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The Dridgers family travel by high-speed train from Chengdu to Chongqing, giving the nieces and their parents a first ride on China's bullet train. Rian shows how stable the carriage feels with an open water bottle on the tray table, while the train reaches about 300 km/h. The 290 km fare is around $20, and the group has room to move around the carriage. At the station they navigate a large, airport-like terminal, where gates open shortly before departure. The train passes drinks from a trolley, and the group picks up a beer. In Chongqing, which the source describes as having a population of 36 million, they check into a hotel with a smart toilet and river views, then visit the Regent Hotel for a buffet breakfast with Western and Asian options and robot-made candy floss.
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More about the current video:(Published on 2025-09-01)
Boarding and riding from Chengdu
The Dridgers family set off from Chengdu for Chongqing, and this is the first high-speed train ride for the nieces and their parents. The station feels as large as an airport, and the group has to navigate the departure gates. They learn that gates open only 10 to 15 minutes before departure, so arriving prepared helps, though there is little reason to panic if the timing feels close. The train reaches around 300 km/h, yet the carriage remains remarkably steady. Rian tests that stability by placing an open water bottle on the tray table; it barely moves.
The 290 km trip costs about $20, making it an affordable connection between the two cities. Children under six ride free, and the seats have enough legroom that a three-seat row can fit four people comfortably, according to the family's experience. A trolley also comes through the carriage, and the group can move around with ease. The video notes that China has the world's largest high-speed rail network and that such a journey has become routine for many travelers.
Arrival in Chongqing and breakfast
A trolley comes through the carriage and the group gets a beer before reaching Chongqing. The source describes Chongqing as a misty, sprawling city with a population of 36 million. After arriving, the family checks into a hotel. They notice its smart toilets, river view and the possibility of ordering wine through a delivery app. Chongqing appears as a large, misty city with mountainous infrastructure, and the group is ready to explore more after resting.
The next morning they return to the Regent Hotel for breakfast. Its buffet combines Western and Asian food and is described as the best breakfast they have tried in China. One feature draws particular attention: a robot makes candy floss. The Regent is presented as a special, expensive treat rather than an everyday meal. The trip connects a smooth intercity train ride, practical station advice, Chongqing accommodation and a memorable hotel breakfast.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
- Q: How fast do the trains actually go?
- A: The top speed is about 320 km an hour, though on the Chengdu-to-Chongqing trip they usually reached around 300 km/h. The family watched the speed as they made the 290 km journey.
- Q: Is the train ride smooth enough not to spill water?
- A: Yes. The ride was incredibly smooth: the family placed an open water bottle on the tray table, and it barely moved even as the train traveled at high speed.
- Q: What was the best breakfast you found in China?
- A: The family picked the Regent Hotel in Chongqing for its buffet, with choices from bacon prepared three ways to robot-made candy floss. They called it the best breakfast they had found in China.
