China Travel Tips

With a large population, China is able to provide an extensive and well-run journey of trains to its people. Trains in China runs on time and go anywhere you want to including either a short-distance trip between the neighboring towns or a long-distance trip crossing provinces. It would be an interesting and unforgettable experience to travel around China by trains, which offers you more opportunities to know China and its people.
 

Usually there are four categories of accommodation in a Chinese train, which are soft-seat, hard-seat, soft-sleeper and hard-sleeper. The soft-sleeper is the most comfortable and with the best facilities, which is also the one we suggest you to take.
Train travel during special occasions such as the Chinese Spring Festival, summer and winter vacation, and the National Day are very crowded, and it would be rather difficult to buy a ticket, so you’d better avoid these periods, making your trip more comfortable and relaxing.

Trains in China are divided into different types in line with their speed and each type is identified with a capital and numbers, as listed in the following:
D-train: incorporated with high technology and is the fastest train in China;
 

Z-train: express train.

T-train: high-speed train.

K-train: fast train.

L-train: only running in peak time such as the Spring Festival and National Day. 

Y-train: namely tourist train and running for famous tourist destinations for the convenience of tourists.

Commuter train, Accommodation train and Local train: having only four numbers without letters. 

Trains listed above have decreased facilities, services, speed and prices, which means that D-train is the fastest, most comfortable and expensive one with best facilities while the Commuter train, Accommodation train and Local train the least.

Traveling by train in China is generally convenient, since the railway network coverage is good and nearly all cities and major towns in China are connected through railways. However, it would be somehow difficult to buy tickets in large cities, especially in special occasions like the Spring Festival.
 

As for the comfort you get on stepping onto the train, it is mainly decided by the type of train you take. Usually D-trains are the most comfortable and ordinary trains the least.

Not all trains in China are air-conditioned and generally speaking, soft seat, sleeper cars and express trains including T-train, K-train and Z-train are. But facilities in these trains may be different from those in other countries.

Normally you can buy China train tickets in ticket office, ticket agency and travel agency. Ticket Office in the railway station sells train tickets which can also be purchased in ticket agencies throughout the city. Besides, buying your ticket through travel agencies can be very convenient and safe, however an extra fee of CNY 20 to CNY 100 is required.

Information included on a China train ticket is shown as follows:

Normally you can book a domestic train within 3 to 15 days prior to your travel time, but it may vary based on the city and the time of the year.

You can book an international train ticket 40 days in advance with your valid passport.

There are a few trains from Beijing having compartments for two people and most soft sleeper compartments have four beds. Therefore you may have to buy four tickets to enjoy a private compartment.

There are two Chinese traditional squat style toilets at both ends of each compartment, and facilities there are very simple. You must prepare yourself with toilet paper.

Berth on the train is equipped with beddings, so there is no need for you to take yours. However food and drinks are not provided and you can take some with you or buy them in the restaurant on the train.

As China Ministry of Railways stipulated, children including those free of tickets can take 10 kg (22 pounds) of luggage, diplomat 35 kg (77 pounds) and other passengers 20 kg (44 pounds). Luggage exceeding the limit can be checked into the train and you need to go through the related formalities before you depart.

Despite train stations in some big cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Xi’an, most train stations in China only broadcast in Chinese.

Restaurant car is available on every train except ordinary trains and usually it is in the tenth compartment of the train, where Chinese food is mainly served.

There are 3 options for sleepers for you to choose, namely Deluxe Sleeper, Soft Sleeper and Hard Sleeper, and 2 options for seats: Soft and Hard. Usually you are recommended to choose sleepers for long-distance trip and seats for short-distance trip.

The deluxe sleeper is the most comfortable and peaceful way to travel especially during the night, while it is also the most expensive in China. Each compartment only contains two clean and comfortable beds together with a private toilet. However, these compartments are only available on a few trains from Beijing to Shanghai, Hong Kong and Xi’an and some important routes from and to large cities.
 

The soft sleeper is a closed compartment with 4 comfortable berths. Except for sheets and blankets of better standard, beds in soft sleepers are the same as those in hard sleepers. At both ends of the carriage car are bathrooms and toilets which are shared by about 9 compartments.

The soft seat is more comfortable than the hard seat and also more expensive. The car is air-conditioned and not too crowded.

Compared with soft seat, the hard seat, usually upholstered, is harder as its name goes. Some of the cars are not air-conditioned and not as clean as soft seat cars. Usually cars with hard seats are crowed.

Dogs or other animals are not allowed to be taken into the cars but they can be consigned for shipment.

The overnight train in China is relatively safe since most people will fall in sleep after getting onto the train. However, it is better for you to take notice of your belongings. As for comfort, the sleeper is still the best.

Generally speaking, train is cheaper than aircraft for both long-distance and short-distance trips. But if the airfare is discounted, train may be a little expensive than aircraft.