
there is a app on the train, people usually order food in the app and the food will be delivery to the next train stop for you to pick up!!!
you are guaranteed to get a formal meal for a business ticket. But you can order take-out on the train buy using the barcode on the armrest of your seat. what you drank is a liquor. I strongly recommend the first class. It is much better than the second class.
Book the great wall and other tourist reservation on trip. High speed train cost 75 dollars on trip from xian to Beijing
Just beautiful 😂😂
I watched you guys videos a month ago. kind of surprised you r still there！😂
We LOVE it here!!!
Reminders of delays in China are generally sent via SMS and APP, not email. There should be a reminder on the Ctrip APP, but you may not have paid attention. Extreme weather events will be canceled for safety reasons, and there have been related accidents in the past.
I havnt heard of Ctrip, we used trip.com to book
Will know for next time, wasnt really a big deal in the end anyway
@@Alan_and_Shannontrip is the english version of ctrip, they are the same company.
Ctip=trip 中文网站和英文网站😂😂😂投诉他，应该会给你赔偿。
As a Chinese, I would not choose to take the high-speed rail when I need to travel far.
Hi guys. U did a quite good job, big fan of u, espacially Alan:)
Personal opion of 1-st class highspeed train and the cost of the ticket as a Chinese: I'd like to pay the extra money for 1-st class ticket, so that I could have a quiet journey in an empty train (hate to seat around people everywhere I can see😂), espacialy when I am tired and could use some sleep, so, I'd say that the price of 1-st class ticket may be not worthy, but also not that bad. Although, ur thought also makes good point, that noone offered u some extra nice foods or drinks or other special severces, it's kindda disappointing.
Btw, do not buy anything in speed train, buy them around ur hotel in downtown. And next time when u travel on a high-speed train, take a laptop, watch some movie play some video-games, meanwhile drink some tea, have some nice food, have some fun in an quiet and comfortable environment, maybe you will feel the true advantage of high-speed train than an airplane.))
Wish what I wrote reaches u guys, and u"ll have more fun during ur travel in China, good luck and Xiexie:))
The snack you eat at 8:41 is called “dou gan”（豆干）, which is literally translated as dried tofu in English ，and is made from soybeans.
7:53 Vast wind farm, wow
In China (and probably few other Asian countries) Business Class is the top class, 1st class is a lower tier.
The seats look like their 1st class, correct?.
In china, email doesn't work. They have a totally different internet ecosystem. Btw, business class on HSR in China is a must try, at least for once.
终于更新了Finally upload a new clip^_^
If High Speed Train without battery powered by all along the track above the roof of the train, that would be much better , I mean train can be powered by battery installed in the train!
Yea how food works on trains is clearly not very well explained and could be quite confusing for foreigners. There is a food carriage it usually carriage 5 but not always. There is also a QR code on your arm rest that you can scan with WeChat to order food. Business class is what you should have opted for. It lay flat and a hot meal is included.
When trains are cancelled they always text you. Not sure how you guys booked your ticket but the if you didn’t leave a phone number or gave it a UK number the system might not have worked.
As with most things in China the hardware is top notch, but the way it’s operated or presented can be much improved. Really hope you guys are not too bummed out by this.
我不知道他们有没有询问列车员，外出旅行多开口对自己好。
You can order McDoalnds in high speed train or KFC or any thing you want to next station in train . They will bring to you to train if you can put correct information ( train number and seat number )
Also have restaurant in train if you want buy food or fruit .
Highly recommend a picture translation App if you cant read any chinese, undertand the name of the food or menu or any instructions will help you a lot when you travel in non-english country
8:42
some kind of dried tofu, there are hundreds of type of tofu in China and this is one of them
in china some Buddhist monks may take tofu as their "vegetarian meat"
That unknown snack you ate is beancurd, it is basically a harder version of tofu. Just like how there are soft cheeses and hard cheeses. The red star bottle is Erguotou it is a type of Chinese baijou, a spirit made from sorghum. There also should be meals sold on the train, did you ask the Train attendants?
anscheinend nicht
Some high trains have hot braised whole chicken for sale, damn good!
At 8:40 ,This is a soy product. You can also consider it as firm tofu.
The two of you are really cute and funny. I really love your vlogs. Keep doing it😍😍😍
Rain and snow is unpredictable, can occur anytime. Airlines can cancel flights in the last minutes.
It wasnt the point though, it was more that we werent told it wasn’t cancelled until we arrived at the station at 5:30 PM
@@Alan_and_Shannon thats because they do not know how to contact you guys, in china , services send notices to chinese phones and apps, email are not commonly used in china , also in railway station, there are notice boards for updating all the services at front gate of station, , thats a language barrier, because you guys do not read chinese , my suggestion is you guys better learn some basic local lanuagues, or better just ask more if you are not sure about things, there will be someone help you
winter in Shenzhen is absolutely amazing, you should definitely check it out, it's better than Shanghai in the winter
that snack bar maybe egg toufu，clean and nutritious，the cooking method is just like we stew meat，so maybe that is the reason for why it taste like meat
Thanks!
Thank you very much ❤️
13:32 vodka Chinese version, btw do not buy anything on train, they sell it in a rip off price to everyone, even Chinese ourselves
from xian to beijing, I would take the night sleeper train, saved not only one day, but also one night of hotel
Where can we book night trains??
I use the railway 12306, an app for buying train tickets in china. I checked with mine, in the settings it does have an english option, but it only allows login with foreign passports.@@Alan_and_Shannon
@@Alan_and_Shannonthe same place where you buy high speed train tickets. The train numbers start with K, T, or Z instead of G or D.
I feel about Peas the same way Alan feels about Captain America lol !
🤣🤣🤣
Yes it's very cold in Beijing and in the northern areas of China in general these days. It's not the best idea to visit Beijing in winter. Spring and autumn in Beijing are lovely, though.
Spring is so windy in Beijing
As the one who lived in Beijing for nearly 20 year, I can tell you that spring is definitely not a good season for visiting Beijing: cold weather, bad air quality.
@@liziisnumberone I don't think so
@@Qifengshu Obviously you're talking about winter rather than spring
@@lingfengge6666Spring will be the same, I promise