Traveling through time on a high-speed train.

(NLDO) - The future of rail travel isn't coming, it's already here, across rural China at an average speed of 250 kilometers per hour.

The high-speed train from Shanghai to Xi'an glides from Hongqiao Station with a sound as gentle as a whisper in the wind. In just a few minutes, the modern cityscape of China's financial capital gives way to the lush green delta of the Yangtze River.

I settled into my second-class seat, with plenty of legroom and power outlets, as the train accelerated to 300 kilometers per hour.

In the past, traveling from Shanghai to Xi'an was a 16-hour overnight journey; now it only takes 6 hours thanks to the high-speed rail network.

Having ridden the Japanese Shinkansen, I immediately noticed the difference. The Japanese system is precise, the carriages are spotless, and the passengers are as quiet as in a library.

The Chinese version is equally impressive technologically, but on board, the Chinese passengers chat loudly, share snacks, and watch videos on their phones without headphones. It doesn't feel like a library, but rather like a communal living room hurtling through the countryside at airplane speed.

Onboard services also reflect cultural differences. Japan's famous ekiben (bento boxes) are culinary works of art, beautifully presented but meant to be eaten cold. These are special bento boxes sold at train stations or even on trains in Japan.

Meanwhile, food carts on Chinese trains—like those on Vietnamese trains—serve hot dumplings, instant noodles with boiling water, and simple green tea in thermos flasks. Both methods have their own advantages, but the Chinese approach is more suited to the needs of Vietnamese travelers.

By early afternoon, the landscape changed as we entered central China. The lush green rice paddies of Jiangsu gave way to the golden wheat fields of Henan, where farmers wearing conical hats—like in Vietnam—paused to watch the silver train glide by. The onboard Wi-Fi (a rarity on Japanese high-speed trains), though intermittent, allowed me to somewhat follow the route along the Silk Road that once connected Xi'an to the world .

China's high-speed train at Suzhou station (traveling from Shanghai). The train can reach speeds of up to 350 km/h at times, but usually averages 250 km/h because it has to stop at several stations along the way.

Xi'an: Where empires were reborn.

Visiting Xi'an is like stepping through a time portal. Modern high-speed train stations give way to city walls built during the 14th-century Ming dynasty. These walls encircle a city that was once the capital of China for thousands of years.

The Terracotta Army, discovered in 1974 by a farmer digging a well, remains a major attraction. Standing before Pit 1 with its 6,000 life-sized soldiers, each with a unique face, I felt the scale of Qin Shi Huang's ambitions as early as the 3rd century BC. New excavations continue to reveal mysteries. It is said that recently, a terracotta "muscleman" statue with bulging muscles and a round belly was found.

But the beauty of Xi'an lies not just in its archaeological sites. As dusk fell, I cycled along the illuminated city walls, gazing at the neon lights of the Muslim quarter below. The aroma of dill and roasted lamb led me to stalls serving hand-pulled noodles—like the Haidilao restaurants in Vietnam—and bowls of hot yangrou paomo goat soup with breadcrumbs. History was alive. This was where descendants of those who once traveled the Silk Road still cooked their family recipes. Xi'an was not a sterile historical site.

Hangzhou: Poetry and reverie

The train to Hangzhou the following morning showcased the prowess of the Chinese railway industry. We passed through tunnels through mountains and valleys, on a route that Marco Polo once took months to traverse.

The train's stability was incredible. At 300 km/h, I could still walk around in the aisle without needing to hold on to anything.

Upon entering Zhejiang province, the landscape transforms into an ethereal beauty that has inspired countless Chinese poets. Lush green terraced tea plantations stretch endlessly, while traditional villages with white walls and black tiled roofs nestle alongside canals.

The transition from the dusty grandeur of Xi'an to the gentle elegance of Hangzhou takes only five hours. In the past, it would have taken weeks, traveling by boat along the river.

Two systems, one goal

Having experienced both, I found China's high-speed rail system to be superior to Japan's in terms of scale and accessibility. With over 40,000 kilometers of track (compared to Japan's 3,000 kilometers), China's rail network reaches places where the Shinkansen cannot. Ticket prices are only about half that of Japan for comparable distances, making high-speed travel more accessible to the affluent, if used wisely.

However, Japan still holds the edge in terms of sophistication. The stations are more intuitively designed, the signage is bilingual, and the onboard ekiben (bento boxes) remain unbeatable. The Chinese system, on the other hand, feels like it was built solely for Chinese speakers. This is understandable, considering its primary target audience is wealthy domestic travelers, who continue to use the lower-speed trains and cheaper fares.

Sipping Longjing tea by West Lake in the evening, watching fishing boats glide across the calm water, the true achievement becomes clear. China has not only built the world's largest high-speed rail network; they have created a new way to experience ancient civilization.

These trains compress time and space, allowing travelers to have breakfast in modern Shanghai, lunch amidst the ancient wonders of Xi'an, and dinner while watching fishermen use cormorants to catch fish—a profession that has existed for thousands of years on the waters of Hangzhou.

For business travelers (those not using their own money to buy tickets), this is a revolution: No hassle at the airport, no time wasted on security. For tourists (those paying for their own tickets), it's a luxury: More time at their destination, less wasted travel. And for China, despite incurring losses each year, these steel arteries represent something deeper. It's a reconnection to its historical role, now linked together at the speed of the 21st century.

The future of rail travel isn't coming, it's already here, across rural China at an average speed of 250 kilometers per hour. A lesson for the world on how to transport people efficiently while retaining the joy of travel, but, in reality... only for the wealthy.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/xuyen-thoi-gian-บน-tau-cao-toc-196250701133103787.htm