China's passenger trains fall into two broad groups. High-speed and intercity trains carry the letters G, C and D, while conventional trains are Z (direct express), T (express) and K (fast).[1] According to China State Railway Group, its Fuxing high-speed trains run commercially at up to 350 km/h.[2] Once airport transfers and security waits are included, rail is often competitive with flying on domestic routes.
A high-speed train at the platform of Shijiazhuang railway stationPhoto: Jayden Han / Pexels
Conventional trains remain useful for reaching remote regions and for budget travelers, including lines through Yunnan and Xinjiang. The national network is dispatched centrally by China State Railway Group.[2]
Classes and Comfort Levels
On G, C and D trains, tickets are sold as second class, first class and business class, plus standing tickets when seats are sold out. Some trains also offer special or premium first class.[1] On some high-speed trains, first-class and business-class passengers get free drinks and snacks, and business class passengers get a free meal at meal times. Larger stations have separate business-class waiting areas.[3]
Conventional trains sell hard seats, soft seats, hard sleepers and soft sleepers, and some also offer deluxe soft sleepers.[1] A hard sleeper is a berth in an open compartment and a soft sleeper is a berth in a closed compartment, which makes soft sleepers quieter and more private.
Booking and Tickets
Tickets are sold on 12306 (website and app), at station counters and at ticket machines.[4] The date selector currently shows 15 days, and 12306 has announced that the advance sale period changes to 30 days from 30 December.[1]
12306 also has an English website, and foreign passengers buy real-name tickets with a valid passport.[4] If you would rather not use 12306 yourself, you can compare routes, check availability and book through GoAsia.cc.
Most tickets are e-tickets. You show the ID document you used to buy the ticket to check in at the station and to board the train.[4] Real-name checks apply to all passenger trains in China.[5] Book early for peak periods such as the Spring Festival and the National Day holiday, as popular trains can sell out.
What to Expect on Board
All passengers and their belongings go through a security check when entering the station. Smoking is prohibited anywhere on high-speed trains and in the coaches of conventional trains. Each adult may bring up to 20 kg of luggage free of charge (10 kg for a child), and a single piece may not weigh more than 20 kg or measure more than 130 cm in total on high-speed trains (160 cm on conventional trains).[4]
Power sockets on trains are meant for small devices such as phones, tablets and laptops, not for kettles or other high-power appliances.[3] High-speed trains have racks above the seats for small bags and an area at the end of the car for larger suitcases. On sleeper trains you can store your gear under the bottom bunk or on a shelf above the aisle.
Tips for Train Travel in China
Arrive well before departure. Chinese railway stations are large, you pass a security check and ID verification before the waiting hall, and ticket checking stops before the train leaves.[4]
Take the passport you used for booking. You need it to enter the station and to board.
Download a translation app that works offline. Having your destination or specific needs written in Chinese characters is incredibly helpful.
Bring tissues and hand sanitizer, as supplies in toilets are not guaranteed.
Pack a power bank as a backup, because sockets are meant for small devices and can be busy.
Check the carriage number on your ticket and wait at the matching marking on the platform so that you stand where your door will open.
If you are a light sleeper, bring earplugs and an eye mask, especially for hard sleeper berths in an open compartment.
Sources and background
Numbers in the text such as [1] refer to these sources.
