【3% Off】How to Use China Train Ticket: E-tickets

Traveling by train is my preferred way to explore cities in China due to its speed, cheap China train ticket, comfortable seat and punctuality. 👍 In this guide, I'll explain how to buy and use China train ticket, the different types of train tickets, and how to read China train ticket. 👀

How to Use China Train E-Ticket for Foreigners

Source from Chinahighlights

China's moved to e-tickets for trains, and trust me, it's much much easier to use e-tickets than paper tickets and save time. No more stress with paper tickets or long lines, which is a lifesaver during the busy travel seasons. From my train trips in China, I found the e-tickets on Trip.com super nice—just use your passport at the entry gates. Quick tip: Keep your passport handy to zip through the process.

1. Get Your E-Ticket with Passport

Booking an e-ticket for train travel in China is quite easy and cheap on Trip.com. Foreigners require only their passport to make a reservation, while residents of Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan need a Mainland Travel Permit.
Once you've booked your ticket, you will be assigned a seat and receive an e-ticket confirmation on Trip.com app. This will include details like your train number, coach number, and seat number. If you book through services like Trip.com, they will provide you with all the necessary information in English on both Trip.com app and your email.

2. Enter the Train Station

With your e-ticket, head to the train station and proceed to the main entrance. Here, your identity will be verified using the passport or ID you used during the booking. Although not required, you can optionally pick up a printed ticket receipt at the ticket windows if you want a physical copy of your ticket or if you forget your seat details.

3. Check-in and Board the Train

Find the boarding gates located in the waiting hall. At the time of boarding, you can check in by swiping your passport at the automated ticket-check points. If you're at a station without these machines, or if they don’t accept your type of ID for scanning, proceed to a manual check-in channel (人工通道) where a staff member will scan your identification manually.

4. Check Out | e-Ticket & Passport

Upon arrival at your destination, you will need to check out. This can be done by scanning your passport or travel permit at a self-service exit channel or presenting it to a staff member at a manual exit channel. Keep your identification readily accessible to facilitate a smooth exit from the station.

✅If you're curious about how to stay connected in China, check out the following packages!

Types of China Train Tickets

When you're traveling by train in China, you'll find there are different ticket options depending on the train type and what comforts you want. From my own journeys, I can tell you about the choices for both the high-speed (bullet) trains and the regular trains. Here’s a quick guide on what types of China train tickets to pick. 😏

High-Speed (Bullet) Trains

Bullet or high-speed trains in China, classified as C, D, and G trains, offer various seating and sleeping options that cater to different levels of comfort and travel needs:

Non-Bullet Trains

On non-bullet trains, categorized as Z, T, K, Y, and S types, the tickets range from basic seats to more comfortable sleepers, suitable for longer journeys or overnight travel:

Recommended Train Ticket Type

• For Short Journeys (Under 5 Hours): First class and second class seats on high-speed trains are preferable, providing comfortable and efficient travel.
• For Long or Overnight Journeys: Soft sleepers on either high-speed or non-bullet trains are recommended for better rest and comfort, with deluxe soft sleepers offering the highest level of luxury and privacy.

How to Read China Train Ticket Info

Source from China Ticket Online

• Blue Magnetic Ticket: This ticket type is scannable at automated gates at some stations, facilitating quick entry and exit.
• Pink Paper Ticket: This type requires manual validation by station staff as it cannot be scanned automatically.

Ticket Number

Located in the top left corner of your ticket, the ticket number includes letters and digits. It is a serial number unique to each ticket issued from a particular terminal or ticket window. Generally, this number is not crucial for your travel needs.

Boarding Gate

Your boarding gate information is displayed in the top right corner of the ticket. This indicates where you should go to board your train once you are inside the train station. While most tickets include this information, if yours does not, you can find the gate number displayed on large LED screens at the station right after you pass through the security check.

Departure and Arrival Stations

These are prominently displayed in large, bold characters. The departure station is positioned on the left, and the arrival station is on the right. Beneath the Chinese characters, you'll find the station names transliterated into Pinyin, which often doesn't correspond directly with English spellings. For cities with multiple railway stations, this can sometimes be confusing, especially for non-Chinese speakers. Initially, major stations in cities like Beijing were named simply after the city (e.g., Beijing Railway Station). As more stations were added, they were named according to their geographical location within the city: Beijing West, Beijing South, Beijing East, and Beijing North.

To aid in navigation, it’s useful to understand the Chinese characters for directions, which are often part of station names:

Train Type and Number

Your train's type and number can be found between the departure and arrival stations on your ticket. This section starts with a letter indicating the train type, followed by up to four digits which specify the exact train you will board.

Table about meaning of each train type prefix 👇

Departure Date and Time

The departure date and time are listed under the station's name in Pinyin on your train ticket. This information is organized sequentially: year, month, date, hour, and minute, and it uses the 24-hour clock format. Notably, the ticket does not show the arrival time.

The departure time is always given in China Standard Time (CST), which is GMT +8. To ensure you arrive on time for your train and avoid any confusion, make sure any devices you use to check the time (like your phone or watch) are set to China Standard Time.

Carriage and Seat Information

The carriage and seat number on your train ticket are found right under the Pinyin translation of the arrival station. This section clearly specifies your assigned seat and carriage, formatted as carriage/seat. This detail tells you precisely where you'll be seated during your journey.

Here's a breakdown of what the characters represent and how to interpret them:

Price and Class

The fifth row of your train ticket displays the price on the left and the travel class on the right. The price is shown in Chinese Yuan (¥).

Table that categorizes the different class types available on China trains, along with their English translations 👇

Personal Information

Due to the real-name policy in China, your train ticket will include your name and a partially masked passport or ID number to protect your privacy. The sensitive parts of these numbers are obscured with asterisks (*) to ensure security while still adhering to identification requirements. This ensures that while your identity is verifiable, it remains protected.

💖If you're curious about how to buy China train tickets, check the following articles to learn more:

Travel All Over China by Train

Trains, especially the high-speed D and G trains, are renowned for their punctuality and reliability, often experiencing minimal delays. China trains connect to all city centers, unlike airports, which can be located far from central areas, requiring additional travel time. Additionally, train travel allows you to appreciate the vast and varied landscapes of China comfortably, with ample legroom and the freedom to move around during the journey. For many travelers, especially on short to medium routes, high-speed trains provide a quicker and more efficient travel option compared to flights, making them an excellent choice for both leisure and business travel in China.

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How to Buy China Train Ticket with Passport

Booking train ticket China online for travel in China is straightforward with Trip.com, a one-stop platform for your travel needs including hotel reservations, train tickets, and flights. A significant benefit of using Trip.com to book train ticket China is the ability to reserve train tickets as much as 60 days ahead of your planned travel date. When you book, payment is made immediately, but the actual train tickets are issued 15 days before departure, coinciding with their official release by the railway authorities.

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