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China Train Stations

China has over 5,500 railway stations for passengers use along its 155,000 kilometers (96,300 miles) long rail lines.

The early-built China train stations are usually located in the center of the city or town, operating non-bullet trains and some also operating a few bullet ones. The newly-built railway stations are generally located far from the city center and specialized in high speed trains, such as Beijing South, Shanghai Hongqiao, and Xi'an North; but they mostly can be reached by subway.

A train station in China usually consists of one or two squares and a terminal building, inside which ticket offices, waiting rooms, boarding gates, platforms and some affiliated facilities like toilets, hot drinking water, restaurants, and bilingual direction boards are provided.
 

Major Railway Stations


A Full List of China Railway Stations

Find A Station

Shanghai Railway Station

As most railway stations are among the local grandest buildings, they are quite easy to find, even for new comers. In cities and towns, when you see a building with large red or golden Chinese characters (the station’s name) on the top and a square out the front with a continuous stream of people, you have probably found it.

Usually, being a transportation hub of a city or town, a train station can be reached by bus, subway, taxi, and even coach.

One thing to note is that many cities and towns have more than one train station, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Double check the ticket information and make sure you are going to the right one before setting out.

 

Facilities


 Square
A square often lies in front or at the rear part of a station, where bus stops, taxi stands, and subway and coach  are distributed in and around it. Parking lots can be found on and under ground. What’s more, there are shops, restaurants, vendors, hotels and public toilets. A square also serves as an outdoor waiting room, as it is always filled with travelers before being admitted into the building. 

 
A Station Entrance
 Station Building
Outside:
• Information Board: A huge LED screen usually hangs outside, showing the timetable and status of trains. You will find the departure time and when and whether or not you can enter the building. 

• Entrance & Exit: The entrance is usually central to the building. There are both automatic ID-ticket check channels and manual check channels. Those holding passport should enter via the manual check channels. A moving conveyor belt and a metal detection door are installed behind the entrance for security check. At the exit, automatic and manual channels are also installed. The exit usually leads to the city's public transportation.
 
• Ticket Office: The ticket offices or booking halls can be found near the entrance. There are boards showing ticket information. Conductors seat inside windows to sell tickets. Many have self-service ticket machines, but they do not recognize the passport. E-ticket Pickup Machine is also available, and they do not recognize passport, either. Overseas passengers need to go to the conductors to buy or pick up their tickets booked online. There are also separate ticket windows for platform tickets, and these ticket windows are usually close to the entrance or exit.

• Left Luggage: The left luggage center or luggage storage hall is also near the entrance. Some provide 24-hour service. The charge is CNY 5 – 20 per day for luggage of different weights or sizes. Take Xi'an as an example, it charges CNY 5 per day for a bag not exceeding 10 kg and CNY 10 per day for a bag over 10 kg.

• Baggage check-in counters: the counters are near the entrance. If your luggage exceeds the weight or size limits, you can have your luggage consigned at the counters.

• Others: Police office, passenger service center, restaurants, and shops can also be found outside of the building.
Ticket Office, Shanghai Railway Station
Ticket Office, Shanghai Railway Station
A Waiting Room in Shanghai South Station
A Waiting Room
Inside
• LED Screens: Once inside the building you will see LED screens showing timetable and the designated waiting rooms. Look at these screens carefully to find your waiting room.

• Waiting Hall: Large stations have a big shared waiting hall and some also have special business class seat and mother-and-child waiting zones. LED boards hanging on each boarding gate tell the status of a train: waiting, check-in or delay, and also the platform from which to board. At each boarding gate, there are 2-3 automatic check channels and one manual check channel. Passengers holding passports should use the manual check channel.

• Luggage Lockers: timed luggage lockers can be found inside the building. There are usually charged by hours and the sizes of luggage. In Beijing West, the charge for a normal-sized locker is CNY 10 for 7 hours, CNY 15 for 12 hours, CNY 25 for 24 hours, and additional CNY 10 every 12 hours after the first 24 hours; the charge for a large-sized locker is CNY 15 for 7 hours, CNY 25 for 12 hours, CNY 40 for 24 hours, and additional CNY 15 for every 12 hours after the first 24 hours.

 
Railway Station Platform
Railway Station Platform
• Others: there are also convenient facilities such as toilets, boiled drinking water, escalators to the upper floors,  inquiry counter, ATMs, lost and found center, public phones, and red cap luggage porters. Restaurants, café, shops, and book stores are also available.

 Platform
Passages and stairs connect the waiting rooms with platforms. Some have escalators but not all do. Platforms are numbered, so it is easy for you to find the right one. On platforms, there are stalls selling all kinds of snacks, beverages, magazines and newspapers. Clear signs are available showing the way out upon arrival, although most are in Chinese.

 Further Reading:
China Railway Infrastructures

- Last updated on Oct. 17, 2023 by Brenda Lian -
Questions & Answers on China Train Stations
Asked by HLee from SINGAPORE | Oct. 17, 2023 22:02Reply
Hi for high speed train from Humen to Guangzhou South. How much time must I arrive at Humen station?
Answers (1)
Answered by Daisy | Oct. 17, 2023 23:00
00Reply


It is better arrive at Humen Station at least 30 minutes in advance.
Asked by Clar Ty from PHILIPPINES | Nov. 14, 2019 03:12Reply
Does it snow in shanghai in dec?
Answers (1)
Answered by Fiona from USA | Nov. 17, 2019 22:08
00Reply


The temperature could be around 5C-10C based on history weather. It is not common to expect snow weather.
Asked by Sophia from LITHUANIA | Feb. 28, 2019 02:12Reply
Is there any English guidance in the stations, particularly Beijing, Pingyao, Xi'an?
Answers (1)
Answered by Sharon from AUSTRALIA | Feb. 28, 2019 18:17
00Reply


Some basic signs in the stations has English marks but more detailed guidance are hard to find. English service is hard to find at ticket counter. Some times local people are willing for help and if lucky enough you may met another group of international travelers. Anyway, in general, the English service can be find at station but far from enough.
Asked by Melanie from SINGAPORE | Dec. 11, 2018 19:13Reply
Can i please have the exact address of where Shanghai Circus World is now?
There's a few address given online.
Can you please give me both the english and mandarin address?
thank you.
Answers (4)
Answered by Quinn from USA | Dec. 13, 2018 17:13
00Reply


Its address is No.2266 New Gonghe Road, Jing'an District. 上海市静安区共和新路2266号
Answered by Melanie from SINGAPORE | Dec. 19, 2018 18:07
00Reply


Thank you so much.
Answered by Jimmy from SINGAPORE | Nov. 24, 2019 05:46
00Reply


Address: ERA Castle, 2801 Gonghexin Road, Zhabei District, Shanghai

How about this???
Is this address still valid for the show?
Answered by Liz from SINGAPORE | Nov. 24, 2019 19:26
00Reply


Yes, it is operating.
Asked by Teresa from MACAU | Nov. 14, 2018 03:58Reply
Zhuhai to beijing train
Can I buy at Zhuhai station a ticket from Zhuhai to Beijing? And can I also buy this ticket at Hong Kong West Kowloon Railway Station?
Answers (1)
Answered by Halley from SINGAPORE | Nov. 15, 2018 00:21
00Reply


You can buy it at west kowloon (counter 1 to 5) with a handling fee HKD30 per ticket. It would be better to buy the tickets in advance since there is only one ride for this trip. Also, this direct ride seems only available on each Friday to next Monday.
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