Top Questions about China Trains

You don't need to collect paper ticket at station ticket office. You just need to show your passport to the staff at check-in gate, then board the train.

All Chinese trains now support electronic tickets. You don't need to collect paper ticket at station ticket office. You just need to show your passport to the staff at check-in gate, then board the train. If you need a souvenir or a receipt for reimbursement, you can print a voucher at the ticket printing machines at your departure railway station.

Generally, there are left luggage service centers in municipal railway stations. They usually are located near the entrances of the stations.There is no standard rate for luggage storage; specific costs depend on the station, the size of the luggage, and the storage method. Small backpacks typically cost 5–20 CNY per day, while large suitcases generally range from 10 to 50 CNY per day.

Train tickets are currently released 15 days prior to the departure date. We will confirm your booking as soon as possible after the tickets become available.

There are many taxi stands around or inside the railway stations. In big and new railway stations, they usually are located at the exits on the underground floor. In small and old railway stations, they are located outside the exits on the ground floor. If you need a private car service, please contact us.

You need to provide the passport number, full name, date of birth, passport validity, gender, and nationality are required. It is important to make sure that your name and passport number are correct, for you cannot board trains or get ticket refunds if you fill in the wrong information. It is recommended to use China Train Booking to purchase train tickets.

After cancellation, you will receive the refund in the same way as your initial payment. The processing period is subject to your bank or credit card provider.
If you book the tickets on China Train Booking App and you have not paid yet, the system will automatically cancel them after the train departs. If you have paid for the tickets, you need to cancel it on our App before departure time, and the refund is on the basis of China Train Booking Policy. If you have any questions or need any help, please contact us via email or telephone.
On the day of departure， Cancellation or any changes to your tickets are NOT accepted online, if you need to make any adjustments, please submit your request directly at a train station counter before departure.

If you buy the tickets on the China Rail website, the registration process is a huge hassle, and there is no corresponding human customer service. If you book with China Train Booking, you can use foreign credit cards conveniently (visa and JCB are available). We also accept PayPal, WeChat payment and Alipay. If you meet any trouble in paying, feel free to contact us.

It is common in China that one city has two or three train stations. The stations are usually named by their positions in that city. Dong (东) means east, xi (西)means west, nan (南) means south and bei (北) means north. For example, Beijing Xi Station means Beijing West Railway Station, and it is located in the west of Beijing.

All Chinese trains now support electronic tickets. You don't need to collect paper ticket at station ticket office. You just need to show your passport to the staff at check-in gate, then board the train.

China's railway network is extensive, safe, clean, and punctual, making trains the recommended primary choice. Advantages of trains include: ① lower carbon emissions compared to planes (more eco-friendly); ② generally lower costs; ③ more spacious interiors allowing for freedom of movement; and ④ the opportunity to enjoy the scenery along the way. Advantages of planes include: ① higher speeds, making them suitable for long-distance travel; and ② greater time efficiency. Alternatively, consider the distance: for trips under 800 kilometers—or if punctuality and cost-effectiveness are priorities—high-speed rail is the best choice; for distances exceeding 1,000 kilometers, flying is preferable.

China Train Booking belongs to China Highlights, which is a tourism company who has served over 300,000 foreign visitors. We are confident to say that we not only have experience with transportation, but also are experienced in other things to do with travel. Plus, we are members of ASTA, IATA, PATA and USTOA, so you don’t have to worry about any safety issues.

China Rail assigns seats randomly if you buy tickets online. If there are enough tickets, China Rail may assign adjacent seats for you. So if you want to sit with your companions, booking tickets as early as possible is recommended. If you really want to ensure that you can sit with your companions, please select your seats when placing your order and include a note, or contact us directly to confirm your seating.

Please contact us to plan the route for you. We provide you with transit options, and we can give you the best transfer plans.

Passengers can contact the staff on duty timely at the departure or arrival station to try to retrieve the luggage after losing the items. Passengers need to fill in your personal information along with the detail of your Train & Seat No, and also the lost item information and location of the items to the staff. The staff will inform the situation within 24hours to the passenger. Or you can call us to help you to contact 12306 if you have left train station already. Please also inform us the above information.

It is recommended to take a taxi to the hotel. You can print out the hotel name in Chinese in advance and show it to the taxi driver. You can also view the online maps on our website.