MyPlain

Category: China Travel

Stories, tips, and reflections from traveling across China. From Shanghai’s hidden corners to remote landscapes — a personal travel log and notes.

  • China Travel Guide 101: Understanding the Scale

    I’ve helped several foreign friends adjust their China travel plans. I noticed that most mistakes came from not understanding the country’s real size.

    It’s not their fault.

    The world maps we learned at school were centered on our own country. They distorted the representation of other parts of the world because of how the maps work.

    So I wrote this article to give you a better sense of China’s scale.

    First of all, keep this in mind: China is not just a normal country. It’s basically like an entire continent in terms of scale and diversity.

    It is as big as the entire Europe. To avoid spending all your holiday on trains or planes, please check this simple guide:

    1. A “Province” is NOT a City

    • The Myth: “Is Xinjiang or Sichuan Province just a small place?”
    • The Reality:
      • Xinjiang is as big as 3 France or 4 Japan. Driving 6 to 8 hours between two places is normal. It’s like driving from Paris to Rome.
      • Inner Mongolia is super long. From one end to the other is like going from London to Moscow.
      • Sichuan Province is bigger than Germany.

    2. City Distances (Don’t Trust the Map!)

    Places that look close on a map can be very far.

    RouteDistanceLike Going From…Best Way to Travel
    Beijing ⇋ Shanghai~1,200 kmNew York ⇋ Miami️ Flight (2h) or Train (4.5h)
    Shanghai ⇋ Chongqing~1,600 kmLos Angeles ⇋ Chicago️ Flight is best (3h). Train takes 8-10 hours!
    Chengdu ⇋ Lhasa~2,000 km+San Francisco ⇋ Denver️ Flight is best.
    Guangzhou ⇋ Beijing~2,000 kmSeattle ⇋ Boston️ Flight (3h) or Train (8h)
    Xi’an ⇋ Urumqi~2,500 kmLisbon ⇋ Kyiv️ Flight is a MUST (3.5h)

    3. The “Same Province” Trap

    Even if two places are in the same province, they can be very far apart.

    • The Yunnan Trap:
      • Kunming ⇋ Shangri-La: They are in the same province, but the distance is like Amsterdam ⇋ Milan. It takes hours by train, plus mountain roads.
    • The Sichuan Trap:
      • Chengdu ⇋ Jiuzhaigou: They are in the same province, but it used to take 8-10 hours by bus (like Vancouver to Calgary). Even with the new train, you still need a connecting bus. It is NOT right next door.

    4. 3 Golden Rules for Beginners

    Rule 1: 3 Weeks = Max 3 Places
    If you only have 3 weeks, do not visit too many places.

    • Wrong: Beijing + Shanghai + Xi’an + Chengdu + Guilin + Sanya (Too tired!).
    • Right: Beijing + Xi’an + Shanghai OR Chengdu + Chongqing + Yunnan.

    Rule 2: Travel Days are Busy Days
    When you change cities, you won’t have time to play in the afternoon.

    • Train stations in China are huge. Security and getting on the train take at least 0.5~1 hour.
    • Getting from the station to your hotel might take another hour.
    • Bottom line: When you change cities, plan for a relaxing evening. Don’t do too much.

    Rule 3: Trains are Fast, but Check the Time

    • Example: Shanghai to Chongqing by train takes forever. Take a plane instead.
    • Example: Shanghai to Suzhou takes only around 30 minutes. It’s like taking a subway, so a day trip is easy.

    Hope this helps you avoid a “vacation spent entirely in transit.” Have an amazing trip to China!

  • The Willow Pattern Mystery | Yu Garden | Ep.3

    I’ve been digging into Yu Garden lately.

    And today, I stumbled across something fascinating — the tea house here was once called ‘The Willow Pattern Tea House’ by foreigners.

    Why? Because it looks just like a beloved English ceramic pattern.

    So, I dove deeper.

    First, the inspiration.

    In the 17th and 18th centuries, fine blue-and-white porcelain from Jingdezhen was highly prized in Europe.

    But it was expensive and hard to get — so it stayed a luxury for the elite.

    Then came the British “copy.”

    Around 1780, British potters adapted and combined Chinese motifs — willows, pavilions, and birds.

    With new transfer-printing technology, they mass-produced affordable ‘Chinoiserie’ ceramics.

    And the iconic Willow Pattern was born.

    But wait, there’s a catch.

    In the 1840s, to boost sales, the British came up with a tragic love story — star-crossed lovers fleeing across a zigzag bridge, only to be turned into swallows.

    By the way, Pure marketing. Not a real Chinese legend.

    Then came the déjà vu.

    When British merchants arrived in Shanghai and saw the Huxinting Tea House — and the Nine-zigzag Bridge right beside it — they were stunned.

    The landscape looked exactly like the scene on their plates and teacups.

    So, they called it ‘The Willow Pattern Tea House.’

    In my eyes, the Willow Pattern isn’t only a fascinating historical artifact, but also a cultural loop.

    It’s like a cross-cultural puzzle that took centuries to complete.

    Pretty cool, right?

    (This is the transcript from this video: https://youtube.com/shorts/FKW98xocZ18. I’d appreciate any feedback or pronunciation corrections. )

  • China High-Speed Railway Security Check for Foreigners

    As you may know, I was browsing a forum to learn English and conduct market research. Maybe because it’s a unique and interesting transportation system in China, high-speed railway questions have been asked quite often. So, I wanted to write this post to help out our foreign friends!

    First, something special for foreign travelers:
    Passport  Check: Most stations require manual verification of passports. However, some upgraded stations (e.g., some on the Hainan Ring Railway and Guangshen High-Speed Railway) support direct passport scanning at the gates. If you’re unsure, just follow the signs or ask staff for the manual channel.

    Then, a couple of special reminders:
    · Arrive at the station at least 45–60 minutes before departure. If you are fluent in Chinese and familiar with the process, 30 minutes will be enough.
    · Your passport will be checked both at the station entrance and at the boarding gate. (We Chinese citizens use our ID cards for the same process).

    Finally, here is the main part: the official rules from 12306.

    🚫 What You CANNOT Bring at All (Not in your bag, not in checked luggage)
    · Guns, ammo, or anything that looks like a real gun.
    · Knives, daggers, crossbows, or any blade/weapon controlled by law.
    · Fireworks, firecrackers, gasoline, diesel, or any fuel.
    · Alcohol stronger than 70% by volume.
    · Self-heating food (the kind with a heat pack – they react with moisture and can catch fire).
    · Poisons, strong acids (like sulfuric acid), strong alkalis (like lye), or radioactive materials.
    · Infectious stuff – like dangerous germs or viruses.
    · Live animals (except guide dogs). Small pets can be checked as luggage if you have a health certificate and a proper carrier.
    · Anything that smells really bad (even if sealed – yes, durian and sticky tofu count), or anything that might scare other passengers.
    · Any item that security can’t figure out but looks risky.

    🧳 What You CANNOT Carry On, But CAN Check as Luggage
    Note: I haven’t used this service myself, so please allow extra time and budget just in case.
    · Kitchen knives, scissors, or blades longer than 60mm (about 2.4 inches).
    · Professional knives (like scalpels).
    · Sports gear like bats or clubs.
    · Tools like drills, axes, or farm tools.
    · Bows, slingshots, or similar items.
    · Small pets (as above – with papers and carrier).

    ⚠️ What You CAN Bring, But With Limits
    · Alcohol – Only if it’s sealed, clearly labeled, and between 24% and 70% alcohol. Max total: 3 liters (about 100 fl oz). To be clearer, alcohol under 24% is allowed without special volume limits, as long as it complies with standard baggage rules. And anything over 70% is banned. And alcohol must be in its original, labeled, sealed container.
    · Sprays (aerosols) – Like hairspray or sunscreen. Each can ≤150 ml (5 fl oz), one per type, total ≤600 ml (20 fl oz).
    · Flammable liquids (non-spray) – Like perfume or bug repellent. Each bottle ≤100 ml (3.4 fl oz), one per type.
    · Power banks – Must have clear labeling—each ≤100Wh (about 27,000 mAh). No limit on how many, but must be for personal use. No damaged or unlabeled ones.
    · Lighters – Max 2 (no kerosene lighters). Matches – Max 2 small boxes.
    · Nail polish & remover – Total ≤50ml (1.7 fl oz).
    · Small seafood – Like fish, shrimp, or crabs – OK if in sealed containers.


    📏 Baggage Size & Weight
    · Weight: Adults ≤20 kg (44 lbs), children ≤10 kg (22 lbs).
    · Size:
    1) On high-speed trains (D, G, C): length + width + height ≤ 130cm (51 inches).
    2) On regular trains (K, T, Z, etc.): ≤ 160cm (63 inches); pole-shaped items ≤ 200cm (79 inches).

    🔍 At the Security Check
    · Every bag goes through the X-ray machine.
    · Liquids, power banks, and some other items may need to be taken out or opened for checking. (Tip: Pack these items in an easily accessible place so you can grab them quickly.)
    · If you refuse the check, you won’t be allowed in.

    🚨 What Happens If You Break the Rules
    · Banned items – Confiscated, and police may be called.
    · Over-limit items – You have a few choices:
    Check them as luggage (if allowed).
    1) Hand them to someone seeing you off.
    2) Store them at the station (free for up to 3 days).
    3) Send them via express delivery.
    4) Throw them away.

    🚜 A Special Note for “Slow” Trains
    Some slower, public-service trains in rural areas have different rules – they may allow small farm tools and a few live birds/animals. This only applies to those specific trains.

    Disclaimer: The official information above was collected on July 31, 2026. Please refer to the latest official updates from 12306 for specific details.

    Traveler’s Note:

    Navigating China’s railways can be tricky—if you’d like us to handle the details for you, check out our travel services.