China rail travel library
Train guides & travel tips
Practical guides to China's most popular train routes and step-by-step tutorials for first-time visitors booking with a foreign passport.
Route guides
Beijing to Shanghai
How to travel from Beijing to Shanghai by high-speed train, including stations, journey times, seat classes, and booking tips for foreign visitors.
Shanghai to Guangzhou
Plan a Shanghai to Guangzhou train journey with station details, typical travel time, seat options, and practical booking advice.
Beijing to Xi'an
Travel from Beijing to Xi'an by bullet train with guidance on stations, seat classes, journey time, and visiting the Terracotta Warriors.
Shanghai to Hangzhou
A practical guide to the short Shanghai–Hangzhou high-speed train trip, including station choices and day-trip planning.
Guangzhou to Shenzhen
Compare Guangzhou and Shenzhen high-speed train stations, typical trip times, and the best ticket options for visitors.
Hong Kong to Guilin
Book a direct Hong Kong to Guilin high-speed train and understand cross-border checks, stations, seats, and journey planning.
Chengdu to Chongqing
Travel between Chengdu and Chongqing by high-speed train in about an hour. This guide covers stations, seat classes, and tips for visiting both cities.
Beijing to Chengdu
Plan your Beijing to Chengdu high-speed train trip with full details on stations, journey time, seat options, and what to do after arrival.
Shanghai to Yiwu
How to travel from Shanghai to Yiwu by high-speed train. Essential guide for international traders and visitors heading to Yiwu's wholesale markets.
Hong Kong to Shanghai
Everything you need to know about travelling from Hong Kong to Shanghai by high-speed train — journey time, stations, connections, seat classes, and booking tips for foreign visitors.
Shanghai to Hong Kong
How to travel from Shanghai to Hong Kong by high-speed train — stations, journey time, direct services vs Guangzhou connection, and booking guide for foreign visitors.
Beijing to Chongqing
How to travel from Beijing to Chongqing by high-speed train, with journey time, stations, seat class options, and tips for visiting the Yangtze River gateway city.
Chongqing to Chengdu
The fast and frequent high-speed train between Chongqing and Chengdu — two of southwest China's biggest cities. Journey time, stations, tickets, and travel tips.
Guangzhou to Hong Kong
The 48-minute high-speed cross-border train from Guangzhou to Hong Kong — how to book, which stations, immigration process, and tips for foreign visitors.
Zhangjiajie to Chongqing
How to travel from Zhangjiajie (the Avatar Mountains) to Chongqing by high-speed or conventional train — journey options, times, and tips for the popular southwest China loop.
How-to guides
How to Buy China Train Tickets as a Foreigner
A step-by-step guide to booking Chinese high-speed train tickets with a foreign passport—what documents you need, how payment works, and how to collect your ticket.
China Train Seat Classes Explained
Understand the difference between second class, first class, and business class on China's high-speed trains—and which one is right for your journey.
How to Collect Your China Train Ticket at the Station
A clear walkthrough of collecting a Chinese train ticket at the station as a foreign visitor—machines, windows, waiting rooms, and boarding.
China Public Holidays & Train Travel: What Every Visitor Must Know
China’s public holidays cause the world’s largest human migration. Learn when to avoid travelling, when to book ahead, and how to navigate Golden Weeks as a foreign visitor on China’s high-speed rail network.
Hochgeschwindigkeitszug China: Tickets kaufen als Ausländer (2025/2026)
Schritt-für-Schritt-Anleitung für den Kauf von China-Zugtickets mit ausländischem Reisepass — ohne chinesisches Bankkonto, ohne WeChat Pay, ohne 12306-Konto.
Train à grande vitesse en Chine : acheter ses billets en tant qu'étranger (2025/2026)
Guide complet pour acheter des billets de train à grande vitesse en Chine avec un passeport étranger — sans compte chinois, sans WeChat Pay, avec Visa ou Mastercard.
Tren de alta velocidad en China: cómo comprar billetes siendo extranjero (2025/2026)
Guía paso a paso para comprar billetes de tren de alta velocidad en China con pasaporte extranjero — sin cuenta bancaria china, sin WeChat Pay, pagando con Visa o Mastercard.