Traveling from Chongqing to Wuhan by high-speed rail was an adventure I’d been looking forward to for weeks. The journey takes approximately five hours, and I decided to make it extra special by booking a business class ticket—a first for me. Here’s how it went!

Preparing for the Early Morning Departure

My train was scheduled to depart at 8:00 a.m., which meant an early start to the day. To make things easier, I booked a hotel right across from the train station the night before. This turned out to be a brilliant decision, as high-speed rail stations in China are often located far from city centers. Staying nearby saved me the hassle of a 15 to 30-minute commute early in the morning.

Pro tip: If you have an early train to catch, consider staying close to the station to avoid unnecessary stress.

Why Business Class?

I’ve always been curious about business class travel, but airplane tickets in that category are often prohibitively expensive. So, when I saw the option to travel business class on the high-speed rail for around SGD 350, I decided to treat myself. After all, this was a five-hour journey, and I wanted to experience the best it had to offer.

The Business Class Experience

I was pleasantly surprised by the exclusivity of the business class carriage. With only seven seats per carriage, it felt spacious and private. Interestingly, there were a few empty seats, which made the experience even more comfortable. For comparison, I peeked into the first-class carriage, and while it looked perfectly fine for long-distance travel, business class was on another level.

Perks of Business Class

One of the standout perks of traveling business class is access to the exclusive waiting lounge at the station. However, I later learned that these lounges are only available in major city stations. If you’re traveling from or to smaller or more remote stations, you might not have access to this luxury. So, if you’re planning to splurge on business class, it’s worth considering your departure and arrival stations to make the most of the experience.

Another incredible benefit was the personal escort service. A staff member greeted me at the lounge, informed me when the train was arriving, and even helped with my luggage. They guided me through the correct departure gate and directly to the boarding platform, bypassing the long queues at the ticket turnstiles. This was a game-changer, especially in a massive station like Chongqing’s. Navigating such large stations can be overwhelming, but with this service, the entire process was seamless and stress-free.

My first two hours of sleep were blissful—until a new passenger boarded the carriage. Enter an overly enthusiastic and self-important businessman who seemed to believe the business class carriage was his personal office. His booming voice filled the space as he barked instructions to his staff, making sure everyone in the carriage knew he had just closed a major deal. Does this only happen in China? Aside from that unexpected disruption, the business class experience was quite pleasant.

Meals are served onboard if your travel time coincides with lunch or dinner. In the business class carriage, a dedicated attendant is available to cater to your needs—simply inform them of your preferred mealtime. Exhausted and eager to catch up on sleep, I let them know I wanted lunch at 11:30 AM before drifting off into a deep slumber.

I had also signed up for an arrival escort service. Why? Because the station is absolutely massive, and I didn’t want the stress of figuring out the right exit. Upon arriving at Wuhan Station, a train attendant was already waiting outside the carriage for me. I simply told her the name of a nearby hotel of my choice, and she effortlessly guided me to the correct exit. I think that is impressive because she must really know that area well.

After checking into my hotel, I visited Gude Monastery—an experience I’ll share more about soon. Unfortunately, I lost my phone afterward, which explains the gap between my Day 5 post and today’s update.

In my next update, I’ll dive into my visit to Gude Monastery and the unexpected adventure of losing my phone in China.

Wishing everyone well and a happy New Year!