MIDI Festival Info: A redux

So we hear a lot of people in China are having trouble getting into our post containing info about how to get to the MIDI Festival in Zhenjiang. Yeah, it's been randomly GFWed, and we have no clue why. But because we love you all, we're going to assume the censorship was a mistake on the internet policepeoples' parts and risk life and limb to re-post the info again. Don't say we never did nothin' for ya.

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While we're still a little bummed that the main part of the MIDI Festival this year won't be taking place in Shanghai, we've still worked up enough enthusiasm to make that trek over to Zhenjiang.

And if you're like us and find the prospect of a two-and-a-half hour ride to a three day rockfest actually kind of exciting ... let us help you! The MIDI organizers were kind enough to give us all the info you need to know about getting to and staying in Zhenjiang.

TRANSPORTATION

There are three ways to get to the city - by rail, by road and by plane. The silliest way you could possibly take is by plane (Zhenjiang doesn't have its own airport - so a taxi ride from the nearest one, in Lukou, would cost around 250RMB), so we'll skip that option.

For rail, MIDI recommends:

Zhenjiang is located along the Shanghai-Nanjing railway, which is an essential railway linking Nanjing with Shanghai. 170 trains pass by Zhenjiang station daily, A 29 minute journey from Nanjing to Zhenjiang by the fastest CRH will cost you 20RMB for a second class seat or 24RMB for first class.

The cheapest train from Nanjing to Zhenjiang is the number 1461, at only 5.5RMB, although it will take you 1 hour and 21 minutes to get there.

From Shanghai it will take you 1hour and 39 minutes to get to Zhenjiang on the fastest CRH, first class 88yuan, second class 73RMB. The cheapest train from Shanghai is the number 1462, costing only 19RMB for a 5 hour 37 minute trip.

You can get your tickets online at http://huochepiao.com/ or http://www.txtone.cn/, or just show up at the Shanghai Railway Station and hope for the best.

For the road, MIDI says:

You could take the highway using the regular passenger coach from Shanghai to Nanjing from where you may transit to Jurong and Danyang stops of Zhenjiang, or take a direct coach to Zhenjiang.

The RunYang bridge crosses Zhenjiang and Yangzhou and connects the Shanghai and Nanjing highways.

We looked for more info and found these Zhenjiang-based companies that will take you on the trip. You'll have to call them for the price:

Zhenjiang Passenger Transportation Center
Address: 67 Zhongshan West Road
Phone: 0086-511-5232762

Zhongshan West Road Bus Station
Address: Zhongshan West Road
Phone: 0086-511-5621332

Once you get into the city, MIDI has instructions for how to get to the festival site, located right opposite of the West gate of Jiangsu University:

• Direct MIDI buses: There are direct lines from the square in front of the Zhenjiang railway Station to the MIDI music festival site on the days of the festival, May 1st to May 3rd. Buses depart every 5 minutes and the trip takes about 20 minutes for 3RMB. (The schedule may be adjusted depending on the number of passengers.)
• Bus: The number 14, 3, 19, K201 and K219 buses go from Zhenjiang railway station to Jiangsu University. The NO.3 bus fare is 1.5RMB, NO.19 bus fare is 1RMB, and the NO. K219 and K201 bus cost 2RMB. NO.14 bus can take you directly to the west gate of Jiangsu University. You could also take then NO.3, 19, K201 and K219 bus from the railway station to the North or East Dashikou stops and then transit to a No.14 bus. If you take the bus to the Jiangsu University stop, you should walk into the campus and toward the northwest to the west gate of Jiangsu University, which takes around 30 minutes.
• Taxi: The flag-fall price of Zhenjiang taxis if 8 yuan followed by 2.4 yuan per kilometer. It will cost you 20RMB for a 20 minute ride past Changjiang Road from the railway station to the festival site.

YEAH, BUT WHERE WILL WE STAY?

The MIDI Festival organizers are setting up a campground for about 1000 people, so if you plan if you plan on camping out, get there early. Tents can be rented at the site, 50RMB for a new one 30RMB for an old one. Our suggestion (and MIDI's as well): Bring your own.

Enjoy!