How to Take a Train in China (Simple Guide)

China has the largest and most advanced railway network in the world, and taking the train is one of the best ways to travel around the country. Here’s a simple guide to help you buy tickets and take trains in China without stress.

Buying Tickets

The official platform is 12306⬅️

  • Tickets open 15 days in advance.
  • Prices don’t change, and train schedules are very stable.
  • Most of the time you don’t need to buy early, unless it’s a major Chinese holiday.

12306 is the cheapest option.

China’s train system requires real-name verification, so when buying tickets you need to upload:

  • Your passport photo page
  • A photo of you holding your passport

But, sometimes the English version of 12306 has unknown bugs, and your passport verification might fail. This happens to very few travelers.

What you can do:

  • Try again a few times. Sometimes it suddenly works.
  • If it still doesn’t work, use Trip.com instead.

Trip.com will charge an extra booking fee, but it will very likely succeed in issuing your ticket.

Train Types

China has two main types of trains.

High-Speed Rail (G / D trains)

  • Speed: 250–350 km/h

  • Seat types:

    • Second Class – already very comfortable

    • First Class – slightly larger seats

    • Business Class – similar to airline business class

To be honest, Second Class is perfectly good.

Regular Trains (K / T / Z trains)

  • Much slower

  • Seat options:

    • Hard Seat – not recommended, very tiring

    • 6-beds sleeper

    • 4-beds sleeper

The sleeper experience is basically like a hostel on wheels.

Unless you want the OG feeling, just take the high-speed train!

Watch Out for City Names

Some Chinese cities have the same English name.

Always double-check:

  • The province
  • The Chinese characters

Otherwise you might accidentally choose the wrong city.

Many Cities Have Multiple Stations

Most cities have several stations, such as:

  • Beijing South
  • Shanghai Hongqiao
  • Guangzhou East

Stations are usually located in different directions of the city (east, west, south, north).

Arrive 30-40 mins Before Departure

Boarding starts 15–20 minutes before the train leaves.

All stations have fast food, convenience store, coffee shops, souvenir stores, etc.

Basically it’s like a mini airport.

After arrive, check the big departure screen and find the gate that matches your train number (e.g. D2905, G7008)

Your Passport Is Your Ticket

After You Arrive at the Train Station

  • Go through the security check at the entrance. Go to the manual lane and show your passport.
  • Find your train on the big screen. Look at the departure board and find your train number. It will show which waiting area or boarding gate you should go to.
  • When boarding, go to the ticket manual check gate.
  • Follow the people and go to the platform and get into your train.

That’s it. Simple.