Also, if people are wondering why the HSR stations are massive all across China, it is because the whole HSR network is built to maximize the movement of people especially during the 2-3 week long Lunar New Year holidays. Lunar New Year, at least to Chinese people, is equivalent to the American Thanksgivings but it also celebrates the start of a "new year". Here in the US, about 10 percent of Americans clog up the freeways and airlines travelling to see family. Over in China, about 200 million people (roughly 1 in 7 people) travel for the Chinese New Year holidays within China alone. At that scale, there is absolutely no way airlines could ever meet that demand within that timeframe in any part of the world. Hence why these HSR stations are so massive. Also, some HSR lines have more cars and hence more passenger carrying capacity with the longest one being the 17 car Fuxing train that services the Beijing-Shanghai line and carries 1283 passengers.
Nearly all extra trains during the Lunar New Year is at regular speed. Those who make a living in other cities cannot afford the tickets of HSR. They would like to have a longer holiday with family instead of faster transportation.
Just a heads up for people who are new to China's HSR system: "Business" class on the HSR is equivalent to First/Luxury Class on an airline. "First" class on the HSR is equivalent to Economy Premium on an airline. Finally, "Second" class on the HSR is pretty much Economy Class on an airline. I honestly don't know why they chose that nomenclature for their seats.
It's because these are the classes typically used in European trains: Business Class is the most luxurious, First Class is the intermediate level and Second Class is the cheapest. Most Europeans are quite used to these names.
but it's weird how the seats on the right hand side face the aisle instead of the window. The window facing seats are surely much better for privacy and views
