I’ve been following with interest recent news in this part of the world regarding China’s ambitious High Speed Rail plans.
This is of course nothing new: original plans were initiated in 2006 by China’s Ministry of Railways with 2008 seeing the opening of the dedicated high speed link from Beijing (北京) to Tianjin (天津). In December 2009 the link from Guangzhou (广东广州) in the south began whizzing passengers to Wuhan (湖北武汉) and back at average speeds of 312km/h – currently the fastest long distance rail line in the world.
In fact, several similar high speed lines are now in operation with more coming, in addition to many semi-high speed (250km/h) railways. Wikipedia has an excellent overview of the China high speed rail situation.
What caught my eyes are the ambitious plans to extend high speed rail travel to Europe: at just over 8,100km that comes to a little over 24 hours, though of course straight line is not possible. It’s a hugely ambitious plan, not least because of differences in track gauge (both S.E. Asia below China & Russia / Far-Eastern Europe to the West are on different gauges), but financing, planning permission, and operation logistics are all issues to be resolved. And then there’s visa’s.
China is already in discussion with 17 nations regarding this very issue, having reportedly already reaching basic agreements with Myanmar and Russia, the former to be funded by China in exchange for vital resources. There’s much debate over the imperialistic tendencies of China here with its ever-increasing dominance in Asia – but there’s no arguing that such a railway connection would provide a huge boost in logistic capability for all involved.
I’m more interested to see how this pans out in Europe. Just yesterday the UK Government announced a high speed link from London to Birmingham, stretching eventually to Manchester and Leeds. With construction slated to begin in 2017 and considering that it took eight years to obtain planning permission for Heathrow’s T5, that’s a huge contrast to China which is aiming for 10,000km of track by 2015. I can’t condone forced evictions nor balk at due process, but sometimes it takes a powerful government to think big and actually achieve something.
I hope China pushes hard with this. It won’t be easy.
Lots of PRC flags on display throughout Tibet
One thing I noticed in my travels through Tibet was the abundance of Chinese flags prominently on display – even in remote villages occupied by ethnic Tibetans. This is interesting of course because it is not what you would expect considering the political sentiments in the area: sure, certain other flags are banned, but then you’d think one would settle to avoid flying any flag altogether!
I put this issue to my guide: apparently some Tibetans have been harassed in the past for not being patriotic enough. So there you have it – the secret to a harmonious society: coercion and forced patriotism.
Surely the local party chiefs can’t be this stubborn?
This amusing clip on CCTV (China Central Television) claims that Tibet is open for foreigners and that there are no restrictions. They even boast of having 36 organised groups – including 12 of foreigners for the National Day Holiday week!
Firstly, it’s a load of bollocks. I’m planning a trip to Tibet mid-October and there’s certainly been no relaxation of TTB requirements. If anything, they are now stricter than two years ago, and regulations are constantly changing (though to be fair it’s still better than during the Olympics).
Secondly, as if the clip is supposed to impress that China is open about Tibet, an announcement that there are no restrictions is about as reassuring as claiming one didn’t commit robbery today – surely the opposite of normal ‘newsworthiness’. Except, when it comes to Tibet, to say it’s unrestricted is newsworthy… but if only it were true.
Those Hong Kong passport holders out there may be interested to know that as of July 1st 2009, a mutual visa free arrangement between Hong Kong and Russia will allow visa-free access between both regions for a period of 14 days.
Russia isn’t high on my list of places to visit, but this is certainly welcoming news. Being so close, it even sounds mildly tempting…
Edit – Noting that many people get here searching ‘visa free access China’ in Google, note the following:
1) Only passport holders from Singapore, Brunei, and Japan can visit China visa-free for up to 15 days. Visitors from Hong Kong, Macau, or Taiwan should use a separate document issued by mainland authorities for travel.
2) Visa-free access to Russia granted to the following countries as of 28/08/2009 : Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Kyrgyzstan, Cuba, Moldova, Tajikistan, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Israel, Macedonia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Venezuela, Argentina – and Hong Kong.
Although my trip to Xinjiang (新疆) was a good few months ago, i’ve never found time to blog about it. Going through my pictures, one thing I am reminded of: a large number of boys playing with toy guns.
Sure we all did at some point, but nowhere before has it been so noticeable and prevalent to me. Should I be worried? In this day and age where talk is about muslim extremism and terrorism, it’s somewhat disconcerting to see so many boys running around with plastic pistols. That was particularly noticeable in Kashgar (喀什), where easily half of the kids I encountered were playing with toy guns, probably purchased and paid for by their parents.
If these are the values being instilled upon these young lads, it’s no surprise if one or two of them eventually move on to practicing real violence. Of course, giving a toy gun doesn’t imply they will; for that matter owning a real gun doesn’t mean you’ll use it. But as something I noticed quite obviously within minutes of walking around town – it does make you wonder.
One thing I consistently find annoying in North China is the determination of restaurant workers towards making you pay the bill quickly – even if still eating. Granted restaurants close earlier here, and that’s a cultural thing, but even if it’s time to do the daily accounting the waiters should not require a bill to be paid in order for them to calculate the expected income.
Giving your patrons the bill before they ask is just rude and shouldn’t happen. I’ve never seen it in Hong Kong and, i’m told, it won’t happen in S China either.
To Beijing restauranteurs out there: lighten up.
I found this BBC News article both amusing and disturbing at the same time. The general gist: “A plane was forced to make an emergency landing in Germany after two British women tried to open a cabin door mid-flight”.
The aircraft was returning from Greek island Kos (now there’s a surprise – Brits on a beach holiday) when two drunk women in their mid twenties started being abusive. They are suspected to have smuggled alcohol on board.
For other passengers it was no doubt an early welcome to the UK – or for the fellow Brits, “welcome home” before landing.
People like these should have their passports confiscated. But not before sending them to a remote island. Twats.
It’s an embarrassment to Brits everywhere.
It doesn’t matter if I fly to Hong Kong or Shenzhen, or on Air China or Dragonair: my flight is almost guaranteed to be late. I am a bad omen when it comes to flying. Put simply, avoid flying with me!
Flying in and out of Beijing frequently I am often plagued with fog, maintenance issues, or simply “aircraft delay”. I’ve even seen signs saying ‘aircraft delayed for reason’. Well yes, and I should hope so too! Regardless, being grounded in China can be a painful affair. Airlines here have terrible internal communication; nobody knows what’s going on, and travelers are given little service. Even the airports are clueless, with FID’s often showing the wrong gate or failing to list certain flights. Delays are rarely compensated for (most airlines on domestic flights will provide only a lunchbox upon long delays, not food coupons), and there is certainly little advanced warning.
Once on the aircraft travelers can be greeted with further delays, often lasting over an hour while the plane waits for clearance on the tarmac. But don’t expect much information here either: pilot announcements are vague and almost always inaccurate.
Fellow passengers are often also part of the problem: too many carry large luggage onboard as ‘carry on’, yet I wonder how these are allowed on in the first place. It helps to board earlier to grab a piece of the limited bulkhead space. Be prepared for impatient passengers to use their mobile phones right up till take-off too, and immediately after landing. Quite likely, expect people to get up while the aircraft is still taxiing after arrival.
I have of course had good experiences flying into China, and doing so on a more reputed airline such as Dragonair or Cathay Pacific does improve the experience. But until the rules and regulations finally develop to an international standard (and not to mention the mentality of fellow passengers & staff), don’t expect a ‘western flying experience’ just yet.
And remember to bring a good book.
