China Didn’t Beat the Shinkansen It Obliterated It.
🚄 China’s High-Speed Trains Just Humiliated the Shinkansen — And My 350 km/h Ride Proves It
For decades, Japan’s Shinkansen ruled the high-speed rail world like an untouchable emperor. But 2025 tells a very different story. china didn’t just catch up — it blew past the competition at 350–400 km/h, grabbed the crown, and whispered, “Do better.”
So I boarded one of these bullet beasts — the Chengdu to Chongqing 350 km/h CRH3 model — and what I experienced was nothing short of a futuristic flex that redefines what “high-speed rail” even means.
Let’s get into the savage breakdown.
🔥 1. china Didn’t Compete With japan — It COMPLETELY Outran It
Chinese trains: 350–400 km/h
Japanese Shinkansen: 320 km/h max
That’s not a small difference — that’s a new league.
The numbers alone feel like china walked into the playground and said:
“Nice train, Japan. Mind if I lap you?”
🔥 2. business Class for $80? japan Could NEVER
For just $80, you get:
A massive lie-flat seat
A dedicated stewardess
Unlimited drinks on demand
A five-seat luxury cabin
Compare that to japan, where business class pricing hits your wallet harder than a katana.
China’s pricing is not competitive — it’s provocative.
🔥 3. The Speed Feels Illegal — Smooth, Relentless, and Almost Too Comfortable
This isn’t “touch 350 km/h for bragging rights.”
This thing sits at 350 km/h like it’s bored.
No lurching, no turbulence, no drama.
Just raw velocity with spa-like calmness.
It passed 300 km in one hour — the width of the netherlands — like it was a sunday stroll.
🔥 4. No WiFi? china Says: We Have 5g, Please Relax.
No onboard WiFi was a surprise — but then you see Chinese passengers casually streaming 4K videos on 5g at 350 km/h.
Meanwhile, Europe’s trains struggle to load a WhatsApp status at 120 km/h.
Embarrassing.
🔥 5. The Interior: Good, Not Gorgeous — And Ironically, japan Wins This Round
Here’s the twist:
The Chinese train is powerful, fast, and ridiculously efficient…
However, the interior design isn’t as aesthetically pleasing as Japan’s Shinkansen.
japan might’ve lost the speed war, but in aesthetics?
They still swing with samurai precision.
China’s train looks fine — not beautiful.
A little upgrade and this thing would be unstoppable.
🔥 6. The Smoothest, Most Effortless 300 km of My Life
No delays.
No unnecessary stops.
No performance dips.
Just continuous, unapologetic velocity.
Chengdu → Chongqing in one hour.
A trip so efficient it feels illegal in europe and impossible in America.
🔥 7. The Final Flex: china Now Owns the High-Speed Future
From network data-size, to train speed, to ride smoothness —
China isn’t aiming to be “among the best.”
It wants to set the global standard and dare the world to follow.
And after experiencing it firsthand?
The world has a LOT of catching up to do.