Travellers can book online trains in China and receive the booking confirmation by email.
We support advance ticket booking for more than 30 stations across China, including Beijing, Tianjin and Qingdao in the North, Xi An in the Northwest, Shanghai and Hangzhou in the East, Chongqing, Chengdu, Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Shangri La and Lhasa in the Southwest, Changsha, Nanning, Guilin, Guangzhou and Shenzhen in the South Central region.
We also support ticket booking for international train routes connecting China with Laos and Vietnam.
Train companies in China
Rail services in China are operated by China Railway (CR), a state-owned company under the control of the Ministry of Finance.
In the present, China Railway (CR) is divided in 18 subsidiaries dedicated to provide passenger train services in different regions of China: CR Harbin and CR Shenyang in the Northeast, CR Beijing, CR Hohhot and CR Taiyuan in the North, CR Lanzhou, CR Urumqi and CR Xi'an in the Northwest, CR Jinan, CR Shanghai and CR Nanchang in the East, CR Guangzhou and CR Nanning in the South, CR Wuhan and CR Zhengzhou in the Central region, CR Chengdu, CR Kunming and CR Qingzang in the Southwest.
To achieve a complete coverage of the railway transportation across the nation, China Railway (CR) operates several types of intercity trains, including:
- - High-speed trains
- - Conventional trains
China Railway high-speed trains
CRH is the high-speed railway service operated by China Railway with trains running at a maximum speed of 250–350 km/h.
High-speed trains are designated by a letter identifying the class of service followed by three to four numerals indicating the region of service:
- - 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.
In total, high-speed trains offer four seat classes:
- - Business class Seat available in G series trains.
- - Premier class Seat available in G and D series trains.
- - First class Seat available in G, D and C series trains.
- - Second class Seat available in G, D and C series trains.
First class Seat
Second class Seat
And three sleeper classes:
- - First class Sleeper with soft beds in compartments for 1-2 passengers or 1-4 passengers available in overnight D series trains.
- - Second class Sleeper with hard beds in compartments for 1-6 passengers available in overnight D series trains.
- - Double-Deck Sleeper with hard berths available in overnight D series trains.
Sleeper compartments
Sleeper berths
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 a letter identifying the class of service followed by three to four numerals indicating the region of service:
- - 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 province-level cities, with maximum speed of 140 km/h.
- - K-series: Fast service stopping at prefecture-level cities, with maximum speed of 120 km/h.
In total, conventional trains offer two seat classes:
- - Soft Seat
- - Hard Seat
Soft Seat
Hard Seat
And two sleeper classes:
- - Soft Sleeper in compartments for 1-4 passengers.
- - Hard Sleeper in compartments for 1-6 passengers.
Soft Sleeper
Hard Sleeper
Getting around China by train
The railway network in China consists of 112,000 kilometers of rail tracks, including 16,000 kilometers of highspeed dedicated tracks. China has the longest railway network in the world, connecting all provinces as well as reaching the border with Hong Kong, Macau, Mongolia, Vietnam and Laos.
We facilitate advance ticket booking for trains operated by China Railway (CR) in China, Laos and Vietnam.
Ticket reservation is available 15 days in advance.
High speed railway
Beijing–Shanghai high-speed railway serving Beijing, Tianjin, Suzhou and Shanghai
Hangzhou–Fuzhou–Shenzhen high-speed railway serving Hangzhou, Ningbo, Fuzhou, Xiamen and Shenzhen
Beijing–Guangzhou high speed railway serving Beijing, Shijiazhuang, Zhengzhou, Wuhan, Changsha and Guangzhou
Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong high speed railway serving Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong
Qingdao–Taiyuan high speed railway serving Qingdao, Jinan, Shijiazhuang and Taiyuan
Xuzhou–Lanzhou high speed railway serving Xuzhou, Zhengzhou, Xi An, Lanzhou and Xining
Shanghai–Wuhan–Chengdu high speed railway serving Shanghai, Nanjing, Hefei, Wuhan, Chongqing and Chengdu
Shanghai–Kunming high speed railway serving Shanghai, Hangzhou, Nanchang, Changsha, Guiyang and Kunming
Beijing–Zhangjiakou–Datong–Xi An high speed railway serving Beijing, Badaling, Zhangjiakou, Datong and Xi An
Xi An–Chengdu high speed railway serving Xi An and Chengdu
Nanning–Kunming high speed railway serving Nanning and Kunming
Nanning–Guangzhou high speed railway serving Nanning and Guangzhou
Conventional railway
Beijing–Tibet railway serving Beijing, Baotou, Lanzhou, Xining and Lhasa
Chengdu–Kunming railway serving Chengdu and Kunming
Kunming–Guangtong–Dali railway serving Kunming and Dali
Dali–Lijiang railway serving Dali and Lijiang
Lijiang–Shangri La railway serving Lijiang and Shangri La
Yuxi–Mohan railway serving Kunming, Yuxi, Pu Er, Xishuangbanna and Mohan in the border of China and Laos
Kunming–Yuxi–Hekou railway serving Kunming, Yuxi and Hekou in the border of China and Vietnam
Hunan–Guangxi railway serving Hengyang, Guilin, Nanning and Pingxiang in the border of China and Vietnam
Nanning–Fangchenggang railway serving Nanning, Fangchenggang and Dongxing in the border of China and Vietnam
Destinations
China is divided into six regions: Northern China, Northwestern China, Eastern China, Southwestern China, South Central China and the Special Administrative Regions of China.
Northern China
Northern China comprises the provinces of Beijing, Tianjin, Shandong, Inner Mongolia, Henan and Hebei.
There are 4 subsidiary companies of China Railway operating in Northern China. CR Beijing operates passenger services in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei province. CR Hohhot operates passenger services in Inner Mongolia province. CR Zhengzhou operates passenger services in Henan and Shanxi provinces. CR Jinan operates passenger services in Shandong province.
Train routes to Beijing
Train routes to Badaling
Train routes to Tianjin
Train routes to Qingdao
Northwestern China
Northwestern China comprises the provinces of Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia and Xinjiang.
There are 4 subsidiary companies of China Railway operating in Northwestern China. CR Taiyuan operates passenger services in Shanxi province. CR Xi'an operates passenger services in Shaanxi province and northeast Sichuan. CR Lanzhou operates passenger services in Gansu, Ningxia provinces and parts of Inner Mongolia. CR Urumqi operates passenger services in Xinjiang province and parts of Gansu.
Train routes to Datong
Train routes to Xi An
Eastern China
Eastern China comprises the provinces of Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, Jiangxi and Shandong.
There are 2 subsidiary companies of China Railway operating in Eastern China. CR Shanghai operates passenger services in Shanghai, Jiangsu, Anhui and Zhejiang provinces. CR Nanchang operates passenger services in Jiangxi and Fujian.
Southwestern China
Southwestern China comprises the provinces of Chongqing, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan and Tibet.
There are 3 subsidiary companies of China Railway operating in Southwestern China. CR Chengdu operates passenger services in Sichuan, Chongqing, Guizhou, and parts of Yunnan. CR Kunming operates passenger services in Yunnan, and parts of Sichuan and Guizhou provinces. CR Qingzang operates passenger services in Qinghai and Tibet provinces.
Train routes to Huanglong-Jiuzhai
Train routes to Leshan
Train routes to Kunming
Train routes to Xishuangbanna
Train routes to Dali
Train routes to Lijiang
Train routes to Shangri La
Train routes to Lhasa
South Central China
South Central China comprises the provinces of Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Guangxi, Guangdong and Hainan.
There are 3 subsidiary companies of China Railway operating in South Central China. CR Wuhan operates passenger services in Hubei and southern Henan. CR Nanning operates passenger services in Guangxi province and western Guangdong. CR Guangzhou operates passenger services in Guangdong, Hunan and Hainan provinces.
Train routes to Guilin
Special Administrative Regions
The Special Administrative Regions of China comprise Hong Kong and Macau.
Note that Hong Kong West Kowloon Station international rail border checkpoint accepts 240-hour visa-free transit, visa exemption and stamped visa. For more information, please check the Visa policy of mainland China.
International train routes to China
China has a direct international railway connection with Laos through the Boten–Mohan border checkpoint in Yunnan province.
China also has a direct international railway connection with Vietnam through the Lao Cai–Hekou border checkpoint in Yunnan province and through the Dong Dang–Pingxiang border checkpoint in Guangxi province.
Laos
China is connected with direct international trains to Vientiane, Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang in Laos.
International trains from Laos
Note that Boten–Mohan international rail border checkpoint accepts 240-hour visa-free transit, visa exemption, stamped visa and visa on-arrival. For more information, please check the Visa policy of mainland China.
Vietnam
China is connected with direct international trains to Hanoi and Lao Cai in Vietnam.
International trains from Vietnam (via Lao Cai–Hekou)
Note that Lao Cai–Hekou international land border checkpoint is not designated as port of entry/exit for visa-free transit. Only visa exemption, e-visa, stamped visa or visa on-arrival are accepted. For more information, please check the Visa policy of mainland China.
International trains from Vietnam (via Dong Dang–Pingxiang)
Note that Dong Dang–Pingxiang international rail border checkpoint is not designated as port of entry/exit for visa on-arrival or visa-free transit. Only visa exemption, e-visa or stamped visa are accepted. For more information, please check the Visa policy of mainland China.
The Hanoi–Nanning train, jointly operated by Vietnam Railway and China Railway, is an international railway service running daily between Vietnam and China. The sleeper through train connects Hanoi to Nanning overnight.
How to book your 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 high-speed rail and conventional rail services operated by China Railway available for your itinerary. Select the most convenient option.
Ticket reservation is available 15 days in advance. We accept requests for reservation 21 days in advance up to 4 hours before departure. For departures under 4 hours, tickets must be reserved directly at the station.
Click to expand the details of the route, you will find the available fares. China Railway offers various types of fares for high-speed trains and conventional trains:
In total, high-speed trains offer four seat classes:
- - Business class Seat available in G series trains.
- - Premier class Seat available in G and D series trains.
- - First class Seat available in G, D and C series trains.
- - Second class Seat available in G, D and C series trains.
And three sleeper classes:
- - First class Sleeper with soft beds in compartments for 1-2 passengers or 1-4 passengers available in overnight D series trains.
- - Second class Sleeper with hard beds in compartments for 1-6 passengers available in overnight D series trains.
- - Double-Deck Sleeper with hard berths available in overnight D series trains.
In total, conventional trains offer two seat classes:
- - Soft Seat
- - Hard Seat
And two sleeper classes:
- - Soft Sleeper in compartments for 1-4 passengers.
- - Hard Sleeper in compartments for 1-6 passengers.
Fill in the passenger and contact details
Next, please provide the passenger information and 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.
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 electronic ticket by email
Once your payment is complete, your reservation will be processed.
In the following 24 hours you will receive the itinerary and the booking confirmation by email in PDF format.
You can also access to Manage your booking via web and download the electronic ticket to your device.
How to use the train e-ticket?
The electronic ticket received by email is only a booking confirmation, it is not a valid boarding pass and it cannot be used to board the train.
China Railway integrates a ticketless passenger transportation system. Passengers travelling with China Railway are required to use their passport in lieu of the ticket and scan it at the ticket gates to check-in.
RECEIVE YOUR BOOKING CONFIRMATION BY EMAIL
Receive your booking confirmation by email in PDF format. Print a copy in advance or carry it in your mobile phone.
CHECK-IN WITH YOUR PASSPORT
Arrive at the station, scan your passport at the automatic ticket gates to check-in. Optionally, you can collect the ticket receipt with the itinerary and seat information.
BOARD THE TRAIN
Access the platform, locate your car number and wait for the boarding call to board the train. Find your seat number in the booking confirmation or the ticket receipt.