Book your train tickets in China

With the purpose of expanding our coverage of the railway network in Asia, we are bringing online train ticket booking in China to our platform.

 

Types of trains in China

The railway network in China is operated by China Railway (CR), a state-owned company under the control of the Ministry of Finance. In the present, two types of trains transit the railway network in China:

• China Railway High-speed (CRH) trains
• China Railway conventional trains

 

China Railway High-speed (CRH) trains

High-speed rail was introduced in China in 2007. China Railway High-speed (CRH) trains run on tracks that have been upgraded to support up to 250 km/h and also on new dedicated tracks that can support up to 350 km/h.

CRH trains are designated by the letter identifying the class of service followed by three to four numerals indicating the region of operation:

• G-series: Long distance high-speed service, with maximum speed of 350 km/h.
• D-series: Long distance high-speed service, with maximum speed of 250 km/h.
• C-series: Intercity high-speed service, with maximum speed of 200 km/h.

CRH trains offer four seat passengers classes:

• Second class Seat, available in G, D and C series trains
• First class Seat, available in G, D and C series trains
• Premier class Seat, available in G and C series trains
• Business class Seat, available in G-series trains only

And one sleeper passenger class:

• Soft Sleeper class in compartments for 1-4 passengers, available in overnight D-series trains only

How is the experience of travelling on a high-speed train in China? Jump aboard the D-series train from Nanning to Guangzhou.

 

China Railway conventional trains

China Railway conventional trains are hauled by electric and diesel locomotives that run on electrified rail tracks.

Conventional trains are designated by the letter identifying the class of service followed by three to four numerals indicating the region of operation:

• Z-series: Direct Express service stopping at provincial capitals or no stops, with maximum speed of 160 km/h.
• T-series: Express service stopping at subprovincial cities, with maximum speed of 140 km/h.
• K-series: Fast service stopping at prefecture-level cities, with maximum speed of 120 km/h.

Conventional trains offer two seat passenger classes:

• Hard Seat
• Soft Seat

And three sleeper passenger classes:

• Hard Sleeper in compartments for 1-6 passengers
• Soft Sleeper in compartments for 1-4 passengers
• Deluxe Soft Sleeper in compartments for 1-2 passengers

How is the experience of travelling on a conventional train in China? Jump aboard the Z-series train from Guangzhou to Xi’an.

 

Getting around China by train

The railway network in China consists of 112,000 kilometres of rail tracks, including 16,000 kilometres of high-speed dedicated tracks. China has the longest national railway network in the world, connecting all provinces in Mainland China as well as reaching Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR and Vietnam.

The network interlinks the different CR service regions by sixteen major railway corridors, consisting of 8 railroads running north-south and 8 railroads running east-west, plus eight CRH lines, 4 vertical high-speed rail corridors and 4 horizontal high-speed rail corridors.

We support advance ticket booking for more than 130 train stations in China, including the major cities and tourist sites, such as Beijing and Datong in the North; Urumqi and Xi’an in the Northwest, Harbin in the Northeast; Shanghai, Hangzhou, Huangshan and Longyan in the East Coast; Nanning, Guilin, Guangzhou and Hainan island in the South Central region; Sichuan, Yunnan and Tibet in the Southwest.
 

Northern China

There are 3 subsidiary companies of China Railway operating in Northern China. CR Beijing operates passenger train services in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei province. CR Hohhot operates passenger train services in Inner Mongolia province. CR Taiyuan operates passenger train services in Shanxi province.

 

Train routes to Beijing:

• The Beijing–Shanghai high-speed railway connects Shanghai to Beijing.
• The Beijing–Guangzhou high-speed railway connects Guangzhou to Beijing via Changsha, Wuhan and Zhengzhou.
• The Beijing–Kunming passageway connects Kunming to Beijing via Chengdu and Xi’an.

 

Train routes to Datong:

• The Beijing–Baotou railway connects Beijing to Datong.

 

Northwestern China

There are 3 subsidiary companies of China Railway operating in Northwestern China. CR Lanzhou operates passenger train services in Gansu, Ningxia provinces and parts of Inner Mongolia. CR Urumqi operates passenger train services in Xinjiang province and parts of Gansu. CR Xi’an operates passenger train services in Shaanxi province and northeast Sichuan.

 

Train routes to Urumqi:

• The Beijing–Lanzhou passageway connects Beijing to Lanzhou. Once in Lanzhou, the Lanzhou–Xinjiang high-speed railway connects Lanzhou to Urumqi.
• The Direct Express Z69, Z179 overnight trains connect Beijing to Urumqi.
• The Direct Express Z40 overnight train connects Shanghai to Urumqi.
• The Direct Express Z138 overnight train connects Guangzhou to Urumqi.

 

Train routes to Xi’an:

• The Beijing–Xi’an high-speed railway connects Beijing to Xi’an via Zhengzhou.
• The Xi’an–Chengdu high-speed railway connects Chengdu to Xi’an.
• The Direct Express Z19, Z43 overnight trains connect Beijing to Xi’an.
• The Direct Express Z92, Z252 overnight trains connect Shanghai to Xi’an.
• The Direct Express Z86 overnight train connects Hangzhou to Xi’an.

 

Northeastern China

There are 2 subsidiary companies of China Railway operating in Northeastern China. CR Harbin operates passenger train services in Heilongjiang province and northeast Inner Mongolia. CR Shenyang operates passenger train services in Liaoning, Jilin provinces and southeast Inner Mongolia, south Heilongjiang and northeast Hebei.

 

Train routes to Harbin:

• The Beijing–Harbin high-speed railway connects Beijing to Harbin via Shenyang.
• The Harbin-Dalian high-speed railway connects Dalian to Harbin.
• The Direct Express Z15, Z17, Z203 overnight trains connect Beijing to Harbin.
• The Direct Express Z172 overnight train connects Shanghai to Harbin.
• The Direct Express Z176 overnight train connects Hangzhou to Harbin.

 

Eastern China

There are 3 subsidiary companies of China Railway operating in Eastern China. CR Jinan operates passenger train services in Shandong province. CR Shanghai operates passenger train services in Shanghai, Jiangsu, Anhui and Zhejiang provinces. CR Nanchang operates passenger train services in Jiangxi, Fujian, and parts of Hubei and Hunan provinces.

 

Train routes to Shanghai:

• The Beijing–Shanghai high-speed railway connects Beijing to Shanghai.
• The Shanghai–Wuhan–Chengdu high-speed railway connects Chengdu to Shanghai via Chongqing, Wuhan, Hefei and Nanjing.
• The Shanghai–Kunming high-speed railway connects Kunming to Shanghai via Changsha and Hangzhou.

 

Train routes to Huangshan:

• The Hefei–Fuzhou high-speed railway connects Hefei to Huangshan and Beijing to Huangshan.
• The Hangzhou–Huangshan intercity railway connects Hangzhou to Huangshan and Shanghai to Huangshan.

 

Train routes to Hangzhou:

• The Coastal passageway is a high-speed rail corridor running along the eastern coast of China connecting Shanghai to Hangzhou, Ningbo, Wenzhou, Fuzhou, Xiamen and Shenzhen.

 

Train routes to Longyan:

• The Longyan–Xiamen railway connects Xiamen to Longyan.

 

Southern China

There are 2 subsidiary companies of China Railway operating in Southern China. CR Guangzhou operates passenger train services in Guangdong, Hunan and Hainan provinces. CR Nanning operates passenger train services in Guangxi province and west Guangdong.

 

Train routes to Nanning, Guilin and Yangshuo:

• The Nanning–Kunming high-speed railway connects Kunming to Nanning.
• The Nanning–Guangzhou high-speed railway connects Guangzhou to Nanning.
• The Hunan–Guangxi railway connects Nanning to Guilin.
• The Guiyang–Guangzhou high-speed railway connects Guangzhou to Guilin and Guilin to Yangshuo.

 

Train routes to Guangzhou:

• The Beijing–Guangzhou high-speed railway connects Beijing to Guangzhou via Zhengzhou, Wuhan and Changsha.
• The Guangzhou–Kunming high-speed railway connects Kunming to Guangzhou via Nanning.
• The Direct Express Z35, Z97 overnight trains connect Beijing to Guangzhou.
• The Direct Express Z99 overnight train connects Shanghai to Guangzhou.
• The Direct Express Z121, Z124 overnight trains connect Chengdu to Guangzhou.
• The Direct Express Z136 overnight train connects Urumqi to Guangzhou.
• The Direct Express Z266 overnight train connects Lhasa to Guangzhou.

 

Train routes to Haikou and Sanya:

• The Southern Coastal railway connects Guangzhou to Haikou. It comprises the Guangzhou–Maoming railway, the Hechun–Maoming railway, and the Litang–Zhanjiang railway. Once in Zhanjiang, the Yuehai Ferry train ferry transports the passenger cars across the Qiongzhou Strait to Hainan island. Railway cars are then attached to an engine and travel to all the way to Haikou railway station in the northern part of the island.
• The Hainan eastern ring high-speed railway connects Haikou to Sanya in the southernmost region of the island.
• The Direct Express Z201 overnight train connects Beijing to Haikou and Sanya.

 

Southwestern China

There are 3 subsidiary companies of China Railway operating in Southern China. CR Chengdu operates passenger train services in Sichuan, Chongqing, Guizhou, and parts of Yunnan and Hubei provinces. CR Kunming operates passenger train services in Yunnan, and parts of Sichuan and Guizhou provinces. CR Qingzang operates passenger train services in Qinghai and Tibet provinces.

 

Trains to Chengdu:

• The Shanghai–Wuhan–Chengdu high-speed railway connects Shanghai to Chengdu via Nanjing, Hefei, Wuhan and Chongqing.
• The Xi’an–Chengdu high-speed railway connects Xi’an to Chengdu.
• The Direct Express Z49 overnight train connects Beijing to Chengdu.
• The Direct Express Z122, Z123 overnight trains connect Guangzhou to Chengdu.
• The Direct Express Z324 overnight train connects Lhasa to Chengdu.

 

Trains to Kunming:

• The Beijing–Kunming passageway connects Beijing to Kunming via Xi’an and Chengdu.
• The Shanghai–Kunming high-speed railway connects Shanghai to Kunming via Hangzhou and Changsha.
• The Guangzhou–Kunming high-speed railway connects Guangzhou to Kunming via Nanning.
• The Direct Express Z53, Z161 overnight trains connect Beijing to Kunming.

 

Trains to Dali and Lijiang:

• The Guangtong–Dali railway connects Kunming to Dali, linking with the Dali–Lijiang railway that connects Dali to Lijiang.

 

Train routes to Lhasa, Tibet:

• The Beijing–Lanzhou passageway connects Beijing to Lanzhou. Once in Lanzhou, the Lanzhou–Xinjiang high-speed railway connects Lanzhou to Xining. For the final step, the Qinghai–Tibet railway connects Xining to Lhasa.
• The Direct Express Z21 overnight train connects Beijing to Lhasa.
• The Direct Express Z164 overnight train connects Shanghai to Lhasa.
• The Direct Express Z322 overnight train connects Chengdu to Lhasa.
• The Direct Express Z264 overnight train connects Guangzhou to Lhasa.

 

International routes to China by train

For those travellers who wish to exit Mainland China by rail, there are international railway routes to Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR, bordering with Guangdong province; and with Vietnam, bordering with Guangxi and Yunnan provinces.

 

Hong Kong SAR

Mainland China has two international railway connections to Hong Kong SAR, providing two options to travel between Guangzhou and Shenzhen in Guangdong province and Hong Kong:

• the new Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL)
• the classic Intercity Through Train

Both services are jointly operated by China Railway and MTR Corporation.

The Vibrant Express is a high-speed train set running on the Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL) that connects Hong Kong and Guangzhou. Since the service was launched, it has turned into a popular way to travel between Hong Kong and Mainland China.

 

From Mainland China to Hong Kong

The Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL) is a high-speed railway line that connects Beijing to Hong Kong via Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Tickets can be booked online through Baolau and collected at the ticket counter of the railway station.

Travellers bound to Hong Kong by high-speed railway clear immigration and customs at West Kowloon Railway Station, not requiring any stops at the border.

 
The Beijing–Kowloon Intercity Through Train connects Beijing West Railway Station with Hung Hom Railway Station in Kowloon, Hong Kong across the border. The Direct Express Z97 operates this intercity service from Beijing to Hong Kong. Tickets must be purchased at Beijing West Railway Station.

The Shanghai–Kowloon Intercity Through Train connects Shanghai Railway Station with Hung Hom Railway Station in Kowloon, Hong Kong across the border. The Direct Express Z99 operates this intercity service from Shanghai to Hong Kong. Tickets must be purchased at Shanghai Railway Station.

The Guangzhou–Kowloon Intercity Through Train connects Guanghzou East Railway Station with Hung Hom Railway Station in Kowloon, Hong Kong across the border. There are six to nine Direct Express intercity trains running from Guangzhou to Hong Kong, with a journey time of 1 hour 50 minutes. Tickets can be booked online through Baolau and collected at the authorized ticket agent near Guangzhou East Railway Station.

Travellers bound to Hong Kong from Beijing, Shanghai or Guangzhou by Intercity Through Train clear Chinese immigration and customs at the departure station, so they are considered to have left Mainland China and are no longer permitted to leave the train until their arrival at Hung Hom station.

 

From Hong Kong to Mainland China

The Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL) is a high-speed railway line that connects Hong Kong to Beijing via Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Tickets can be booked online through Baolau and collected at the ticket counter of the railway station.

Travellers bound to Mainland China by high-speed railway clear immigration and customs at West Kowloon Railway Station, not requiring any stops at the border.

 
The Beijing–Kowloon Intercity Through Train connects Hung Hom Railway Station in Kowloon, Hong Kong with Beijing West Railway Station across the border. The Direct Express Z98 operates this intercity service from Hong Kong to Beijing. Tickets must be purchased at Hung Hom Railway Station.

The Shanghai–Kowloon Intercity Through Train connects Hung Hom Railway Station in Kowloon, Hong Kong with Shanghai Railway Station across the border. The Direct Express Z100 operates this intercity service from Hong Kong to Shanghai. Tickets must be purchased at Hung Hom Railway Station.

The Guangzhou–Kowloon Intercity Through Train connects Hung Hom Railway Station in Kowloon, Hong Kong with Guanghzou East Railway Station across the border. There are six to nine Direct Express intercity trains running from Hong Kong to Guangzhou, with a journey time of 1 hour 50 minutes. Tickets can be booked online through Baolau and collected at the authorized ticket agent near Hung Hom Railway Station.

Travellers bound to Beijing, Shanghai or Guangzhou from Hong Kong by Intercity Through Train must go through Hong Kong immigration counters prior to boarding, then clear Chinese immigration and customs at the arrival station.

 

Macau SAR

There is no international railway service crossing from Mainland China into Macau, but Zhuhai Railway Station, the southern terminus for the Guangzhou–Zhuhai intercity railway, is located adjacent to Gongbei Port of Entry, one of two border crossings to Macau by land.

 

From Mainland China to Macau

The Guangzhou–Zhuhai intercity railway connects Guangzhou to Zhuhai.

Travellers bound to Macau will arrive to Zhuhai railway station, then must walk to Gongbei Port of Entry, exit Guangdong province of Mainland China and enter Macau.

 

From Macau to Mainland China

The Guangzhou–Zhuhai intercity railway connects Zhuhai to Guangzhou.

Travellers bound to China Mainland must walk to Gongbei Port of Entry, exit Macau and enter Guangdong province of Mainland China, then will depart from Zhuhai railway station.

 

Vietnam, Lang Son province

China has a primary international railway connection to Vietnam through the Pingxiang–Dong Dang border checkpoint in Guangxi province bordering Lang Son province of Vietnam, which is accessible by the Hunan–Guangxi railway operated by China Railway and the Hanoi–Dong Dang railway operated by Vietnam Railways.

Besides the railway connection at the border, China Railway and Vietnam Railways jointly operate the direct international railway service MR1/T8702 sleeper through train between Nanning and Hanoi.

 

From China to Vietnam

For the route Nanning–Dong Dang–Hanoi, the Local train 5517 operated by CR Nanning connects Nanning to Pingxiang. The port of exit from China and entry to Vietnam is located at 16 km distance from Pingxiang Railway Station, the Huu Nghi–Youyi Guan international border gate also known as the Friendship Pass. After crossing to Lang Son province, there are 3 km to Dong Dang Railway Station, where travellers can board the DD6 train operated by Vietnam Railways, connecting Dong Dang to Hanoi.

Travellers bound to Vietnam crossing through Huu Nghi international border gate are required visa exemption, stamped visa or e-visa. Visa on-arrival is not accepted in land ports.

 
The two-step journey is less convenient that the direct T8701/MR2 sleeper through train connecting Nanning to Hanoi overnight across the border.

Travellers bound to Vietnam on the direct train from Nanning to Hanoi are required visa exemption or stamped visa. E-visa and visa on-arrival are not accepted at the rail border crossing.

 

From Vietnam to China

For the route Hanoi–Dong Dang–Nanning, the DD5 train operated by Vietnam Railways connects Hanoi to Dong Dang. The port of exit from Vietnam and entry to China is located at 3 km distance from Dong Dang Railway Station, the Huu Nghi–Youyi Guan international border gate also known as the Friendship Pass. After crossing to Guangxi province, there are 16 km to Pingxiang Railway Station, where travellers can board the Local train 5518 operated by CR Nanning, connecting Pingxiang to Nanning

Travellers bound to China crossing through Huu Nghi international border gate are required visa exemption or stamped visa. Visa on-arrival is not accepted in land ports.

 
The two-step journey is less convenient that the direct MR1/T8702 sleeper through train connecting Hanoi to Nanning overnight across the border.

Travellers bound to China on the direct train from Hanoi to Nanning are required visa exemption or stamped visa. Visa on-arrival is not accepted at the rail border crossing.

 

Vietnam, Lao Cai province

China has a secondary international railway connection to Vietnam through the Hekou–Lao Cai border checkpoint in Yunnan province bordering Lao Cai province of Vietnam, which is accessible by the Kunming–Hekou railway operated by China Railway and the Hanoi–Lao Cai railway operated by Vietnam Railways.

 

From China to Vietnam

For the route Kunming–Lao Cai–Hanoi, the C-series high-speed trains and the K-series fast trains operated by CR Kunming connect Kunming to Hekou North, where travellers can exit China. The port of entry to Vietnam is located across the Friendship Bridge over Nanxi river. After entering Lao Cai province, travellers can board the SP trains operated by Vietnam Railways, connecting Lao Cai to Hanoi.

Travellers bound to Vietnam crossing through Lao Cai international border gate are required visa exemption, stamped visa or e-visa. Visa on-arrival is not accepted in land ports.

 

From Vietnam to China

For the route Hanoi–Lao Cai–Kunming, the SP trains operated by Vietnam Railways connect Hanoi to Lao Cai, where travellers can exit Vietnam. The port of entry to China is located across the Friendship Bridge over Nanxi river. After entering Yunnan province, travellers can board the C-series high-speed trains and the K-series fast trains operated by CR Kunming, connecting Hekou North to Kunming.

Travellers bound to China crossing through Lao Cai international border gate are required visa exemption or stamped visa. Visa on-arrival is not accepted in land ports.

 

How to book train tickets in China

Booking your train tickets in China is very quick and simple. Search for train routes between any two cities for your travel dates.

 

Select your route

After search, we will display the results for your itinerary.

Find the train services operated by China Railway available for your itinerary, which could be high-speed trains or conventional trains, and select the most convenient option.

 
Click to expand the details of the route, you will find the available fares. Trains in China offer various types of fares, depending if the service consists of sleeper or seating passenger cars.

For China Railway High-speed (CRH) trains:

• Second class Seat arranged in 3+2 row configuration, available in G, D and C series trains
• First class Seat arranged in 2+2 row configuration, available in G, D and C series trains
• Premier class Seat arranged in 2+1 row configuration, available in G and C series trains
• Business class Seat arranged in 2+1 row configuration, available in G-series trains only
• Soft sleeper class arranged in compartments with 2 levels of bunks (Upper and Lower), available in overnight D-series trains only

For China Railway conventional trains:

• Hard Seat arranged in 3+2 row configuration
• Soft Seat arranged in 2+2 row configuration
• Hard sleeper class arranged in compartments with 3 levels of bunks (Upper, Middle and Lower)
• Soft sleeper class arranged in compartments with 2 levels of bunks (Upper and Lower)
• Deluxe Soft sleeper class arranged in compartments with 2 levels of bunks (Upper and Lower)

 

Fill in the passenger and contact details

Next, provide the passenger(s) information and select your seats.

Baolau supports seat selection for G, D and C series high-speed trains. For Z, T and K series conventional trains, Baolau currently does not support berth selection but you can indicate your berth preference, Upper and Lower, during the reservation process and we will consider your request depending on the availability.

 
Don’t forget to provide the contact details of the person responsible for booking. We will send the ticket confirmation by email.

 

Complete your payment

Select your payment method. We accept international credit or debit cards and Alipay.

Check your itinerary and price breakdown. Confirm that the booking information is correct. Before you proceed to payment, you must read and accept the terms and conditions of booking.

 

Receive your tickets by email

Once your payment is complete, your reservation will be processed.

In the following 24 hours you will receive the itinerary and booking confirmation by email with the ticket collection number issued by China Railway attached in PDF format.

The electronic ticket is not a valid boarding pass and it cannot be used to board the train.

Passengers must present a printed copy of the electronic ticket displaying the ticket collection number at the ticket counter of the railway station along with the passport (and passports from the accompanying passengers) to collect the physical tickets.

Passengers can collect the tickets at any railway station in Mainland China anytime in advance. If you wish to collect your ticket on the same day of departure, we recommend that you arrive to the station at least 2 hours in advance, since there may be queues at the ticket counters and you may risk missing your train.