Trains in China 2026: How Foreigners Book High-Speed Rail

Where to book

China's high-speed network links every city you're likely to visit, at 300+ km/h. Tickets are electronic and tied to your passport — there is no paper ticket to collect.

• Official: the Railway 12306 app and website have an English version and accept foreign passports.
• Easier UX: Trip.com and similar apps book the same trains in English for a small fee.
• Tickets typically open about 15 days before departure; holiday trains sell out fast.
• 12306 signup can glitch for foreign passports — the activation email never arrives, or ID checks loop forever. A workaround travelers verified in July 2026: open the 12306 mini-app inside Alipay (Transport tab), start booking any train, and the forced verification screen lets you resend the email and finish signup.

Boarding, step by step

• Arrive 30–45 minutes early — stations are airport-sized, with a quick security scan at the entrance.
• Go through the manned gate with your passport — it is your ticket.
• Gates close about 5 minutes before departure. Second class is comfortable; first class adds space.

Good to know

• G and D trains are high-speed; K and T are slower classics, with overnight sleepers for long hauls.
• As a scale check: the 1,300 km Beijing–Shanghai run takes about 4.5 hours and costs about ¥550 in second class.
• Large luggage fits the racks at carriage ends; hot water taps are in every car.

Where to go with it

Classic high-speed pairings: Beijing–Xi'an, Shanghai–Hangzhou, Chengdu–Chongqing. ChinaHappens gives each city a 60-second read and day routes you can follow offline — start with Chongqing, which is completely free.

Before you go

City guides