Hongzhou

Am in Hangzhou for an overnight trip - touring with a US-based partner. After a long week of work we thought all of us should take a short trip to recharge. To reconnect in a more personal level rather than just business.

We took the new bullet train from Shanghai Hongqiao station to Hangzhou. Expansive on first class but it was worth it. Meaning, less "Chinese influence". The Hongqiao station has virtually NO human ticket counters. I couldn't find one. Only machines. RMB 131 one way for one person in the first class. We got wider seats and leg rooms. That was it. Drinks? right... Snacks? right.... The picture was taken as we sped out of Shanghai. The train speed was only at 200KM/hour and accelerating. Top speed was about 310KM/hour or so. The trip took 50 minutes with the last 10 minutes slowed down to get into Hongzhou. Normally, it would be a 1 hour 40 minutes on a fast train.