articles
China Elevator Stories
How to Travel Cheaply and Comfortably on China’s Fast Trains
Chinese bullet trains come with many conveniences.
14/06/2025
Ruth Silbermayr
Author
Chinese fast trains are usually equipped with so many conveniences, you may not need to take much with you to travel. While you might need toilet paper on other trains, these are usually stocked with it. Chinese fast trains typically offer two toilet options: a Chinese-style squat toilet and a Western-style sitting toilet. Sometimes the toilet paper does run out, so it’s a good idea to bring some just in case, but most of the time, it’s provided.
They also offer hot water and paper cups, which is incredibly convenient. While I didn’t see many people using the hot water dispenser, I used it to make instant noodles and get some hot water to drink.
My train ride was over 7 hours long (plus 2 more hours I spent waiting at the train station. I always make sure to get there early, because you never know if there’ll be a traffic jam or something else that might delay you). Being able to bring very cheap food with me was a huge plus—especially considering that fast train tickets in China aren’t exactly cheap, relative to the average salary or to other train ticket prices.
Most food bought on a train costs more than it would elsewhere. But instant noodles can be purchased for as little as 4 Yuan (0.48 EUR or 0.56 USD), making an otherwise expensive trip much more affordable. I often try to mix things: when train tickets are particularly expensive, I try to save money in other areas, like food.
On sleeper trains, instant noodles are the go-to food for travelers. Almost all Chinese travelers bring them along. If you want to learn how to live and travel frugally, Chinese travelers can be the best teachers—not all of them travel for fun; some are traveling from their hometown to their workplace, which can be thousands of kilometers away. These aren’t all wealthy travelers. Some are quite poor, and the cost of a train ticket is a big expense. If you want to learn how to get by on little and where to save money, these are the people to watch and learn from.
Have you ever traveled in China?