What kind of experience is it to travel by train?

The Experience of a Slow-paced Train Journey

What is it like to travel by train? Compared to traveling by plane, it can be considered a slow-paced way of life.

Of course, it’s not referring to the slowness of time, but rather experiencing a different kind of mood in a relatively slower rhythm.

When traveling domestically, the process of being on the train gives me a feeling of slowly approaching a beautiful woman with a veil, soon to see her beautiful face.

This experience is most profound when traveling from the north to the south.

Many years ago, when I visited Hangzhou, I departed from Beijing. As I watched the scenery outside the window gradually change, from vast fields and forests to slowly emerging mountains and villages. In the morning, it was still a vast expanse of land, and in the afternoon, it entered the thin mist of the south. Just sitting on the train, the picturesque scenery outside the window was enough to make me intoxicated.

Some train routes even allow you to experience all four seasons on a single journey.

The best part of traveling by train is probably being able to take in the scenery along the way through the window. Feeling the changing landscape outside the window, and getting closer to the destination I want to go.

Of course, train travel is not always a delightful experience. Long journeys can be tiring, and if you happen to encounter boisterous passengers, it can make the journey less enjoyable.

In my memory, most of the passengers I encountered were fond of drinking and talking loudly in the carriage. It was entertaining for a short time, but as time went on, well…you know what I mean.

If you happen to meet like-minded people who are also traveling, even if you are not familiar with each other, you can strike up a conversation because of a common topic. For example, quickly discussing travel strategies due to the same destination, watching the scenery outside the window together, and experiencing the changes in landscapes of different regions. Anything seen on the road, from buildings to landscapes, can be shared and discussed, whether it’s knowledge one knows or doesn’t know.

Walking the journey while chatting and laughing, collectively anticipating the travel experiences at the destination. It must be said that this kind of experience is most satisfying when traveling by train.

In fact, no matter what means of transportation you choose, it is a part of completing the travel experience. After all, the meaning of being “on the road” is the deep memories and feelings that are made up of the small and easily overlooked details during the journey.

The Advantages of Traveling by Train

Traveling by train has both advantages and disadvantages. As someone who has been traveling frequently by train during the past three years due to the pandemic, I have gained some experience.

Traveling by train is suitable for long vacations where you can visit multiple places in a row. It’s best to plan a circular route that covers all the cities along the line.

This way, you can cover everything without missing anything or needing to make up for any gaps. Additionally, you have the freedom to get off wherever and whenever you want.

For example, food enthusiasts can consider the Chengdu-Kunming-Guiyang-Chongqing loop. Along the way, you can easily visit the scenic spots and enjoy good food and drinks.

As someone who is both poor and lazy, I really enjoy traveling by train. Furthermore, I prefer taking ordinary sleeper trains over airplanes, high-speed trains, or self-driving because it’s more affordable.

I especially love hard sleeper compartments on ordinary trains because you can save one night’s accommodation fee. You can sleep while travelling at night and explore the attractions during the day, which greatly improves efficiency.

Traveling by plane is much less convenient when it comes to carrying luggage. You have to pay extra for overweight baggage. However, on a train, you can bring luggage of any size without having to pay anything.

The Nightmare and Expectation on the Eve of the Tibet Trip

I have been to Tibet several times. Although most of them were reached by hiking, transportation between each hiking starting point and endpoint was mainly done by public transportation, and the most convenient and fastest option is of course the train.

The night before this departure, I had a nightmare. In my dream, I was climbing upward with all my strength, just to avoid the attack of wild beasts below. Dreams have reasons, and that was the fear of the unknown.

It cannot be denied that I am well aware that the Dian-Zang Line, B-C Line, and Sichuan-Tibet Midline that I have hiked before were just warm-ups. The Ali Mid-North Loop that I plan to complete in about four months is the real highlight.

Although these two routes no longer have the same ups and downs as the Sichuan-Tibet Midline, where the total elevation difference exceeds 2,000 kilometers in three days, walking at high altitudes is still a great test for the body.

Furthermore, because these two routes in Ali are located on the southern edge of the Qiangtang Nature Reserve, there are many wild animals and the chances of encountering bears and wolves increase. Just like the reminder sent by a friend who has almost ridden all the routes to Tibet on the train, “After completing these two routes, no one in the country can compare with you.”

The few days I stayed at home were hot and short. The days spent in air-conditioned rooms did not diminish my fighting spirit. On a morning that was about to enter sauna mode, I once again closed the door with anticipation.

Even though I tried to book sleeper tickets ten days in advance, I didn’t get any. The three-day and two-night journey to Nagqu made me dizzy.

On two trains before and after the transfer in Xi’an, the first had either elderly people sleeping soundly next to me or annoying babies crying endlessly. It was extremely boring.

The second train, on the other hand, was filled with college students returning home or chasing dreams, making a lively atmosphere in the carriage. I love watching and listening to the bustling noise they create—some playing cards, some chatting away, and some Tibetan boys occasionally humming a heavenly tune…

Although it was difficult to fall asleep, the thought of a train full of youth taking me to the remote wilderness, despite being thousands of miles away, where youth is celebrated and cherished, made my heart extremely happy and excited.

A kind of palpitation, like a phoenix reborn from forgetting all joys and sorrows, gradually became apparent as the altitude increased. The occasional trembling of my hands revealed my excitement and trepidation.

Italian Train Travel Experience

In China, with the withdrawal of green-painted trains from the stage of history, the beauty of train travel has diminished by half. However, when traveling abroad, train travel becomes a convenient and enjoyable way to save time and effort while enjoying the scenery along the way. I have personally experienced train travel in New Zealand, England, and Italy, all of which are countries suitable for train travel across the entire map. Today, I will share my experience of train travel in Italy.

Italian Railways and the Red Arrow Express Train

Why Italy is Worth Traveling by Train

Those who have traveled abroad know that places like the South Island of New Zealand and Australia are ideal for self-driving tours because of their vast territory, well-developed highways, and scenery along the way. However, most European countries, represented by Italy, have small territories, dense cities, generally narrow roads, scarce parking resources, and the use of mostly small economy cars like the domestic A0 and A1 models. Self-driving becomes quite a hassle in these countries.

Narrow streets create serious parking problems for self-driving in Italy

However, Italy, represented by its well-developed railway system, has an extensive railway network mostly operated by Trenitalia, the national railway company. It includes three types of trains: the Red Arrow (Frecciarossa), the Silver Arrow (Frecciargento), and regional trains. These trains can reach speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour and 250 kilometers per hour, respectively. Almost all cities you want to visit in Italy such as Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome, and Naples can be reached by train, and the distances between cities are mostly within 30 minutes to 2 hours… let me put it this way, almost all the city names you have heard in Serie A matches can be reached within a 20-minute train ride.

Italian train stations have an open design without ticket checks

How to Plan a 15-Day Train Travel Itinerary in Italy

As is well-known, when traveling to Italy, you generally enter or exit through Milan or Rome. Therefore, we can take Milan or Rome as the starting and ending points of the train journey. The entire itinerary mainly includes the beautiful northern cities such as Milan, Mantua, Verona, and Venice, the sunny central region of Tuscany with cities like Florence, Siena, Pisa, etc., the culturally rich Rome, and the breathtaking Amalfi Coast in the south.

Tuscany’s sunlight along the way

Based on my personal travel experience, my train travel itinerary in Italy was arranged as follows: Milan - Lake Como - Verona - Mantua - Vicenza - Padua - Venice. This was the route for the northern cities. Then heading south: Venice - Bologna - Florence - Pisa - Siena - San Gimignano - Perugia - Rome. After that, there were the coastal cities: Rome - Naples - Salerno - Amalfi Coast (by bus) - Salerno - Rome. The entire journey took 15 days, but if you want to do it faster, 12 days should be enough.

Breathtaking scenery when traveling by train in Italy

Tips for Train Travel in Italy

Italy is a country where English and Italian are commonly spoken. Italian is mostly used on railway lines, but there is no need to worry about that. The official website of Trenitalia has a Chinese version, and you can check train schedules and book tickets through the dedicated online booking website Omio, which also has a full Chinese version. If you don’t mind the price too much, you can book standard tickets on Omio while you are still in China. These tickets only specify the departure and arrival points but not the train or time, allowing you to take any train. This is more convenient. If you have a more detailed itinerary, you can purchase economy tickets or super economy tickets two days in advance. These tickets have specific train and time restrictions and cannot be changed.

Interior of an Italian train

Self-service ticket machine at an Italian train station

Speaking of prices, overall, the prices of Trenitalia are not too expensive compared to domestic train tickets in China, at least when considering the exchange rate. For example, the cheapest ticket from Milan to Venice takes 3 hours and costs 181 Chinese RMB, while the most expensive one takes 2 hours and 15 minutes and costs 413 Chinese RMB. From Florence to Rome, the cheapest ticket takes 2 hours and 35 minutes and costs 312 Chinese RMB, while the fastest one arrives in 1.5 hours and costs 454 Chinese RMB. Overall, the cost-effectiveness and time efficiency of train travel in Italy are much better than self-driving. Moreover, most cities in Italy are small, so once you get off at the train station, you can easily reach your destination by walking. Cars often face parking difficulties and have low efficiency of use.

Milan Central Station, the largest station in Europe

In conclusion, train travel in Italy is convenient, time-saving, and cost-effective. Most importantly, you don’t have to drive throughout the entire journey, which makes it less tiring. Especially when you are sitting on the train and enjoying the rolling hills under the Tuscan sun, the never-ending vineyards, and the distant castles, you will feel a sense of calm and picturesque beauty that will surely not disappoint you.

Colorful Countryside Scenery

A while ago, on the way from Nanning to Liuzhou, a little boy sat next to me. His mother and younger brother sat in front. The boy, who looked about 6 to 8 years old, placed his hands on the windowsill and slightly raised his face, full of innocence, as he continuously gazed at the scenery outside the window.

It’s rare for me to see a child of this age not playing with toys or a mobile phone while on a car ride, so I decided to stop reading and look at him and the view outside the window.

The farmlands in Guangxi stretched like carpets on both sides, with not very tall mountains, but the curves of the mountain ranges had a graceful arc. Different from the lavish red-roofed villas of the Fujian wealthy, the small buildings in Guangxi that I saw during this journey had black roofs and white walls. The combinations and changes of the fields, mountains, and buildings under the cover of the blue sky created a harmonious scene.

We often only pay attention to the screens in front of us, neglecting the joy and beauty that beautiful scenery brings, which is regrettable.

And when this little boy saw all of this, perhaps in his heart, he too was sketching. I was just like him when I was little.

I’m grateful to him for allowing me to recapture a brief moment of childlike innocence.

Taking a train is a slow and enjoyable experience.