Riding FIRST CLASS on China’s Bullet Train | An honest look at China’s high-speed railway
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.ย. 2024
- China's high speed railway networks account for 2/3 of global high speed railways - and that's hard to fathom! Most of China is now linked by these incredibly smooth, modern trains - making for safe and convenient travel! There is no shortage of content about these 'bullet trains' but my video is unique in the sense that it goes a bit deeper on the topic.
In Chinese, these bullet trains are called 高铁 (gāo tiě). China actually claims these to be one of their Four Great Modern Inventions (新四大发明). But where did they really start?
#china #travel #mandarin
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Its impressive how much China has developed its rail, but I think the main reason it is so impressive to so many of us Americans is because of how embarrassingly bad and behind American rail is. I say this as someone who is a massive rail supporter and part of the urbanist movement.
Go to Japan or European countries and suddenly China's rail doesn't seem so out of this world, it is just that American rail is way way underdeveloped
It's because it's not sustainable at the moment. Americans prefer airplanes and cars/buses as a mode of transportation.
In China, the airplane ticket is usually cheaper during lean seasons. And most people don't know it.
You mean passenger rail, which is primarily bad because such lines are not profitable and people don’t want to subsidize the industry any more than necessary.
Freight lines in the US are quite the opposite.
Compared to Japan and Europe, China's rail system is still better due to the extensiveness of their network, punctuality and cost. No they did not invent the the high speed rail but they have definitely built on the technology and make it easily accessible to the masses. This in itself is commendable.
The U.S. isn’t behind these other countries. The priorities are different. We live in a car and plane culture. Gas is cheaper here than in most other countries. People value time and convenience of getting in their car and driving when they feel like it. Could Amtrak be better? Sure. But even if it was, most people would probably choose to drive. And having seen the prices of train tickets in Europe and Japan, I imagine the train ticket would cost close to the same amount as a plane ticket or even more. So in the end, each place chooses the form of transport that suits it.
What is unique about China is the ability to popularize at a breaking-neck pace the latest technologies enabling 1.4 billion people to use them, resulting in visible social and economic advancement. I do not think that China has officially claimed ownership of the so-called new 4 big inventions, and a couple of people out of 1.4 billion inhabitants saying something like that does not surprise us and we do not take it seriously.
I've not heard of the so called 4 new inventions by China until you mentioned. of course if someone wrote about it (and got some attention) and you search specifically for it, it will pop up on Baidu. The way you put it is as if China is promoting these "inventions" as theirs everywhere, which is not true.
Nope - it's widespread across China. I've had sooooo many people here in China speak to me with pride about these developments, which is good, but the bad part is that they call them 'Chinese inventions' - which they are not.
“新四大发明”，2017年诞生的网络流行词，具体是指“高速铁路、扫码支付、共享单车和网络购物”。2017年5月，来自“一带一路”沿线的20国青年评选出了“中国的新四大发明”：高铁、扫码支付、共享单车和网购。 [1-2]事实上这四项并非由中国发明，只是在中国推广应用较为领先、对国外影响较大而误传。- This is from Baidu Baike (Chinese version of Wikipedia). It says explicitly that the term 'four new great inventions' was a internet trend, due to the scale that they have been applied in China, and that they are not originally from China. No Chinese I know has ever used this term or claimed they are Chinese inventions. I get you are trying to provide some balanced views on China, and given the extreme polarised views on YT, its welcoming to see. But Wikipedia is not the most objective source of info/views on China (and neither is Baidu in most contentious topics, I concede) @@chopsticksandtrains
@weeyangsim Where are you from?
I too never heard about this 4 Great Invention.😂😂😂😂 China so big and I am not sure which community you spoken to?
This is the type of China-content I'd really like to see more of - actual, neutral, and non-biased as possible type of videos. You have earned my respect Mr. Chopsticks and best wishes in all your future endeavors. If you can film more of the "roadside attractions"-type of locations of China, that'll be great because I, along with a majority of your western audience, will most likely never see them in our lifetimes. 😅
Thank you for the good words and support! Means a lot! I have a couple of videos coming out that I think you're going to enjoy... videos showing the REAL CHINA, out on the road, traveling!
A little history on train travel over the past 40 years - I traveled through China in 1997 from Beijing to Kashgar. Took the train most of the way. They had the Hard and Soft seats back then. I had soft seating from Beijing to Xi’an. I took a hard sleeping berth from Dunhuang to Urumchi. These train trips were from 10 hours to 24 hours each. No bullet trains existed. I lived in France in 1984 and took the TGV from Paris to Val D’Isere. The bullet train was in France in the 80s. I lived in Japan in the 90s and took the Shinkansen a couple of times. So I am a witness to the lack of high speed trains in China before 2000.
Wow - would have been interesting to have seen China back in '97. Hope you got some good photos!
Being UNDER A ROCK FOR WHO KNOWS HOW LONG *HAS NOT HELPED YOUR CONCEPTION OF REALITY......*
"How can you 外国人 not freak out while recording inside a Chinese bullet train. He must be a spy."
Your title should be for Business Class not First Class..
That countryside looks kinda nice
It's primitive and rugged, I like it. But poverty is a real issue there. Beautiful though, none the less
The tone of your voice sounds like you were hoping to find many faults for you to highlight but I guess you didn't. Nothing is perfect. Most important is it provided easy access for people to travel across China and at very reasonable prices.
Hoping to find faults? Huh? What in the world are you talking about? What I want is a smooth, normal trip. All in all, the trip was OK. What's up with all the sensitive individuals here in the comments section?
Truth that hurt!!@@chopsticksandtrains
Agree 100%😊 but don't expect he will confess
Mate you should stop! I also travel on a Japanese bullet train and it's not as smooth and as extensive as in China. And for the peoples that are surprised, they only compare to their own experiences in their own country like USA, Australia and the UK. So kudos to you for experience both high speed trains.
Japanese bullet trains are definitely as smooth as Chinese ones. Also, Japan should get the credit for developing that type of HSR technology, but China is trying to claim credit for inventing it. Thanks for watching the video though!
@@chopsticksandtrains No, they never claim they invented the HSR! Does Japan HSR offer this type of lay flat class seat?
Yes China does call it a modern Chinese invention’ You know this as well, but you’re embarrassed to admit it. 🤣@@B.H90
Not sure if Japan has this kind of seating area. But in Japan’s defense, their trains are much more orderly and quiet. Overall a better travel experience, IMHO @@B.H90
@@B.H90Did you not watch this video showing the graphics for 新四大发明 at 8:06?
China did not invent high-speed rail. From Wikipedia: In the 1990s, China's domestic train production industry designed and produced a series of high-speed train prototypes but few were used in commercial operation and none were mass-produced. The Chinese Ministry of Railways (MOR) then arranged for the purchase of foreign high-speed trains from French, German, and Japanese manufacturers along with certain technology transfers and joint ventures with domestic trainmakers.
This is hardly surprising and nothing to be ashamed of. Many technologies are transferred to countries by contracting to foreign firms and countries that have already developed expertise in that technology. But why would China claim to invent something that it clearly didn't?
No Chinese official or media ever claimed they invented the HSR. This moron is just putting up this clickbaity strawman argument video(and title) to attract China-bad & China haters to his channel. Don't fall for his ploy..... another serpentza & laowai in the making.
Mr. Chopsticks, how many “best in class” rail cars were there and could you travel freely between them?
'Best in class'... hmmm, to be honest, I'm not even sure what that is... 🤔 But yeah, I can travel freely between the cars. There are parts though where different segments connect and you can't pass through those points without physically getting off the carriage and walking over to the next carriage, if that makes sense.
@@chopsticksandtrainsI think what they are asking is if there was more than one car in business class. Because in your video it seems like there is only one - the one you were in.
@chopsticksandtrains, yes it makes sense and it is interesting. My better travel experiences involved unexpected networking, typically in first class. In large part facilitated by freedom of movement. Also, perhaps you were in the best car, but perhaps the car next to yours was better.
@catsup27 you are correct. I was curious as to how many cars were devoted to first class and how full they were.
I'll double check next time, but I think each train only has one business class area... I don't think the other end of the train has one, but next time I'll check just out of curiosity. @@jaydee6268
Interesting. Always wondered what it was like on a Chinese bullet train.
Yes sir! Now you've seen it! Ain't nothin' to write home about! With all that time you've spent in Japan, I'm assuming you've probably taken the shinkansen at least once or twice?
Great that you blurred the faces of others since you are too afraid to show your own face.
Happy Year of the Loong. 🤪
@@chopsticksandtrainsyou know how Deng Xiaoping successfully developed china? Comrade Deng was already using an iPad with AI to assist him
Looong!!!
@@chopsticksandtrains Year of the schlong. : D
@@chopsticksandtrains I think Winston and Matt missed that Loong is Cantonese for dragon. As in Gao Loong -Kowloon -9 Dragons.
Funny how you cant show the peoples faces on the train, all the other videos no such problem..
Initially I quite enjoy the video, unfortunately you sounded so drastic, you turned me off.
*Will not support your post in future*
Sounded so drastic? How?
If you ordered food online and delivered to your seat in next stop less than $10, does that impress you at all?
Not if it's complete and utter slop.
Could you please rephrase your question?
This is the old version business class, the new version is individual component, you can close a door for full privacy.
Chinese also claim Football/Soccer and Golf as their inventions....
Wow, China is a lot more advance than I thought. Puts my country, the UK to shame. Wish we can have trains like these. Our trains are cancelled half of the time lol.
Yeah, sure you're from the UK matey boy!
Yea mate. Come up Manchester and you'll know what i mean. Northern rail trains are cancelled half of the time, its a joke. China is way more advance than us. Its a shame cause we used to be a world leader when it comes to railways.
How much did you pay for that seat?
Did ride the HSR a couple of times (pre-pandemic), and I had a good experience. Except the food was not the best.
新四大发明我听着都尴尬😂😂
I only experienced the first and second class seats while travelling in China, btw, but I wanna ask how much is the business class, like 1,000 RMB.😅
It all depends how far you travel. I think it tends to be like triple the price of second-class seating.
@@chopsticksandtrains Oh, got it!!! Cool, Great experience, bro!!!😊😊
@@chopsticksandtrains I spent most of my time living in Dongbei, so I just know from Harbin to Dalian on the business class cost around 1,000 rmb. In other more developed regions like Southern China, it will cost more than that for sure.😊😊
The little pinks have found your channel. It was probably more enjoyable to post when you had 1/2 the subscribers. I blame myself for subscribing and bringing you troubles. It's probably only going to get worse for you. I appreciate that you read and respond to comments, can be difficult I'm sure. I wish you strength and happiness.
Thanks, but don’t sweat it. Trolls are just part of the process. 🤝
Kawasaki Heavy Industries of Japan entered a joint arrangement to build the initial HRS network in China. Unfortunately the Chinese builder CSR Sifang now competes with Kawasaki in winning HSR contracts around the world. Because of the size and experience of the CSR network, their price can usually beat Kawasaki. Chinese bullet-train technology is not necessarily better, but Kawasaki definitely regrets their original partnership and is not happy!
A page straight of the China Playbook
6:57 Dont get jumpy. She may be concerned that something is wrong with the train and that you might wanna tell her.
No, trust me... if you were there you would know that wasn't it. She WANTED to tell me that I can't film... but I didn't really give her the chance to say it.
The glaring difference from the second class to the sactuary of the business class is jarring! Love the way you stood up for yourself and got the attendant to back down! 🎉🎉
Yes, it sure is! I could get used that high-class livin' back in the business class, but I guess I'll always be a 'second-class' kinda guy! Appreciate ya! 🌹
@@chopsticksandtrainsactually everything in the world has already been invented by China because China is 5000 years old
Glad you pointed out the noise and chaos, because as developed and efficient these are trains are, the users are quite backward and uncivilized... How many times I had to tell some screaming/kicking kids (not an infant, 6+yo kids) to shut up or to stop hitting my seat, just to get the parents to "laugh" it off (the mainland uncomfortable/I don't give a f***k half laugh), usually having to go through this routine a couple times before getting my "i'm gonna beat the f**k out of you" out, taking off my jacket and classes and grabbing a seat with "aggression" before things got resolved for the rest of the trip (I have a naturally mean face and the physical attributes to be able to intimidate without doing anything)... But in retrospect, having pulled out this kind of stunt between 2020 and 2023 (when I left), might have gotten me in serious trouble because of how xenophobia soared and how the general social climate degraded...
Other thing on these bullet trains, shouting 叔叔s shouting in their phones, or just having a full on convo on speaker phone, of the 阿姨s watching loud and endless square dance videos on their phones. Having been on high speed trrains in Europe, and Shinkansen on numerous occasions since the 90's, this lack of basic common sense BS is really annoying! I've taken the 绿皮车 (old green trains) in China quite a few times, and as chaotic and "crappy" it may be, there's a good vibe and a sense of honest camaraderie there, something quite heart warming and "relaxing"... And yes, very interesting!
Oh! A small advice for your viewers who may be about to take the high speed train in China for the first time, if you need to go to the toilet, try doing your business early within your journey, because the toilet situation degrades quite fast there, and it often does to a level you wouldn't expect in a place that constantly brags about how developed it is...
About 2014 I got a soft-sleeper to Shanghai. When I got into my section there were already five people in there -so six including me -and only FOUR beds. So two people were in there without tickets -their mate working on the train had let them in. When everyone with a bed went to sleep, the two women stragglers wanted to sit on my bed and keep the light on -so they could read!!!!! I eventually had a fit and kicked them out. In the corridor they complained to their train-worker friend, 'Laowai this; laowai that'. She moved them down the train where they probably annoyed other people. The best journey was a hard sleeper where everyone else was from a deaf and dumb home.
You can "reinvent" the HSR, but not the people
For that 'four new inventions' thing. It was not created by the officials. Some netizens were just playing with the concept. No one in China actually takes that seriously. You are being too sensitive and too serious. Relax and enjoy your ride. You don't understand why others feel excited about the high-speed trains because they experienced it in Japan. But that doesn't mean those are not their honest opinions.
Some videos about the trains are shill videos (which are dishonest, in general), and some are more honest, authentic ones. There are actually a few people who made videos about the trains who found it a bit underwhelming as well. When you actually watch the videos though, a lot of those who make videos about the trains aren't really all that excited, they just made a clickbait title to try to get clicks.
As for the 'Four New Inventions' - it doesn't really matter who it was created by but the fact that it has been allowed to flourish and many common Chinese people now believe it to be true and take pride in these 'inventions', is a shame. A lot of people in China take it seriously - what are you talking about? I am going to make a full video on this topic very soon, so please stay tuned.
@chopsticksandtrains China has 1.4 billion people, so even a small portion believes the so called new four inventions, it will seem a lot. However, ignorant people are everywhere in any country. Why focus on those people?
You look down, you'll see mud.
But you look up, you'll see the sky.
You are getting into a pissing contest with those Chinese who have never traveled overseas and don’t know much about outside world 😂
I do prefer Indian rail where people are hanging out the windows and ontop the roof, plus where were the armed guards and Prison Camps along the way..oh I been watching too much Fox News and CNN😆
你可能被他們視為"行走的50萬"，希望你在那裡不會有麻煩。
Mr. Chopsticks, how's life in China? While you've enjoyed a comfortable and technologically advanced life in China, it's essential to remember your current location. You're not in Japan, so adapting to your surroundings is crucial. Can you adjust to the simpler lifestyle and "great" things many of your fellow Americans take pride in, such as low-tech transportation like the snail rail?
Also, I've noticed that you sometimes mumble under your breath about the country that provides you with an outstanding standard of living. It's concerning to see this behavior, especially when portraying yourself as a worldly individual, is unnecessary. Humility is a virtue, and it's essential to remember that boasting about being well-traveled doesn't resonate positively with everyone.
I would suggest staying humble and grateful for the opportunities you've been given, regardless of where you are. Let's focus on embracing the present and fostering positive relationships with those around us.
Please avoid contrasting your attitude with other grateful expatriates who openly share their experiences in China. Criticizing fellow expats and the country you reside in is unproductive and disrespectful. I appreciate your understanding. Enjoy a new year! I am the dragon, by the way.
Your comment reminds me of someone who complains about people not keeping their opinion to themselves without realizing of whom they speak. Classic!😂
My counter is that I wish people were more tolerant of, and respectful to, opinionated people.
Thanks
for sharing and all the best to you and yours in the new year!
Let's start from the basics... your screen name is literally 'America is so backward!‘ and in every comment except one, you have harshly insulted the country where I was born, yet you seem to get pretty bent out of shape when I give honest opinions that you don't like about realities of life in China. I have not once directly insulted or slandered China. I'm just giving honest commentary. It's obvious you're a guy from China - I can easily tell just by your writing style. Whether you're here in China or in the US, I have no idea, but I think you see the problem here. You are so blatantly hypocritical that it's actually funny, and it makes it hard to take you serious. I think maybe you need a period of time to reflect. I'm trying to be nice and reasonable here, so I hope you'll consider my words. Your actual screen name is an insult to my country. LOL And you're busting my balls for giving honest commentary about China. Do better, my friend.
@@chopsticksandtrains If I come to your family and say some sh!ts about you and your significant ones, you probably would not like it either (base on common sense). Be positive, my friend.
Your photo fits exactly with your comment. People like you make foreigners hate China. Try to be more reasonable.
@@alphabeta4028 But you're coming here to watch the video and read the comments. You have the option to not do either of those things. Why don't you bake a cake? Learn to play the trombone? Drink a bowl of bat soup? No need to work for the Party for free.
I dont know why but even some Japanese love this Chinese bullet train experience,its because Japanese innovation has become stagnant,but today China is innovating faster,no one now says Japan is taking the world into a new era of innovation
Strongly disagree with everything you wrote here.
@chopsticksandtrains yes you have to,today no country is going for Japanese technology,India has opted for the Japanese bullet train not shure what will come,when the Chinese bullet train started in Indonesia even the Indian PM went to Jakarta and took pictures because the whole world is talking about Chinese technology
@chopsticksandtrains even then China is India's second largest trade partner not Japan,India imports technological and infrastructure services from China
Japanese are highly innovative. Possibly the most innovative people on the planet. Lived there for over 4 years. If you don't think so it shows you know very little about Japan. I doubt Japanese would freak out of train tech/systems that THEY created.. LOL @@arvindkatiyar526
@chopsticksandtrains forget about me even countries in South East Asia have economic and technological understanding with China,the US is having to force countries like Philippines Vietnam to boycott China just because Japan is an US ally
Hey man!
I was here, I watched your vid.
I have to confess that this is my first time seeing business-class on a CCP-HSR. Was it awkward af to be vlogging in your seat?
Anyway, fun times ❤. Take care of yourself man!
Hey Toothnut! Yeah - slightly awkward, but not too bad. I'm pretty used to it at this point.
You are taking invention thing too seriously. 🤣😂🤣😂 Its like westerner saying china stole technology. Its there. We dont keep going after & search gravity again & again. Its there already found. And you may not be excited about business class. But many youtubers go in business which runs 450 km/ hr which is exciting.
Hello 五毛
@@chopsticksandtrains There you go. Name(Trope) calling. Traits of a China hater when they lost an argument.
2019 we ride the so call bullet train from Chengdu to Guangzhou we were in the business classes 5 sit not really comfortable no Wi-Fi no video. The food is terrible😂 too many stops. Take us almost 10 hours get to Guangzhou. The only thing is there are Hagen Dazs ice cream RMB50!
How do you know it’s not a tofu bullet train,you won’t survive when it starts to fall apart when it’s at full speed.
clown
Why are you so paranoid ? You can never avoid your death when it's your time to go ...
Japan is ok but after WW2 America helping them a lot to get Economy moving, but now in complete Recession and Economic Ruin.
Honestly those seats look like something that was modern 20-30 years ago. And really surprised that you didn't find someone taking a dump on the floor in 2nd class. It looked super crowded. Of course you were singled out filming, you got off because you could speak the language. Else the secret police would have been waiting for you. Thanks for an honest informative video. #theskiesdontlie
secret police? what a joke
I am Chinese and I live in Beijing. Thanks for your sharing and it is all true in the video.
Thanks for watching and commenting! I hope you and your family had a great New Year holiday!
Japan did not invent high speed rail (bullet train). The concept was originated in Europe before WWII, though Japan made a breakthrough in technology, like what China did today in its version.
What breakthrough did China make on high speed rail, pray tell?
Gove you a Thumbs Down , Chinese people never said they invented the HSR...but improved on it. The HSR will improved further by speed and confort.
Wrong. They straight up called it a 'Modern Chinese Invention'. It's easy for anyone to look up.
@@chopsticksandtrains I looked up Xinhua News and it mentioned "High Speed Rails" boasting the longest High Speed Rails in the world. Rail and Train are two different thing.....Who can built HSR Rails using few people with a mechanised system to lay HSR tracks. Its truly an Amazement how they lay the tracks. In the past we used thousands of people of to lay travks. China came out with a technology that use few people and cam lay tracks in a straight line. I wad shocked to see the process a few years ago.
@@truthful3777 please refer to my video on the 4 modern Chinese inventions (none of which they actually invented) for more info.
@@chopsticksandtrains Do any western countries have Rail track laying machines??? Don't have...it's all manual work requiring a lot of workers to carry the Tracks one by one and hammered it in place. China have the machine to lay it and hammered it in place automatically.
@@chopsticksandtrains The precision track laying machine is expected to lay approximately between 1.5km and 2.5km of tracks a day, a significant increase from the conventional method, which installs between 500 and 700m of tracks a day.
没听说过有新四大发明这么一说，宣传的很少，我也确实认为这几个不算是真正的新四大发明，但是不得不说是中国把他们更加发扬光大了，对于中国人自己而言，它们也在某种程度上算得上是新四大发明了。还有就是你作为一个外国人，这么长段的从在车厢内部进行摄影确实会引起人们的怀疑，别人这么做了并不代表你也能这么做，毕竟人们不喜欢被陌生人，更别说是被外国人拍了。之前在地铁上发生过类似的事情，还打了官司，在新闻上热度还挺高的，真被被拍的人告了基本必输
没发明就算是发明啊？哈哈，好吧
别人可以拍，我不可以拍？哈哈，好吧
就听你的。谢谢你的支持
所以我们中国人都是住在巨大监狱。
@@dongshengdi773 depends on how you define a prison I guess. There are prisoners that rather enjoy the experience and as such, perhaps they are free because they are able to live according to their terms.
@@dongshengdi773 Chinese citizens living in an open prison? How did you draw that conclusion? Palestine, perhaps. Your statement is so outlandish I doubt anyone will take it seriously.
@@chopsticksandtrains I'd buy a massive camera with an enormous lens. And in my next video give a shout out to all the individual wu mao who complained, while filming the entire interior of a train.
By the way, china also invented the atomic bomb, iPad, iPhone, 747 airplanes, Rocket ship , space station, submarines, and the aircraft carriers.
China is the only country that can invent these kinds of high technology because only Chinese Children are born geniuses.
Train is not all that
"Hey Mario, look what I've made!"
"Its a stone Luigi, you didn't make it."
😂 Decade old meme summarizes China's high-speed rail.
Meanwhile the farmer workers are struggling to get a ticket during Lunar New Year.