China Travel Forum

[emila]

We are a family travelling via soft sleeper overnight from Guanghzou to Guilin. There are six of us, three adults and three kids. Will we all fit in one carriage?
Also apparently there is boiling water available on the train for Noodles and tea. Is the water safe to drink or eat with the noodles and I assume we can buy the noodles easily in China and will be able to get bowls as well. We would be happy to eat food bought on the train if it was OK.
Has anyone travelled that trip before and is the food from the dining car acceptable.
Thanks in advance

[aynor]

As you are travelling with children, and you didn't mention how old they are, I will assume they are young.
Water, food ... etc. one can get sick anywhere, and from the dirtiest food venue, to 5 star hotel restaurants. There is no baseline. It really all depends how your body adjusts and adapts. Often people travelling in China gets sick from water and food not because necessarily due to dirty, or non hygienic food preparation, (though quite often).... but it is just simply due to the fact you are not used to the quality of water here.
Since you have children, the safest way to do it, is buy your own bottle water, and drink only from those. I have gotten sick even from the water they give us on the train.... you have NO idea how they are bottled. I have seen some vendors, they use a funnel and bottled this lemon tea.......they re-use the plastic bottles so the drink looks like it's from a famous brand... but it isn't. They are so sneaky, when you pay, they open the bottle for you, so you don't know it's refilled.
Anyway, just get your own bowl noodles, whatever food you want... and since it's only 1 night... you will be able to do that before the train.
Of course, the food they serve on the train are intended for passengers. No intention to purposely poison them... but just be careful as you are from Australia, not going to be too used to the food and water in China.

[kamal]

The boiled water available on the train is boiled, so you can use this without concern (although if you refill the thermos from the boiler, make sure the machine is not running, since that means it is still boiling the water.)
You can buy instant noodles that come in their own styrofoam bowls all over China. These cost more than the ones that come in little bags, but are better and also much more convenient since you can just toss the whole thing when you finish.
I've occassionally eaten the food in the dinning cars of trains in China. In my opinion, it is generally okay--neither good nor terrible. I prefer to buy noodles, fruit and snacks before I get on the train. Bring your own tea bags.

[gulia]

I would agree with other members that, especially if with children, try and steer clear of the water on the train. It would be a hassle cooking your own noodles in compartments which can be small, anyway.
However, in Guangzhou there are huge supermarkets and you could even buy instant noodles and western style snacks to take on the train journey with you in the train station just before departure. Take bottles of water etc although you can buy bottled water and drinks on the train.
Depending on whether or not the children like Chinese food, I have been on trains in China where I have really enjoyed the dining cart food, many trains have there own restaurants (especially trains from major cities like Guangzhou). Go for simple food such as noodles if your travelling in the train and you do get travel sick, however if you like anything I see no reason why train restaurant food isn't just as good as all other food in Chinese restaurants. I enjoyed sitting in the restaurant on one of my long train journeys (coincidentally also to Guilin but not from Guangzhou!) because it got you out of the cramped compartment and mixed you with fellow passengers who tried to explain wat the menu said!! very amusing! In the end I enjoyed very much my train journey and my meal on the train! We had all sorts to eat and I thought it was better than some of the restaurants! Going down to the restaurant is a great way to stretch your legs! Take bottled water with you when you go down to the bathroom areas tho because its better to use this to clean your teeth with than train tap water!!
You never know how lucky you're going to be in China with trains tho! One train for example was luxurious soft sleepers with private tv's, a vase, roses, complimentary slippers, music etc (even a silver spit tray! many Chinese men have a tendency to spit everywhere!), however on another journey, the service was not nearly as good. Hopefully they've modernised your route like some of the ones that I've been on!!
Try and visit Yangshuo national park when you're in Guilin (much better than Guilin in many ways I reckon!) The scenery is breathtaking and there are several very cheap hotels if you bargain and look around the town which has become very touristy (and obviously many expensive ones if you'd rather!) With children I recommend you hire tandems to go round the park and the gentle raft rides through the parks are unforgettable. Great fun!!

[samsam]

When I'm in China (and some other places), I bring my own lightweight backpacking water filter to provide my own drinking water. The Chinese water's already quite clean so the filter won't be loaded much, but my immune system is totally spoiled and may not be ready for much change. However, I believe that the extra bit of precaution is a worthy added chance for an enjoyable trip.