How to buy high-speed rail tickets

The kinds of train

The letter in the train number tells you its type. G are the fastest, up to 350 km/h, between major cities. D are high-speed, slightly slower and cheaper. C are short intercity runs, usually within one conurbation.

Trains without those letters (K, T, Z) are ordinary services with open sleepers and compartments. They take longer, cost markedly less and make sense on overnight routes where you are asleep anyway.

The classes on high-speed trains: second (二等座), standard, three seats abreast; first (一等座), four abreast with more room; business (商务座), a reclining seat. The gap between second and first is usually smaller than you would expect.

Buying through the official 12306

1. 1

   Register

   The 12306 app and website are the railways’ official system and the only place with no markup. Registration is by phone number; a Chinese number makes life much easier, but a foreign one is accepted too.

   The name is entered exactly as in the passport, in Latin letters, in the same order. Same principle as the bank form: one letter out and you will not board.

2. 2

   Complete passport verification

   A foreign document is verified separately — done once, taking from a few hours to a couple of days. Until it completes, some operations are unavailable.

   Verification can also be done in person at any station ticket office — sometimes faster than waiting online.

3. 3

   Buy the ticket

   Sales open well ahead, and on popular routes and over holidays seats go within days. Do not look only at the direct train: another station in the same city often offers more options.

4. 4

   Go through on your passport

   The ticket is tied to your document. At the gate a foreign passport mostly will not read automatically — go to the manual check window, where it is verified by hand. That is standard procedure, not a problem.

Refunds and exchanges

A ticket can be refunded or exchanged before departure. The closer to departure, the more is withheld: a few days out it is minimal, in the final hours a noticeable share of the fare.

Exchanging for another train the same day is usually simpler and cheaper than a refund. Done in the app or at the ticket office.

Missing your train does not automatically void the ticket: at the ticket office you can often pay a difference and take the next service. Go straight away, not an hour later.