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China Elevator Stories
Chinese Fast Trains: Travel Made Convenient
Chinese fast trains offer many conveniences.
11/06/2025
Ruth Silbermayr
Author
Chinese fast trains are usually equipped with so many conveniences that you may not need to bring much with you when traveling. For instance, while you might need to carry toilet paper on other trains, high-speed trains in China typically provide it. These trains usually have two types of toilets: a Chinese-style squat toilet and a Western-style sitting toilet. However, sometimes the toilet paper runs out, so it’s still a good idea to carry some just in case.
Another convenience is the availability of hot water and paper cups. While I didn’t see many people using the hot water dispenser, I personally used it to cook instant noodles and to get hot water for drinking.
My train ride lasted over seven hours, plus an additional two hours I spent waiting at the train station. I always arrive early because you never know if you’ll run into a traffic jam or some other delay. The ability to bring along very cheap food was a huge benefit. Most food sold on trains — and even in train stations — is more expensive than what you’d normally pay. I brought my own instant noodles, which I had bought in a shop near my home for as little as 4 yuan. This made the otherwise costly journey much more affordable. When train tickets are particularly expensive, I try to save money in other areas, such as by bringing my own food.
On sleeper trains, instant noodles are the go-to food for many travelers. Almost all Chinese passengers bring them along. Traveling frugally is something you can often learn from Chinese travelers — many of whom are not traveling for leisure, but rather commuting long distances between their hometowns and their places of work, which can be thousands of kilometers apart.
Not all of them are wealthy; in fact, some are quite poor, and a train ticket can be a significant expense for them. That’s also why they often choose to combine such a journey with budget-friendly choices — bringing inexpensive food instead of buying costly options, and saving money on non-essential items.
Have you ever taken a Chinese fast train?