Originally Posted by
iahphx
I like the Chinese trains, too, but they are still a bit of trouble to reserve. And it can be hard to know what you're getting on the less popular routes.
While it's true that you can't really "reserve" train tickets, I think this problem is often overstated here. To put it differently, the system works pretty well.
In your case, I agree that both skipping Kunming and flying are smart moves. In fact, your itinerary is one of the most innovative I've seen in this forum. I think you're in for a great trip even if Expo disappoints.