10 people from BLCU, including myself, are taking a weekend trip to Datong, in the Xangxi province, between Beijing and Inner Mongolia. Apparently, it's really really cheap to take an overnight train, which is why we are herded onto a bus and driven to the train station at what seem like a really late time to be leaving for a trip.
When we get off the bus, we discover that the entire area in front of the station is covered with people sleeping on newspapers. At first I think they're all homeless and that this is a popular spot for congregation, but then I'm told that that's just how people wait for trains in China.
We get inside the station and join the line for the train to Datong. A giant television screen plays the Beijing Olympics commerical, followed by an extremely emo music video where the singer's girlfriend throws herself into the ocean in her wedding dress. Uck. Eventually it's boarding time, and we are herded onto our train.
This is my first experience with a sleeper train, and I am surprised by the logistics. The cars are divided into doorless compartments containing 6 beds each, 3 levels per side. Somehow, I am most surprised that these sleep areas aren't gender specific, even though 1. this is China and 2. I don't care. Each bed is supplied with a pillow and a thick blanket, which we all try very hard not to speculate about when it was last washed. We are tired; It is almost midnight, and the waiting in line has drained us. We try to sleep, but don't expect to be fully rested when we arrive in Datong 6 hours from now.
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