Should you have experienced train travel in China in the past, you may feel discouraged because of either their speed or service. However, Chinese railway has undergone earth-shattering changes in recent years. Following a six-stage program to increase railway speed, traveling by train is no longer an agonizing journey. Instead, it can be the most cost effective choice for travelers.
Always spare some time before the departure time of your train. Generally speaking, you need to arrive at the railway station an hour before the train leaves. However, should you take a train during spring rush or holidays, you are advised to be two hours earlier. Hereafter are the basic steps for boarding. Hope it will help your boarding more easily.
Step 1: Enter into the railway station.
There are X-ray machines in the entrance of each railway station. All the luggages have to be passed through to examine for the dangerous items. Once you put your luggage on the machine, please go to the other side and fetch them quickly in case that your luggage is taken either by mistake or on purpose.
 | | Step1: Security Check | |  | | Step2: Find the Right Waiting Room | |
Step 2: Find the right waiting room. After you enter into the railway station, you should find the terminal hall where your train is going to leave from. There are always electronic departure boards in the railway station with information shown in Chinese. You can find your waiting room according to the information given on your train tickets, or you can ask a staff for help if you are in trouble with the Chinese characters.
Step 3: Get into the platform. In most cases, check in starts 30 minutes before the train's departure if it is the starting station. Thus you are advised to arrive at the station one hour earlier. If it is not a starting station, check in starts when the train arrives, then you just need to be 30 minutes earlier. There will be broadcast to inform you then. Remember to take all your luggage!
 | | Step3: Go through Ticket Barrier | |  | | Step 3: Get into the platform | |
Step 4: Board the Train
The train number and the carriage number are shown outside the train clearly; therefore it is easy to find your carriage. There is a railway staff at the door of each carriage to whom you are required to show your ticket. If you board on the wrong carriage, he/she will instruct you to the right one.
 | | Step 4: Find train in the platform | |  | | Step 4: Board the train | |