Transportation in China in 1988

Chinese Train Hard Bed Service - 27

China has an extensive train service, both local and long distance. The trains are clean and readily available except during the Chinese New Year. Available on the trains are four classes of accommodations, hard seat, soft seat, hard bed, and soft bed. This is the Hard Bed Service, with six bunks in an open cubicle, three high on each side. The bed is a canvas slung on a pipe frame and a light mattress on top and furnished with a wool blanket and a pillow with case. Train personnel wake you up at about 5:00 AM to retrieve your blanket and pillow. On overnight trips we travel on hard bed. The aisle on the right has folding seats for the daytime.