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How to Buy China Train Ticket Online

3 Steps on How to Buy China Train Tickets Online

For more booking ways, see How to Buy China Train Tickets
 

Step 1: Set the Travel Date

Set your departure date. It should be at least half a month later because the pre-sale time of China train tickets is 15 days and agencies usually book tickets for their customers as soon as they are released.

If possible, try not to travel during the peak travelling periods like “Golden Week” of National Day Holiday usually from October 1st to October 7th and Spring Festival Travel Rush around Chinese New Year, because large amount of passengers make it difficult to order a ticket successfully, especially for popular routes.

The pre-sale time of different agencies are different. There is no time limit on TravelChinaGuide (abbr. TCG). Users of our websites can book Chinese train tickets whenever they want; but we recommend you to put an order as early as possible, so we can book it on your behalf at the first time once it is available, just in case the tickets sold out.
 

Step 2: Choose a Reliable Online Booking Channel

This is the easiest way and first choice for overseas passengers to reserve a China train ticket. But you need to carefully choose one from various.

How to choose an online agency?

Passengers can make their decisions by comparing the prices, services and the reviews from previous users.

 Price: Normally, the charges of online agencies consist of ticket prices and service fees, passengers can decide which agency to choose based on their quotation. The price of some well-known agencies is high due to the high service fee. However, price is not the only reference, some agencies offer low price, so do poor service which may ruin your travel.

 Service: The services of online agencies are also different from each other. Some do not reply to their customers promptly; some offer poor or none after-sale service to help customers to travel smoothly; some have very strict ticket change and refund policies…

TCG offers top-notch services to help our customers get a ticket hassle-free, including instant confirmation, 24/7 one-on-one dedicated service, easy cancellation, free reschedule and select seats for free…

 Reviews from previous users: Comments left by previous users can reflect the user experiences and the real service quality. About 3,000+ 5-star reviews about TCG have been left on TripAdvisor from the past users to show and recommend our service.

Step 3: Make a Reservation

It's not difficult to do it step by step. But there are some notes to take:
1. The information of your ID certificate will be needed and the most frequently used is passport.

2. The name and ID certificate number input should be exactly the same with that on your ID certificate. For instance, family name first then middle name and finally given name, just as the order from top to bottom and left to right on your passport. The hyphen or apostrophe needs to be omitted. If the name column is not enough for your name, type in as many characters as you can.
Cases that Chinese Railway Tickets Cannot be Successfully Collected after Booking Online 

3. Besides choosing seat classes like first class seat, second class seat, and soft sleepers, China Railway now also allows passengers to select the seat location on some high speed trains, by aisle or by window, so does TCG. Do not omit this step when booking.
China train ticket types 

4. Make the payment within the required time frame and through accepted payment tools, otherwise the order will turn invalid. TCG accepts Paypal, Western Union, Alipay and WeChat Pay.

 Kind Reminder: After booking the tickets online, passengers can take trains at most railway stations only holding the passport used for the reservation. There are special manual channels for these passengers. There is no need to collect paper tickets anymore.

- Last updated on May. 21, 2023 by Catherine He -
Questions & Answers on How to Buy Ticket Online
Asked by H.C.ONG from AUSTRALIA | May. 20, 2023 01:12Reply
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO TRAVEL FROM BAIYUN AIRPORT TO THE HIGH SPEED RAIL STATION IN GUANGZHOU?
I PLAN TO TRAVEL TO GUANGZHOU FROM TAIWAN IN JUNE.ON ARRIVAL AT THE AIRPORT,HOW CAN I GET TO THE GUANGZHOU HIGH S PEED RAIL STATION TO GO TO GUILIN? HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO TRAVEL FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE STATION? ALSO DO. YOU PROVIDE TRANSPORT FOR THIS PURPOSE?
Answers (1)
Answered by Dave | May. 21, 2023 19:05
00Reply


The high speed trains to Guilin all depart from Guangzhou South Railway Station. Upon landing in Baiyun airport, take metro line 3 to Jiahe Wanggang, then change to line 2 to that railway station. The transfer takes around 80 minutes and takes CNY9.

This website offers the railway ticket booking service. You can contact them to make an order. Wish you a smooth trip~
Asked by Ruslan from INDONESIA | Apr. 23, 2023 03:40Reply
App China map in English
Can you info what application I can download the China map in English.
Answers (1)
Answered by Chris | Apr. 25, 2023 00:42
00Reply


Generally, it is recommended to use Apple Map.
Asked by Ruslan from INDONESIA | Apr. 23, 2023 03:38Reply
How to deposit WeChat Pay.
I am a non-Chinese citizen and already install WeChat Pay, how to deposit some money into my WeChat Pay account if I am still overseas?
Answers (1)
Answered by Sarah | Apr. 25, 2023 00:36
00Reply


First, you can sign up by your phone number and then add a bank card to verify your identity. Major credit cards are available to be added to WeChat Pay. Then, you can deposit money directly from your bank account to your WeChat Wallet.
Asked by Elizabeth Steck from CHINA | Jan. 18, 2020 02:05Reply
How do I buy a ticket for my free child?
We are a group of 5 (3 adults, 1 child and 1 free child). I would like to book a soft sleeper for our trip from Beijing to Xi'an, but it has 4 beds and there are 5 of us. If my free child shares a bunk. How can I buy tickets to ensure that we have all the right tickets for our trip?
Answers (1)
Answered by Simon from NETHERLANDS | Jan. 18, 2020 18:17
00Reply


If the child is under 120cm and will share bunk with adult, the child do not need a ticket. The child can board for free without ticket together with adult.
Asked by Virginia Fernlund from AUSTRALIA | Jan. 16, 2020 01:56Reply
Booking ticket for bullet train
Do I have to prebook high speed train tickets in advance or can I buy seats 2nd class on the day?
Answers (1)
Answered by Micake | Jan. 16, 2020 17:57
00Reply


Both are fine. In fact it depends on ticket availability. If many tickets available on the train you want, both options works. If only limited tickets left, you'd better to book online to secure a ticket in advance.
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