China by Road and Rail

Filed in archive En Route on October 1, 2007

It is quite a geographically diverse area. Warm southern regions, large-scale urban sprawl, a large desert, frigid north lands, Great Plains, and high mountains. I'm not talking about the United States, either. The above list is meant to describe China. Simply reading about the Middle Kingdom, it's difficult to get a feel for its expansiveness. Even a satellite image seems rather abstract.

Writer Vikram Seth spent several years in China, studying Mandarin. He returned to his home of New Delhi, India via road, often hitchhiking with truck drivers and riding cabs. Despite the obvious hardships in his narrative, there is also an appreciation of the land and its people.



Today, it is probably still possible to hitch, but there are easier ways to appreciate China's diversity. There are plenty of cars for rent, and hiring a driver/guide (like this guy) is relatively inexpensive. A train might even be a better way to go, at least for long haul trips. Booking a spot on a sleeper car will give you (a bit of) comfort from which you can watch the landscapes pass by. Some more scenic routes are Hong Kong to Beijing, Shanghai to Harbin, Beijing to Urumqi, and Hong Kong to Guilin. Traveling by train is the perfect way to see China up close.