Transporting one's motorbike on a train through China.

[euphonius]

...I wonder if it would it would be cheaper for me to ride it to Jinan first and then ship it from there. I will ask!

Pete,

Sounds like you are getting the same nonsense on the phone that I got from the shipping desk in shanghai. You need to go directly to the 托运 desk which is right at the station, and ask there. The rate is based on weight and distance and there's no nonsense about "premium" bikes. That's bullshit. What I'm thinking is that there's no direct train to where you are going so they are quoting you for a crated shipment. If there's a direct train they just roll the bike on uncrated.

Shouldn't cost you more than a couple hundred rmb to get to Hunan.

Good luck!