Travel Guides & Tips in this video
Reanne and Ben travel from Chongqing to Shenzhen by high-speed rail and find that premium seating is cramped, with a noisy door affecting their legroom and bag storage. They compare it with second class and decide the extra price is not worth it for this trip. After arrival, they take a taxi and look for a hotel near Shenzhen airport, discussing WeChat ride services, reliability and price. They visit Raffle City during Lunar New Year, when the streets are quiet and holiday crowds affect hotel availability and prices. Their account includes the train’s onboard dining, toilets and service, transport choices and hotel location tradeoffs. The couple joke about their early-morning journey and compare premium seats with second class, then arrive and deal with taxi haggling and ride apps. They discuss taxi scams they have encountered and weigh the convenience of an airport hotel against the limited dining and activities nearby. Their stop at Raffle City falls during Lunar New Year, when streets are nearly empty and hotel prices and availability can shift. They plan more Shenzhen discoveries and time to edit and share their travel videos.
Next travel video:
More about the current video:(Published on 2026-02-22)
A cramped premium train seat
Reanne and Ben leave Chongqing for Shenzhen on a high-speed train. They travel in the premium car, where the seats feel cramped for two people who want room to spread out. A door keeps buzzing and opening, which affects the limited legroom and makes it harder to store their bags. They compare premium seating with second class and conclude that the extra cost did not feel worthwhile on this particular route.
The trip lasts seven hours. They briefly explore Chongqing train station and discuss practical details of the rail journey, including food, toilets and onboard service. Their account compares the two seat classes from their own experience rather than claiming that premium seating is always poor.
Hotel search and transport in Shenzhen
After arriving, Reanne and Ben take a taxi in Shenzhen and look for a hotel near the airport. They discuss the reliability and price of WeChat-based rides and mention taxi scams they have encountered. They advise comparing taxi and ride-hailing options and asking local people about which service is reliable.
The airport area has fewer nearby activities, so they weigh staying near the airport against choosing a central hotel with more restaurants and shopping. They visit Raffle City and find nearby streets nearly deserted during Lunar New Year. Holiday crowds can affect prices and availability, so they suggest booking earlier or considering another neighborhood. Their route covers the train, transport choices and a hotel hunt as they plan to explore more of Shenzhen.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
- Q: Is premium seating worth it on China’s high-speed trains?
- A: For Reanne and Ben, premium offered some space but not enough to justify the price on this route. The buzzing door and limited legroom affected their experience.
- Q: What made the premium seats uncomfortable?
- A: The space felt cramped, the door kept buzzing and opening, and there was limited legroom and room for bags.
- Q: What should travelers consider when choosing a Shenzhen hotel?
- A: A hotel near the airport can be convenient but may have fewer nearby activities. A central hotel can offer more dining and shopping options, while holiday crowds may affect availability and prices.
