The big smoke but not much more
Trip Start
Apr 22, 2011
1
18
26
Trip End
May 13, 2011
Where I stayed
Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
Thursday, May 5, 2011
We hoped we could stay in the restaurant carriage, as it was more comfortable then our soft sleeper, but soon a train official with good English sat down with us. Purpose of the chat was, that he wanted to know where we are going (he sounded very official and made us feel a bit uncomfortable), and finally asked us to leave as the restaurant was closed. Fair enough.
There seems to be 2 types of sleeper carriages. One for 6 people with no door, and for which you need to be a very flexible member of Cirque du Soleil to get to the top bunk and be able to curve you back at 60 degrees, and the 4 people one which even has a door. Both options look quite acceptable for a few hours trip.
We went back to the compartment, and thanks to our lovely ticket lady got off at the right station.
All the trains, stations, etc have boiling water machines so that passengers can eat pot noodles. There is an absolute madness for the things in China and the flow of people along the train at all times to eat their pot noodle is quite fantastic.
(BTW, in this train they took out tickets form us, exchanged them for plastic cards, and kept a booklet of all tickets, When the destination comes up, the ticket ladies wake up and notify people who need to get off, and give the paper ticket back, You need to show these at the exit)
At arrival we jumped into a taxi to our hotel. The room smells a bit, and we did not expect much for 350 RMB, but I had tried to get a better hotel and pay more, but it is only one night, so never mind. There is a 800 RMB deposit when you arrive. Reception said it was because there was no water in the room...we understood what she was trying to say (basically that we could consume drinks in the hotel and eat at the restaurant and the deposit would be used - must be the local custom for Chinese business hotels.) The funniest thing is that the minibar is empty...so no chance of spending there!
Also there is a Card and Chess Room..perhaps the reason why they ask for a deposit?
Shijiazhuang is not a hit, the air is so polluted we can hardly breathe, and also not much to see. At least we tried fast food chain Mr Lee, and Marcos got a new belt, and Vero a new bag.
We also bought our dinner to digest in the room and have a rest at the Chinese "7 Eleven" shop (called 365 24 here). Strangely is one of the limited places that sells Coke Light / Diet - its impossible to find elsewhere.
The streets next to the hotel are full of shopping malls with all the European / US brands you can imagine, with most being similar prices...also KFC, Pizza Hut and McDonalds at every corner along all the cities we have travelled (and they are packed). We decided to resist and indulged at Mr. Lee for 25 RMB per person (£2.5 per person)
We will have an early night, and look forward to our travel to Pingyao tomorrow.
