Most Useful Chinese Phrases for China Train Travel

China has a long history of trains, particular in different types. Fuxiang Train (复兴号) and Gaotie (高铁) are the most popular train types in recent years, from which you can experience a breathtaking fastest speed and superior facilities than on the plane. See the train categories you may want to distinguish from each other on train tickets.

Fuxing Train

To make sure you hold the tickets right in hand before boarding, travelers have to arrive at train station beforehand. Subway, public bus, taxi or private car, shuttle bus are the regular way to get to railway station. Major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu all offers fast and convenient subway transportation to main railway stations. As for independent traveler, you can take a local taxi to arrive train station. Some cabs in big cities and top tourist cities can provide simple English service for passengers.

Taking a Taxi to Train Station

Beijing South Train Station

In China, most cities have more than one railway station, such as Beijing has 5 train stations: Beijing South & West Railway Station and etc. Normally a city builds one main station earlier and adds more in different directions. Most train stations built in recent years have set up signs in both English and Chinese , from which you may easily distinguish from each other, but only simplified Chinese and Pinyin are printed on tickets. So how to recognize it from the train ticket and get to the correct one, here is the bilingual contrast you can refer to.

High Speed Train Ticket

If want to book train ticket without knowing Chinese, it's quite convenient to get that through an agency. You need to firstly give them all your requirements (including travel date, class of ticket and etc.) in advance, for the ticket will be sold out soon. Also you can book ticket online or from mobile app, and then you have to collect ticket physically lining up at the ticket office, where you could also purchase tickets yourself. www.12306.cn is the official website of China Railway, where foreigners can book tickets from.

Non-chinese Should Collect Tiicket at Train Station

Foreigners are Required to Buy Ticket with Passport

Currently, there are mainly two kinds of paper train tickets in China: red ordinary train ticket and light blue magnetic train ticket. Both tickets are issued by the railway authority and valid for boarding. Passengers for high speed trains will hold the blue magnetic tickets, which can be used for automatically checking system at the ticket check while the red-color ticket have to be checked by train staff only. Generally speaking, the red tickets are usually issued in small railway stations and for normal trains.

Read Your Train Ticket Carefully

Berths in Hard Sleeper Coach

Deluxe Bussiness Class Coach

Early arrival at train station is very necessary to avoid missing your train, because you have to queue up to go through identity, security and finding the right location of ticket check. Read the frequently used signs and indictors to board efficiently and quickly.

Line Up to Enter Train Station

Stay in Waiting Hall for Checking

Ticket Check Gate

Boarding China High Speed Train

Dining Car on Fuxing Train

Carry Your Luggage When Getting off Train