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Matt and Julia take a train from Kunming to Xi’an during Golden Week. The journey lasts around ten to eleven hours: one chapter calls it ten hours, while the body and FAQ describe eleven. The train starts out less crowded than expected and fills as passengers board around Chongqing and Chengdu. In Xi’an, the couple visit the city wall and Bell Tower, see traditional clothing, and find the streets busier than expected. Their hotel costs about £35 per night, compared with their usual £25. They also comment on autumn smog, plan to see the Terracotta Warriors, and recommend preparing for holiday crowds with an eSIM and advance hotel booking.
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More about the current video:(Published on 2024-11-02)
Golden Week train from Kunming
Matt and Julia set out from Kunming to Xi’an during Golden Week, despite warnings that travel would be busy. Their journey is described as roughly ten to eleven hours: one chapter calls it a ten-hour ride, while the body and FAQ describe it as eleven. Kunming South Station is less crowded than they expected, but the train fills as it continues through Chongqing and Chengdu. The long ride leaves them exhausted by the time they reach Xi’an. They had attempted to visit the city twice before, so finally arriving is meaningful to them.
First impressions of Xi’an
After arriving, Matt and Julia walk through busy streets and visit Xi’an’s city wall, which is much larger than they expected, along with the surrounding moat. They also see the Bell Tower and traditional clothing that shows regional differences. The couple notices flags displayed by shops and homes during Golden Week and wonders whether this happens during every holiday. Their hotel costs about £35 per night during the holiday, compared with their usual £25. They also visit the Bell Tower and look at the traditional clothing worn around the city, noting the regional differences. They find the autumn weather a little smoggy but are unsure whether that is typical or temporary.
They plan to visit the Terracotta Warriors, a long-held wish that has drawn them back to Xi’an after two earlier attempts to visit. For connectivity, they use an Airalo eSIM that provides 5G and unlimited data. They recommend booking accommodation in advance because prices can be higher during Golden Week. Their account contrasts the quieter start at Kunming South Station with the crowded later train stops and the busy streets of Xi’an, and describes the exhaustion of reaching the city after the long ride.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
- Q: How busy were the trains and stations during Golden Week?
- A: The trains and stations were extremely busy, especially in Chongqing and Chengdu. Matt and Julia say it was busier than any other train journey they had taken in China.
- Q: How did the long train journey affect you?
- A: The journey took around eleven hours and left them exhausted when they reached Xi’an. They say it took a day or two to recover from the trip.
- Q: What is the best way to stay connected while traveling in China?
- A: They used an Airalo eSIM that provided an immediate 5G connection and unlimited data, making their trip easier.
- Q: What was the most surprising thing about Xi’an during Golden Week?
- A: They had been warned about Golden Week crowds but found Xi’an even busier than they expected.
- Q: What was the weather like in Xi’an?
- A: They found Xi’an a little smoggy and were unsure whether the air quality was typical for autumn or temporary.
