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How to Buy China Train Tickets

How to buy train tickets in China - 2 Ways

1. Book tickets online - hassle free if on TravelChinaGuide

2. Buy tickets at railway stations or ticket outlets in Mainland China - language barrier

 Valid ID is required for booking the train tickets in China, which include:
Foreign Passengers: Passport; China Permanent Residence Permit
Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan Passengers: Mainland Travel Permit

Here are details of the 2 ways showing you how to book train tickets in China:

1  

Book with An Online Agency - Hassle Free if with TravelChinaGuide

 
  • Select seats for free
  • Reschedule for Free
  • One-to-one service in English
  • 24/7 customer support
  • 3,000+ 5-star reviews on TripAdvisor
This is the most practical and convenient way for those who speak little Chinese. TravelChinaGuide (TCG) offers excellent train ticket booking service in English:

Unbeatable service fee per ticket as low as USD6, and no extra hidden charge;

No limitation on pre-sale time and you can put an order anytime when your travel plan is set;

Easy and convenient booking web pages and app;

Well-trained operators are standing by 24/7;

Secure online booking and payment environment (TCG accepts Paypal, Credit Card through Paypal, Wire Transfer, Alipay and WeChat pay);

Last but not least, we do our best to book adjacent seats for groups traveling together!

Seat selection has become possible on China high speed trains and we will book the adjacent tickets for passengers traveling in a group. However, this is not always possible if adjacent seats have been sold out. Also, seat selection on normal speed trains are not allowed by China railway ticketing system, either.  

 See details of How to Buy Tickets Online

2  

Buy at Railway Stations and Ticket Outlets - Language Problems

Tickets Selling Office
You can also go in person to purchase tickets at any railway station or ticket outlet in Mainland China. Both of their pre-sale periods are 15 days before departure. There might be an additional charge of CNY 5 per ticket at ticket outlets as service fee. There are several preparations you need to make before going:

Search on our website or via our app to know the real-time schedule and choose your favorite train. There are LED boards at stations showing the schedule, but they are in Chinese.

Have  second, third or more choices of train, class, or even alternative departure date, in case that the ones you choose are sold out, especially during peak travel season and for popular routes.

Print out or write down the train number, class, departure station, departure date, arrival station, and all other necessary information and show them to the staff, as only selected staff in metropolises like Beijing and Shanghai may speak English.

Bring your valid ID, such as a passport. If you are going to buy for others, bring theirs, too.

Expect a long queue at the station.

Do not queue for automatic ticket vending machines at the station, as they only recognize Chinese issued ID cards.

 Railway Stations in China
 Useful Chinese Phrases for Train Travel


5 Tips on How to Get Train Tickets in China

  The pre-sale time of China railway tickets is now 15 days before departure. But TravelChinaGuide accepts customers' bookings without time limitation, so you can book with us whenever you finalize your travel plan. 

 China train tickets do sell out, especially for distant locations and popular routes. During peak travel seasons, such as Chinese New Year and the National Day holiday from Oct. 1 to 7, they can sell out within minutes. You are advised to book as early as possible. 

 Most Chinese railway stations have applied E-tickets, where passengers can get in and get onboard the train holding only passport. So you need to bear the ticket information in mind or wrtie it down or print it out on a piece of paper.

  The ticket price does not include insurance and you need to buy travel insurance separately.

  Children aged 6 to 14 years old need to buy children's tickets while those under 6 years old ride for free. Please note that children as a rule should be accompanied by adults. See detailed Train Travel in China with Kids

  If you are unable to leave on schedule, you can refund or change the ticket.  

 See also:
How to Buy High Speed Train Tickets in Hong Kong
China Train Travel - A Beginner’s Guide

- Last updated on Sep. 26, 2024 by Brenda Lian -
Questions & Answers on How to Buy Tickets
Asked by Jazz from SINGAPORE | Dec. 13, 2024 19:25Reply
How to travel from Macao to Guangzhou?
I would like to find out how to take a train from Macao to Guangzhou. I understand there's 2 train station in Zhuhai. Which Train station in Zhuhai should I go?
Answers (1)
Answered by Amy | Dec. 15, 2024 23:07
00Reply


Zhuhai Railway Station is just beside Gongbei Port, within walking distance. After reaching there from Macao, you can take a train to Guangzhou. There are 60+ high speed trains from Zhuhai Railway Station to Guangzhou each day, taking about 1-1.5 hours.
Asked by Josh Morris-Blake from UNITED KINGDOM | Dec. 11, 2024 02:16Reply
How to find connections
None of the Chinese rail schedule sites seem capable of providing/recommending routes requiring connections (I.e. if there’s not a direct train between X and Y, they say ‘no trains available’ rather than ‘X to Z, Z to Y’ as they would in the UK.

Is there a site you’re aware of which can do this, or is it just a case of working it out yourself and booking individual tickets?

I’m looking at going from Beijing-Kashgar next spring, which is possible via Xi’an but this booking site seems to know this!

Thank you!
Answers (3)
Answered by Amy | Dec. 11, 2024 19:34
10Reply


Only the Chinese version of the official 12306.cn can do this. From Beijing to Kashgar, you need a transfer at Xi'an or Urumqi Railway Station. Recommended transfer methods:
G659 (Beijing - Xi'an) + T269 (Xi'an - Kashgar)
Z69 (Beijing - Urumqi) + Z6516 (Urumqi - Kashgar)
Answered by Josh | Dec. 12, 2024 04:59
00Reply


Is there an English version app for this?
Answered by Olivia | Dec. 12, 2024 22:34
00Reply


I haven't found one by far.
Asked by Svetlana from AUSTRALIA | Dec. 09, 2024 23:43Reply
Train trip from Harbin West to GuBei Water Town
We would like to travel from Harbin West to Gubei Water Town via high speed train/train, rather than go to Beijing then go to Gubei Water Town, is this possible?
Answers (2)
Answered by Bonnie | Dec. 10, 2024 19:32
00Reply


Sorry, no direct train from Harbin to Gubei. I'm afraid you need to arrive in Beijing first then take a train from Beijing North or Qinghe to Gubeikou Railway Station, then take a taxi to the town.
Answered by Svetlana | Dec. 11, 2024 05:46
00Reply


Thank you, Bonnie! Much appreciated
Asked by Aline Foo from AUSTRALIA | Nov. 11, 2024 14:04Reply
2 train tickets from hangzhou to fuzhou
How to place our order
Answers (1)
Answered by Bruce | Nov. 11, 2024 16:58
00Reply


Hello Aline, you can easily make an order here: https://www.travelchinaguide.com/china-trains/

At first, you need to input your departure and arrival stations, and then search for the real-time schedule; after, pick up the train you want to ride and book. I once used it; quite easy.
Asked by non from THAILAND | Aug. 25, 2024 21:24Reply
train from shanghai to changzhou and shanghai to qingdao
Answers (1)
Answered by Lori | Aug. 26, 2024 19:47
00Reply


Every day, there are over 220 Shanghai - Changzhou bullet trains from 05:46 to 22:23 and over 20 Shanghai - Qingdao bullet trains from 06:52 - 16:32. You can search for the real-time schedule on this page: https://www.travelchinaguide.com/china-trains/
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