What Happens When You Can Travel During A Pandemic?

*Published on **2021-01-04** by **Kelley** | Categories: China, Traveling Solo*

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When a girl gets a chance to hop on a plane, she takes it. That’s what happens when you can travel during a pandemic. You see, over in China, the government locked this down in the beginning. And people listened. We are now lucky enough to be able to live and travel as we please with some precautions. There is nowhere else I’d rather be in the world than Shanghai.

*Step One Shanghai, China*

Step one: get on the bus from work. I’m also lucky here. First, because the bus stop is less than a block from the front door of my school. Second, when I walk out the bus is about to leave. I hop on and am happy as a clam.

*Step Two Line 2 Metro Shanghai, China*

Hahaha. For many places this might feel super scary. But in China the metro is back in full swing and has been for a long time. You’re no longer allowed on without a mask but as you can see, it gets quite crowded. We rock it anyway.

*Step Three Line 2 Metro Shanghai, China*

Run from the metro to the Maglev. You can look up the schedule of when it leaves so I know I don’t have much time. I scan the purple metro card in the first pic and it buys me the cheapest version of the Maglev ticket there is. It’s 50 kuai (RMB) which is about $7.74 according to today’s conversion. Shanghai technology is beautiful. Another perfect connection. Two minutes after I get on the Maglev, it goes. More fancy [Maglev info](https://www.maglev.net/shanghai-maglev). My favorite fact might be that the concept for this train was thought up in the early 1900’s. Girl what? Imagine you think that up and 100 years later there it is, cooking through one of the biggest cities in the world. Thanks for getting me to the plane in time Mr. Goddard. (More [Maglev info](https://www.britannica.com/technology/maglev-train).)

*Step Four Maglev Shanghai, China*

Maglev stands for “magnetic levitation” by the way. That’s how this thing moves so fast and so quietly. I hop on and sit back for a few minutes and wait for the airport to show up. I really do mean a few. It takes 8 minutes from Longyang Metro Station to get to Pudong International Airport or PVG as everyone here lovingly calls it. As you can see there aren’t a lot of people making the trip. However, I know there are a lot more running around here than other places in the world. I count my blessing as I watch the city whizz by.

*Rude Maglev Shanghai, China*

I am, however, a little bitter because I got the slow one. ::Insert crying from laughing emoji here:: This one only goes 300 km/hr. The fast one goes 450. It doesn’t matter much though since I gave myself tons of time to get to my gate. Being this is the first travel in 9 months, I wanted to get it right.

*Pudong International Airport (PVG) Shanghai, China*

I am a little surprised when I get into the airport. It’s a bit like a ghost town. I have never, never seen it this quiet. But there are still people milling about so I didn’t get that eerie feeling that I was going to die or anything.

*Mask Up PVG Shanghai, China*

The lines are complete with messages to remind people to be smart and mask up. I’ll have to say I think over 95% of the people I see have a mask covering their mouth and nose. Only a few don’t have their nose or mouth covered but they all at least have a mask on their face somewhere.

*Keep the Distance Homie PVG Shanghai, China*

In line even most people listen to this message. I did have to side eye a chick who got to close behind me. She backed off pretty quickly. The people in line for security did not. Honestly though, I’m not all that worried. I know the numbers are incredibly low here. The likelihood of me getting Covid, while not impossible, is super scanty.

*Thank the Travel Gods PVG Shanghai, China*

As the doors to the flight close, I can’t help but smile. A very rare blessing indeed has befallen me. I have an entire row to myself. I take a deep breath and stretch out to enjoy the flight to Yunnan.