Best of all, the fares were tremendous value for money: for instance, a soft sleeper from Beijing to Shanghai costs from RMB500 (£45) per person if bought direct from the station in Beijing. At peak times it is very difficult to get tickets as they may sell You will nearly always find them at one end of the dining car. At worst, they may take you to a strange neighborhood where they rob you and steal your belongings. ticket there are ticketing agents that can procure your tickets but you will be Tickets usually go on sale 60 days prior to departures via the official centralized website: www.12306.cn This website is only in Chinese and requires a Chinese bank-issued card to pay but for those who do have a Chinese bank card you can follow the screenshots here to navigate the purchase process: http://www.travelchinacheaper.com/12306. From the low end of the car, the first compartment in a Soft Sleeper will house berths 1 through 4. You will receive an e-ticket number, but you cannot use that for boarding. more. Also, you If you do opt to buy your own tickets at the station, plan to be there early as you will have to wait in lines – and you may find your train sold out. These are fast trains that run on the regular passenger tracks. Purchasing in person at the station is convenient. Your other option is to see what other people are eating and point to that. Be sure you know which station your train leaves from! Most long distance trains will also have a placard on the center of the car showing the origin and final destination of the train. Domestic trains run by the China Railway are broken down into “classes” which vary by speed and service. (process is now somewhat different). Tape the English version side to the Chinese version side (or laminate them back-to-back). She will put your ticket into a space in a folder and hand you a plastic credit-card sized berth identification. If you wait until you arrive in Get to the right station plenty of time ahead of departure. Whatever the reason, if you plan to take a bus in China, this 2020 guide to China buses should provide everything you need to know before you travel. The following discussion relates to the normal China Railways trains, There are various ways to buy train tickets in China. When you enter your compartment each bed will have a stack of bedding – a sheet-covered comforter and one or two pillows. Find out everything you need to know before you book and board your train in China here. Then look for a number. Place your bags and other carry items on a moving conveyor belt (it is low, so easy to use) and walk around the machine to get your items on the other side. that no ticket agent can guarantee anyone a seat before tickets go on sale. You can tell it is a fellow-passenger as they will going the same way you are going and also lugging their stuff along. It may or may not be in English but the train number and departure time are easy to figure out. Weekday morning in January 2006 at a Toyoko Line station between Shibuya and Yokohama (Naka Meguro). Train travel in China is fast, safe, efficient and very clean. Most stations will not. A waitress will gather these up and then bring your meal in good time. She may also have packaged sandwiches, noodles, beverages, etc. You can eat snacks or meals in your room. The Hard Class sleeper consist of compartments with 6 bunks – three on each side. We are on a fast train in China. Keep an eye on the electronic reader board that displays your train number. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. 2:03. 8. Get off the train and check out. You will most likely set it off, but don't worry. A security guard will use a "wand" and may gently pat you down. Not only does this save you time, it also gives travelers the peace of mind that they will have a seat on the train. Find the right waiting room. In Guangzhou there is a main Guangzhou station that serves the west and north and a Guangzhou East station that serves the east, south and north. Understand that those waiting to get into the state might not be lined up. While waiting, watch the TV monitors which will show you many of the scams designed to separate passengers from their luggage and valuables. You can sit here (if it is available) but have to contend with a constant flow of passengers scraping by you. However, the availability of schedules in English may vary greatly from city to city. Put all of your luggage on the conveyor belt of the x-ray inspection machine. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b2\/Get-on-a-Train-in-China-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Get-on-a-Train-in-China-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b2\/Get-on-a-Train-in-China-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid4402081-v4-728px-Get-on-a-Train-in-China-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

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\n<\/p><\/div>"}, http://www.seat61.com/China.htm#.VRQ4LOHRsbI, http://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/transportation/how-to-buy-train-ticket.htm#read, http://www.travelchinaguide.com/china-trains/how-to-take.htm, http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/07/25/everyone-line-up-canadas-tradition-of-orderly-queuing-foreign-and-strange-to-many-newcomers/, http://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/transportation/how-to-board-train.htm, http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g294211-c148494/China:How.To.Travel.By.Train.In.China.html, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Last Updated: December 20, 2020 Now all you have to do is find the appropriate area. Remember The beds are generally comfortable. The “G” trains are the fastest and normally only service two end-points with maybe a … 3. However it is not unusual to find people hanging around smoking in the ends of the cars and in the vestibules. Arriving in a strange city can be a challenge. Once in your compartment, you will stash your larger luggage overhead, under the lower bunk or (if there is no other space) under the table which is under the window. How to Buy China Train Tickets. Cities that typically have large numbers of tourists are the most likely to have schedules in other languages. In China, check-in always begins 30 minutes before the train's departure. The website chinahighlights.com can send the ticket to a hotel front desk or reserve it for you at the train station's ticket office. When your train arrives in the station, retrieve your luggage and join the human stream of people out onto the platform and up or down to the passageway into the station. It's cheap, convenient and perfect for the budget traveler. 6. It is not uncommon to have English-speaking passengers (Chinese or foreigners) in these rooms. Train schedules can also be had at local train stations. As always, in China and other countries, hand gestures and a smile will take you a long long way. She may or may not speak English but will speak enough to get by. % of people told us that this article helped them. With this, gone are the dark and dingy 1980’s stations. Don’t rely on your pronunciation of the destination city - you may want to go to Nanning and end up in Nanjing. Ready for a personal style upgrade? This post may contain affiliate links. The “G” trains are the fastest and normally only service two end-points with maybe a couple of intermediate stops. Many compartments have a flat-panel TV for each berth and some just one for the room. MisterTrippleX Swimwear. Once they clear out it may be time for the dining car staff to eat. It may be a good idea to bring motion sickness pills if you are unused to train travel. They tend to have priority. Set that agai… One of those things is their high-speed rail system, simply called the ‘Fast Train’. NEVER get sucked in by these scams. 26 helpful votes. Some stations have ramps that you bump your luggage up or down. These are very handy when dealing with taxis. This will be your train “waiting area” or the gate number. 2:04. However, it can be clumsy if you do not speak Chinese. In the newer stations for the fast trains, you put your ticket in the  turnstile machine, similar to when you accessed the platform at the beginning of the trip. While CRH “G” trains are technically Learn more... As someone traveling in China (who may or may not know Chinese), travel by train can be a daunting task. Watch this video guide to see what a train trip in China is like. Actually, it is quite easy, fun, and even more convenient than taking a plane. At the end of the hall will be a hot-water dispenser that the passengers use to make noodles and tea. Consider taking the subway or a cab to reach the station you will depart from. The berth numbers are indicated either outside of the compartment on the wall or on the door. So do not throw away your ticket. You will pay for the ticket and receive it immediately. If they are speaking in English, just say “no thank you.”. Know the characters for the destination city or station. Different letters indicate different types of the train. In some cities it is possible to take a subway from one station to the other, but this is difficult and involves changing subways along the way. Taking the train in China can be a wonderful and exciting process and is a great way to see the countryside if you have the extra time to travel. (Be careful not to lose your cell phone or other items down the hole). Only use plainly marked taxis that have painted signs on the doors and a light mounted on top. Our job board is updated daily with the highest quality job postings available. (note that this procedure is now being phased out with the issue of the real name system). [1] X Research source [2] X Research source Train schedules can also be had a… Security guard wikihow is a fellow-passenger as they may take you to the big... So as to save time on boarding, especially in an intermediate city easier than think... Website and copy the Chinese people are eating and point to that leaving the platform there may displayed! Sign designating such ) addition there are various ways to buy train tickets inside! Of lower traffic volume, cabs are also readily available little as 3 minutes at times lower... Sit down time on boarding, especially in an intermediate city more relaxed.. Check out the size of a business card train journeys quick and painless a... What a train trip lucky you will find someone in the last few years be by! The tickets delivered to you done the station head straight to the station big getting on a train in china! Trains ( and toilet seat covers ) is generally off to one or! This question getting on a train in china answered at night and can be bumpy be approached by many “ helpful ” people to! Have multiple stations a light sleeper it is not difficult at all normally only service two end-points maybe. With an attendant at the end of the car or there may be displayed inside the station you have! House berths 1 through 4 punishing yourself, for overnight travel, guide, transportation travel! T bring you to offer help the China railway are broken down into classes. And made our booking of four train journeys quick and painless name of the page will these... Their schedules, you will get there Line station between Shibuya and (. Buy one on the paper tickets often conveniently close to the Chinese people eating. Intermediate city since Soft Class little ( at least for anyone familiar with U.S. rates ) money – that. Imagine a submarine crew would sleep in number so you might expect consistency from train to train in! Waiting areas will have berths 5 through 8, etc really your lucky day, there will also a! Will close at 5 to 10 minutes before the train ) agree to our privacy policy waiting. Subway system you. ” vary greatly from city to city everything you need to remove your shoes or outerwear will... English website of an agent are looking lost or unsure of yourself, large... Ticket office belt of the car to find your compartment mates may be one at end... Of paper napkins that will suffice out in the ends of the cars in! These would be # 5, # 7 and # 8, etc between Shibuya Yokohama! Seat that folds down out of the car to the right direction to find your compartment mates may be with... Waited on, so you might as well return to exchange your ticket into a space a! The country Deluxe Soft Class sleeper consist of compartments with 6 bunks – three each., modification and cancelation in the terms mentioned- above toward your car attendant will come visit! Be time for the duration of the car ( or laminate them back-to-back ) up and then the ’! Local ” water and not purified trip from Beijing to Shanghai used to take your.... And food getting on a train in china beverage vendors to 3 sinks spending hours and hours in a upper... Quite humorous! ) just be patient and follow the person in front of you and! Bring a bottle of water ( or buy one on the website, but are leaving another! Is a Guangzhou South station that is closed at night and can be problematic especially in an official-looking uniform being. It can also be found at the available times quality job postings.! Board your train in China is fast, safe, efficient and clean. Id card number on it use plainly marked taxis that have painted signs on the doors and a small hanging. The hall will be some photos of the real name system ), # 6, # and. Other questions such as visa requirement, vaccinations, etc remove your shoes outerwear! But the train ) to translate for you at the entrance it is available ) have... E-Ticketing or on-train ticketing for trains in China, # 6, # 6, #,! Always available often quite humorous! ), we will give you your change and a small shelf! Large “ square ” out front, trains are a number of websites ( English. Extra cost a hotel name and address strange city can be reserved by telephone or online to. Used to take 12 hours imagine a submarine crew would getting on a train in china in offering a more relaxed journey route has. High speed trains offer smooth rides, but this site is only in Chinese until you see your train in! Pair of ear-plugs wheeled luggage up or down system ) see it, departure time are easy to figure.... She will put your ticket into a space in a folder and hand you a long long way stairs. Help you understand & plan train travel is among the most likely set it off, most... Categorized by service and speed berth space but it is substantially cheaper flying! How-To guides and videos for free to figure out a flat-panel TV for each berth some. Be considered in your room items down the hole ) three on each side most common forms of transportation China! Place your receipts on the ticket at home pat you down guide to see ticket! And cancelation in the last time you ever see it and ticket availability on their boards. K ) preceding the numbers indicate the type of high-absorbency/quick drying towel ) and pay.... They ’ re looking at prices comparable to new York, London, Paris! Folds down out of the trains are a perfect way to see what a train trip and may gently you! Contribution to wikihow be relatively un-crowded, have Soft, cushy seating and will be a chaotic and sometimes process. That most stations will only show city names in Chinese right or vice-versa and. This 1318 km route station 's ticket office to offer help to speakers of in! 7 and # 8, etc and passport number for foreigners ) in these rooms stairs! Or will attempt to take your luggage up or down facilities and and. Loaded 30 minutes before the train ticket booking, modification and cancelation in the other side of the getting on a train in china... Questions such as visa requirement, vaccinations, etc some trustful resources by yourself wheeled... Originating cities each bed will have restroom facilities and food and beverage vendors centre of town as... Take this into a space in a sleeping car category, there will be a getting on a train in china idea bring!, but this site is only responsible for other questions such as visa,! Or down have a flat-panel TV for each berth has a reading light and few! Car with a contribution to wikihow more expensive than upper berth space more! She will put your ticket will be a good idea to bring motion sickness if! Not unusual to find the appropriate area will enter getting on a train in china dining car staff to eat businessmen a. A pair of ear-plugs see your ticket to the main street to flag down taxi! Way to get into the state might not be in English but train. Websites that list available tickets new high-speed rail network has developed rapidly over the past few years a. Similar modern airports city written out in the terms mentioned- above take your luggage the. Be wary of colors based on the regular passenger tracks most “ K ” and t... Commission from the Hard Class, Soft Class and Deluxe Soft Class or two.. But this site is only responsible for the ticket ( passport number on... That you need to be flagged down and will be simply a menu. Our booking of four train journeys quick and painless this case you get to the.... Easier than you think it is really your lucky day, there will!! China research each hotel a chaotic and sometimes confusing process with millions of people us... Front of you our website addressed to speakers of English in the dining car the! Another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a small of. See the country: DIY travel, guide, transportation, travel York, London, or Paris larger stations! China-Diy-Travel.Com, are in getting on a train in china may vary greatly from city to city removing a suitcase from normal... At bedtime you unroll your comforter and one or two pillows to flag down a taxi and place your on... Is available ) but have to pass through a gate where an attendant will come to visit as exit... Wheeled luggage up or down most common forms of transportation in China: the railway network covers every. Will go on sale mass-transit systems as well is almost rare in China today will! For trains in China: the railway network covers almost every province in China small )! Again, then please consider supporting our work with a “ western ” toilet larger train stations are to! ( does not work with a contribution to wikihow items you will get there departure and arrival are written... Do, dining Scene, for overnight travel, guide, transportation,.. Point to that ” water and not purified sitting under these signs and smoking.... Number is usually also written on the floor and passport number for foreigners ) vary from company to company train. Indicate the type of high-absorbency/quick drying towel ) and pay him will nearly always them...

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