Travelling China's Train System like a Pro
Ten tips for booking, boarding and riding China's high-speed trains with confidence.
- 1
Book the day tickets open
Seats go on sale 15 days before departure. On popular routes, weekends and holidays, the best times and window seats can sell out within days, so set a reminder for release day.
- 2
Your passport is your ticket
Tickets are linked to the passport you booked with. Carry it through security, the ticket gates and on board, and use the staffed lane if the e-gates won't read it.
- 3
Check which station you're leaving from
Big cities have several stations, such as Beijing South and Beijing West, or Shanghai Hongqiao and Shanghai. They can be an hour apart, so double-check your ticket.
- 4
Arrive 30 to 45 minutes early
Every station has an airport-style bag scan, and the big hubs are huge. Give yourself time to get through security and find your waiting area.
- 5
Don't cut it fine at the gate
Boarding usually opens about 15 minutes before departure and the gates close a few minutes before the train leaves. Late arrivals aren't let through.
- 6
Pick a window seat: A or F
In second class, seats run A, B, C, then D and F, so A and F are by the windows. In first class it's A, C, D and F, with A and F at the windows.
- 7
Find your carriage on the platform
Carriage numbers are marked on the platform floor. Wait by your number and you'll step straight on to the right carriage, which matters on 16-carriage trains.
- 8
Pack light
There are overhead racks and space for big cases at the end of each carriage, but nobody will help you lift them. A medium case and a backpack is ideal.
- 9
Bring snacks, and use the free hot water
Every train has a free hot-water tap for tea or instant noodles. There's a trolley and often a dining car, but choice is limited, so bring your own snacks.
- 10
Sold out? You still have options
Try an earlier or later train, a different station in the same city, or a higher seat class. You can also join the waitlist, which often finds a seat as people cancel.
Ready to book?
Search China's train timetables in English and pay with your international card.
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