Essential Things To Know About Trains and High Speed Rail in China (2025 Guide)
Contents
How to Buy Tickets
Things to Consider When Choosing a Train
Which Seat Should I Choose? Let me give you my thoughts.
Key Security Items To Be Aware Of
Eating and Drinking at the Station
Toilets
Seating Areas
Time to Allow - General Rule
On Board Facilities
🎫 How to Buy Tickets
Method 1️⃣: Register on 12306 app or website and enter your passport details. You need to wait for verification - this can take a day or longer so please remember to do this before you travel.
After your registration is successful, choose your departure station, arrival station, date of travel, train, second class/first class/business class. Make sure you add everyone travelling with you using their passport details. You MUST enter names in the same order shown on the passport.
This is the official platform for booking train tickets in China.
Method 2️⃣: Do the same as method 1 on Trip.com app and follow the instructions. The easiest method if you are already using Trip to book your hotels. However, prices might be higher by a tiny amount, but worth it if you don’t want to waste time on a possibly tedious process on 12306.
Method 3️⃣: After arriving in China, go to the ticket office, tell the ticket seller what you want (ideally on your phone or piece of paper), hand over passports for everyone travelling with you, and make payment. If you choose this method, there is a high risk of not getting the train you want (or any train during a public holiday). I do not recommend this method, you should only use this as a last resort. If you have a tour guide, ask them to help you out with it.
⚠️ Tickets are only released 15 days in advance of departure date on all platforms. However, you can reserve tickets further ahead by booking with Trip who will attempt to book them as soon as they are released. There is no guarantee with any method, especially during busy seasons, but the seller will refund you.
🚅 Which Train Should I Choose?
Do you want to take the fastest train with the best experience OR are you okay to travel a little slower for a cheaper ticket? (there are very fast trains, fast trains, and slow trains)
Do you want to travel during the day OR do you want to take a night train and save on a night of hotel stay? (only applies to some long distance routes)
Can you travel at off-peak times OR do you have a strict timed itinerary (e.g. meeting a tour guide)?
YenKid: Pick the one that’s best for you. Trains starting with a G letter offer the best experience overall, whereas trains starting with a D letter offer a good balance between journey time and price.
💺 Which Seat Should I Choose? Let me give you my thoughts.
Seats are labelled by row number and a letter. Similar to an airplane.
2nd class configuration is (3 seats - AISLE -2 seats) ➡️ (A B C - AISLE -- D F)
1st class configuration is (2 seats - AISLE -2 seats) ➡️ (A C - AISLE - D F)
Business class configuration varies, either (2 seats - AISLE -1 seat) ➡️ (A C - AISLE - F) OR (1 seat - AISLE -1 seat) ➡️ (A - AISLE - F)
(If you pick a slow train, the configuration may be different)
YenKid: If you want the best views, choose A or F. If you want easy access to the toilet or want to stretch, choose C or D. Also note that 2nd class seats on most high speed trains have at least 25% more legroom compared to economy class on an airplane.
🔪 Key Security Items To Be Aware Of
Don’t carry sharps (small cosmetic scissors with a blunted end are okay)
Carry sensible quantities of liquids for personal use (around 2 bottles per item). If you carry more, either nothing will happen or the excessive amount may get confiscated.
Moderate risk of aerosol items being confiscated. The less you carry, the lower the risk.
YenKid: Luggage sizes and weights are not strictly enforced, unless it is super obvious that you’ve exceeded limits.
🍴 Eating and Drinking at the Station
Major stations will have a range of options, smaller stations may not.
YenKid: Average prices are more expensive than downtown stores - you will notice it the most when visiting chains like KFC or Starbucks.
🚻 Toilets
Available at every station, most stations have only squat toilets.
🪑 Seating Areas
Major stations have normal seating and massage chairs.
🕒 Time to Allow - General Rule
Travel from Hotel to Station
If you are travelling by metro - check the estimated journey time on Amap + add at least 10 minutes as a buffer.
If you are travelling by DiDi or taxi - check the estimated journey time + add at least 30 minutes as a buffer (less if the estimated time is less than 20 minutes).
When to Arrive at the Station
Stations in all major cities - arrive at station entrance at least 45 minutes before departure (if you want to be totally stress-free). Allow at least 60 minutes during public holidays.
Smaller stations - arrive at station entrance at least 30 minutes before departure
⚠️ If you miss your train, go to the ticket counter and show staff your ticket. They’ll probably understand even if you don’t explain. Use a translation app if necessary. During very busy periods, there might not be any more tickets available for the same day.
Entering the Station
Walk from metro station/taxi dropdown zone to station entrance - 5 minutes
Security check and luggage scan - 5 minutes
Walk from entrance to departure gate - 5 minutes
In the Station Concourse
Eating or shopping - add on extra time if you want to do this
Gates normally open 10-15 minutes before departure time ➡️ Head to the manned departure gate with your passport ready - at least 10 minutes before departure.
⚠️ You must use the manual gate where there is a staff member present. You cannot use the automatic gates.
On the Platform
To find your carriage + seat, look for the colour coded numbers on the platform. Your train will match with one of the colours - it should say on the overhead screen. If you are unsure, ask staff or wait until the train arrives. You will see each carriage has a number.
On the Train
Once you are inside the train, place any big luggage at the end of the carriage shelves or spaces.
Look for your seat number. You can use overhead shelves above your seat to place small luggage items.
On Board Facilities
⏺️ Overhead shelves are for small to medium luggage cases.
⏺️ End of carriage shelves and space behind last row of seats are for large luggage cases.
⏺️ Most high speed trains have squat toilets and sitting toilets - there should be a picture on the door.
⏺️ Your seat will have a foldable table.
⏺️ Window seats may have a peg for hanging coats.
⏺️ Charging outlets are available for some seats.
Ordering Food Delivery on board the train
⏺️ There are on-board catering options. If you want to experience food delivery (e.g. KFC), scan the QR code located either on the seat in front of you or on the armrest. Follow the on-screen prompts.
Common problems and solutions
