Plan · Transport
High-speed rail in China
The Chinese high-speed network is the world's largest. 45,000+ km of dedicated track, several thousand departures a day, the fastest commercial services on Earth. For travellers, it has replaced domestic flights on most routes under 1,500 km.
The network in numbers
China's high-speed rail network is the world's largest dedicated high-speed system: 45,000+ km of track as of 2026, with extensions under active construction. The network connects all provincial capitals and most cities above 500,000 population. The key routes for travellers:
| Route | Fastest journey | Typical 2nd class fare | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beijing ↔ Shanghai | 4h 28m | ¥553 | ||
| Beijing ↔ Guangzhou | ~8h | ¥862 | ||
| Shanghai ↔ Hangzhou | 45 min | ¥78 | ||
| Shanghai ↔ Chengdu | ~11h | ¥820 | ||
| Guangzhou ↔ Shenzhen | 30 min | ¥75 | ||
| Xi'an ↔ Chengdu | ~3h 30m | ¥324 | ||
| Chengdu ↔ Chongqing | ~1h | ¥130 |
[VERIFY: fares and journey times — May 2026; prices change with promotions]
Train classes explained
G-class (高铁, Gāotiě): The fastest services, running on dedicated high-speed track only. Maximum operating speed 350 km/h. All services have assigned seating in second, first, or business class. This is what most travellers will use on major inter-city routes.
D-class (动车, Dòngchē): 200–250 km/h, often using shared track. Comfortable, slightly cheaper than G-class over the same distance. Common on secondary routes and some popular tourist routes (Guilin–Guangzhou, for example).
C-class (城际, Chéngjì): Short intercity services between adjacent cities in the same metro area (Beijing–Tianjin, Guangzhou–Foshan, Chengdu–Dujiangyan). Frequency over long-distance speed.
K, T, Z class (conventional): Conventional-speed trains using the old network. Useful for long overnight journeys (Beijing–Lhasa Z-class sleeper; Beijing–Urumqi K-class) where speed matters less than cost and the railway experience.
Seat classes within G and D trains
Second class (二等座, èrděng zuò): Standard. Two seats on one side, three on the other. Comfortable, wide, adequate legroom for most passengers. This is the right choice for journeys under 6 hours. The markup to first or business class for short journeys is rarely worth it.
First class (一等座, yīděng zuò): Wider seats (2+2 configuration), more legroom, usually less crowded. Worth considering for journeys of 6+ hours if you want more personal space.
Business class (商务座, shāngwù zuò): Reclining sleeper-style seats at the front or rear of the train, 2+1 configuration. Includes meals, free bottled water, lounge access at major stations. Expensive (~3x second class) but genuinely comfortable for the very long routes. Some trains have private compartments.
Sleeper (on conventional trains only): Soft sleeper (软卧, 4-berth compartment with a door, more private) and hard sleeper (硬卧, 6-berth open bays, cheaper). These classes don't exist on HSR G/D-class trains.
How to buy tickets: step by step
Option 1: 12306 app (official, cheapest)
1. Download the **China Railway 12306** app from the App Store or Google Play. 2. Register: passport number as ID, overseas mobile number for the account. 3. Search by departure city, arrival city, and date. 4. Select service (G/D/K), class, and time. 5. Enter passenger details exactly as on your passport. 6. Pay: the app accepts UnionPay; foreign Visa/Mastercard works through the in-app payment channel [VERIFY: current foreign card acceptance — May 2026]; if cards fail, try Alipay or WeChat Pay. 7. Your e-ticket is stored in the app; you'll also receive it to your email.
Tickets go on sale 15 days before departure (this window was extended from 14 days in 2024). Popular routes on key dates — Spring Festival, Golden Week — sell out within minutes of release. For these dates, set an alarm and buy at 8:00am Beijing time on the release day.
Option 2: Trip.com (English, reliable, small markup)
Trip.com (the international face of Ctrip, China's largest booking platform) sells Chinese rail tickets with a full English interface. Markup is approximately ¥15–25 per ticket service fee. The process is more reliable for foreign cards than 12306. No app registration needed if you have a Trip.com account.
Option 3: station window
Available at every rail station. Look for the 'Foreigner' (外宾/外国人) counter if available, or join the regular queue. Show your passport and state or write down your destination and class. Most ticket clerks cannot assist in English; have the destination written in Chinese and the date and time. Payment by cash or card. The station window is a reliable fallback for same-day or next-day travel.
Real-name ID requirement
China's rail system is real-name. Every ticket is tied to the specific person's ID. When booking: - Use your passport number and exactly the name as printed on your passport. - You will need to show this passport at the station security gate (which reads passport data) and may be checked again at the boarding gate.
Changing a ticket to a different passenger requires cancelling and rebooking. Changes to the departure time are possible (within 30 minutes of departure at some stations) but subject to fees [VERIFY: current change fee policy — May 2026].
Arriving at the station
High-speed rail stations are large — some are the size of airports. Allow 30 minutes minimum from arriving at the station to the boarding gate:
1. **Enter the station**: Show your passport at the security gate (biometric machine reads your passport and matches to the booking). No separate ticket required if using an e-ticket — the gate reads it. 2. **Security scan**: Bags through the X-ray. No liquids over 100ml; power banks must be under 100Wh (anything larger is surrendered). Same rules as at an airport. 3. **Find your platform**: The departure board shows the platform (站台, zhàntái) and waiting hall (候车室). Wait in the waiting room until the boarding announcement. 4. **Board**: Gates close typically 5 minutes before departure. The train will leave on time.
Practical tips
- Seat direction: On HSR trains, some seats face backward. This bothers some travellers on long journeys. If this concerns you, specify a forward-facing seat when booking (can be selected in 12306 app).
- Food on board: Standard-class dining cars sell boxed meals (盒饭, about ¥30–60) and snacks. Edible but uninspiring. Major HSR stations have decent food courts — stock up before boarding for long journeys.
- Platform numbering: The platform number on the departure board changes close to departure time; don't be surprised if it's showing '--' until 30 minutes before.
- Spring Festival: Approximately 50 million trips happen per day during the 40-day Chunyun period around the Lunar New Year. Plan around this or book in extraordinary advance.
- Transfer times in big cities: Beijing South, Guangzhou South, Chengdu East — these are large stations. Allow 15 minutes to walk between platforms on a transfer. Don't book connections under 30 minutes at the same station.
What if I miss the train?
Unlike air travel, you can sometimes board a later train with the same ticket (at lower-occupancy services) by speaking to station staff — but this is at their discretion and is not a guaranteed right. Officially, a missed train is a lost ticket unless you cancel before departure via the 12306 app (refund policies apply).