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China Train Tickets Online Booking & E-Ticket Service
China Train Tickets Booking Steps: 1. Search for your China train route and date, 2. Select the train and seat or sleeper class, 3. Submit the passenger name and passport number exactly as shown on the passport, 4. Pay online and receive your China Railway e-ticket confirmation and travel instructions.
Once your China train itinerary is clear, book as early as the China Railway presale period allows. Seats on popular high-speed routes can disappear quickly, especially around Spring Festival, May Day and National Day. We help foreign travelers check train schedules, choose the right station, compare backup routes and use passports for China train e-ticket travel.
" Our trip was amazing!!! We really really love China :) we loved the pandas, the terracotta warriors, all the temples and incense, the great wall, the hutongs of Beijing, the old city of Pingyao, the hot pot, the moon cake, the peking duck, the bubble tea, the tall buildings of Shanghai!! Everything was great, and it was made even better thanks to you because we didn't have to spend any time worrying about finding/buying train tickets! Thanks again Morgen!!" - Heather Auten
Book ordinary or high-speed China rail tickets online
Booking China train tickets is much easier when the station names, passport details and travel dates are right from the start. You don’t need to stand in a long station queue just to check a schedule. Search China train times, compare seat classes and book ordinary or high-speed rail tickets online before you travel.
We help travelers book China Railway e-tickets and make sense of the small details that matter on the day: which station to go to, how early to arrive, how passport check-in works, and what backup train to choose if your first choice is sold out or still under timetable adjustment. For most domestic China trains, foreign travelers board with the passport used for the booking.
Popular routes include Beijing to Shanghai, Beijing to Xian, Shanghai to Hangzhou, Guangzhou to Shenzhen, Chengdu to Chongqing, Kunming to Dali, Guilin to Yangshuo, and trains to or from Hong Kong West Kowloon. Planning a multi-city China train trip? You can search and submit more than one train on this page.
Before issuing tickets, we check the English and Chinese station names, the travel date, passenger names, passport numbers and seat choices. This is especially useful in cities with several stations, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Chongqing and Xian. A wrong station can mean missing the train even when the ticket itself is valid.
If the train you want is sold out, we can look for sensible alternatives: another departure time, a nearby station, a different seat class, or a split route through a third city. We do not promise impossible seats; we give clear choices so your China trip can still go ahead.
Classes of Chinese trains
There are several classes of ordinary Chinese train seat and sleeper: deluxe soft sleeper or superior soft sleeper on selected trains, soft sleeper, hard sleeper, soft seat and hard seat. Availability depends on the train number and route.
Common high-speed train seats: business seat, first class seat and second class seat are widely used. Some trains also offer premium or superior seats, sleeper seats, quiet carriages or route-specific seat types.
Business seats: the most spacious high-speed train seat class, usually arranged 2+1 in a row, with reclining seats, power outlets and a quieter carriage environment.
Premium or superior seats: offered on selected high-speed trains, usually with more space than second class and a quieter seating layout. The exact facilities vary by train type and route.
First class seats: normally 4 seats in each row, with 2 seats on each side, wider space than second class and often equipped with a small table, power outlet and footrest.
Second class seats: normally 5 seats in each row with 2+3 seating. It is the most common and economical high-speed train seat class.
Hard sleeper: there are 6 hard sleeper berths (upper, middle and lower) in a compartment with 3 on each side.
Soft sleeper: the 4-berth compartment has 2 upper and 2 lower berths. Deluxe soft sleeper compartments are available on selected overnight trains and usually offer 2 berths with more privacy and better facilities.
FAQ on How to book China train tickets?
Q: How do I start booking my China train tickets?
A: 1. search for your China train tickets by departure city, arrival city and travel date; 2. select the train and seat/sleeper class; 3. complete the passenger name, passport number and contact information; 4. submit or pay online; 5. tickets will be booked if available; 6. receive your e-ticket confirmation and station guidance by email.
Q: Can foreign travelers book China train tickets with a passport?
A: Yes. Foreign travelers can book real-name China train tickets with a valid passport. The name and passport number must be entered exactly as shown on the passport, and the same original passport should be carried when entering and leaving the railway station.
Q: What should I do if the tickets I chose are no longer available?
A: We will contact you with practical alternatives, such as a nearby departure time, another station in the same city, a different seat class, or a split journey through a connecting city. If none of the options works for you, we will arrange the refund according to the payment and railway rules.
Q: Can I get my China train tickets if I provide incorrect information?
A: No. China train tickets use real-name ticketing, so the passenger name and passport number must match the travel document. If the information is incorrect, the booking may need to be cancelled and rebooked, and railway or service fees may apply. Please check every letter and number before payment.
Q: What is the China train ticket booking service fee?
A: The final price includes the railway ticket cost and our booking service fee. Extra fees may apply for urgent help, multi-city train trips, Tibet train arrangements, route advice or payment transfer costs. We will show or confirm the total before issuing the tickets.
Q: How far in advance can you book the China train tickets for me?
A: We can book China train tickets as soon as they are released in the current China Railway presale period. Release dates and times can change around holidays or timetable adjustments, so it is best to send your route and passport details as soon as they are ready.
Q: Can you book the train tickets for me to secure the tickets if I cannot pay immediately?
A: In most cases tickets can only be held or issued after payment, because China Railway inventory changes quickly. If you have a payment problem, contact us as early as possible and we will suggest the safest available option.
Q: Do I need a paper train ticket delivered to my hotel?
A: For most domestic China trains, you do not need a paper ticket delivered to your hotel. China Railway e-tickets are linked to the passenger's passport or ID used for booking. Foreign travelers should carry the original passport and use the staffed gate if the automatic gate does not read the passport.
Q: How many days in advance can I book my China train tickets through you?
A: You can send us your train request any time after your itinerary is planned. Actual ticket issuing depends on the current China Railway presale period and ticket availability. During busy travel seasons, earlier requests give us more time to check alternatives such as a different station, train number, seat class or travel date.
Q: How do I use my China train e-ticket at the station?
A: Bring the original passport used for booking. At many stations, Chinese ID cards go through automatic gates, while foreign passports may need the staffed gate. Keep your train number, departure station, date, carriage and seat information ready.
Q: Can I get an itinerary sheet or receipt after booking?
A: Yes. In many cases an itinerary sheet or reimbursement receipt can be printed or downloaded after booking. It is useful for records or reimbursement, but it is not the ticket you use to board the train.
Q: What documents or information do I need to book my China train ticket?
A: You need the passenger's full name, passport number, nationality, travel date, departure station, arrival station, train preference and seat or sleeper class. The name and passport number must be exactly the same as the passport used at the railway station.
Q: How do I avoid choosing the wrong train station?
A: Many Chinese cities have more than one railway station. Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu and Chongqing all have multiple stations. Check the full station name before booking, and allow enough time to reach the correct station. If you are not sure, send us your hotel or route plan and we can help you choose the most convenient station.
Q: When will I know whether or not train tickets are available after submitting my China train ticket reservation?
A: We reply by email after checking the route and availability. China Railway ticket sales and endorsement services are not 24 hours every day, and railway system maintenance, holiday demand or timetable changes can affect confirmation time.
Important Tips for China Train Tickets Online Booking
- 01. How to book a China train ticket?
- 02. China train e-ticket and passport check-in
- 03. Types of China trains
- 04. Which train seat to take?
- 05. Refund, change or lose a ticket?
- 06. How to board your train
- 07. China Train Ticket Booking Fee
- 09. Facilities on board
- 10. How to board your China train
- 11. Ways of Payment