According to their app, a round trip from Beijing to SFO is EIGHTEEN THOUSAND FUCKING DOLLARS for basic economy. Beijing to Newark is 9000. According to Expedia, Beijing to SFO through Newark is 2700 for basic economy. Apparently going halfway around the world and adding a transcontinental flight on the end reduces your ticket price by 15000 dollars?
Someone I know from Chongqing mentioned it at one point and sent me an article on how subsidies work. But they do have HSR subsidies for migrant work and some companies pay for it as well as part of some program. But slow trains are common in regional travel and afaik they cost the locals like 20 cents USD depending onincome. Cgtn had a story on it that I posted here at one point but can't be bothered to dig through my 500 posts