Travelling across China by high-speed train is hard to compare with anything in Europe. Germany has around 1,600 kilometres of high-speed railway lines, while China's network has grown to more than 48,000 kilometres—the largest in the world. In many parts of the country, trains travel at speeds of up to 350 km/h (217 mph) and connect cities thousands of kilometres apart with remarkable punctuality.
Instead of flying between destinations, I chose to travel almost exclusively by train. From Beijing to Xi'an, Chengdu, Guilin and beyond, the journeys became part of the adventure. The stations may feel more like airports, but once you're on board, travelling is comfortable, efficient and surprisingly relaxing.
If you're planning your own trip to China, here's everything I learned about booking tickets, navigating the stations and making the most of the world's largest high-speed rail network.
How to book
You can book online using the official Railway 12306 app or Trip.com. There are some differences between the English and Chinese versions of 12306. The English version has fewer features, while Trip.com offers a more user-friendly interface for international travellers.
Railway 12306: Official booking platform. Best for booking individual train tickets. Seat preferences cannot be selected in the English version.
Trip.com: Charges a service fee (I paid between €2–6 per train), displays connecting journeys, lets you book the entire trip in one go, and allows you to choose a window or aisle seat.
You need your passport both for booking and travelling, as every ticket is linked to your passport number.
If you make a booking mistake or realise you're going to miss your train, you can usually change your booking once free of charge.
Direct or connecting?
When booking train tickets, my rule of thumb is usually the same as for flights: if there's a direct connection, take it. However, China taught me that this isn't always the fastest option.
I missed my last direct train from Hangzhou to Suzhou and had to look for alternatives. Although the two cities aren't that far apart, the remaining direct trains were relatively slow. Instead, I booked one train from Hangzhou to Shanghai and another from Shanghai to Suzhou. Even with the transfer, I arrived earlier than I would have on the direct train.
If you're flexible, it's worth checking connecting journeys. Thanks to the frequency of China's high-speed rail network, a transfer in a major hub like Shanghai can sometimes save a surprising amount of time.
Understanding train types
When searching for connections, you'll notice that every train number starts with a letter. For most travellers, the three most common types are G, D and C.
- G (Gaotie) – The fastest high-speed trains, operating at speeds of up to 350 km/h. They connect major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an and Guangzhou with few intermediate stops.
- D (Dongche) – High-speed trains travelling at up to 250 km/h. They usually make more stops than G trains and also serve many regional routes.
- C (Chengji) – Intercity high-speed trains connecting neighbouring cities, for example Beijing–Tianjin, Chengdu–Mianyang or Shanghai–Suzhou. They are designed for shorter journeys and frequent departures.
You'll also come across Z (Direct Express), T (Express) and K (Fast) trains. These are conventional trains that generally run on the classic railway network rather than dedicated high-speed lines. Unless you're looking for an overnight journey or travelling to a destination without high-speed service, you'll most likely be using G, D or C trains during your trip.
Travel classes
On most high-speed trains, you can choose between up to four travel classes:
- Second Class: 3+2 seating (A, B, C + D, F), the standard and most popular option.
- First Class: 2+2 seating with more legroom and wider seats. Complimentary water and a snack are often provided, depending on the route.
- Premium/VIP Class: Available only on some trains. Usually features a small, quieter compartment with 2+1 seating and costs slightly more than First Class. If a train offers VIP Class, it usually doesn't have Business Class.
- Business Class: 2+1 airline-style reclining seats with generous personal space. Complimentary snacks and drinks are often included. Usually around twice the price of First Class.
At the railway station
Some high-speed railway stations are located as far outside the city as an airport. And with some cities, it feels like monopoly as they have so many railway stations. Make sure you are heading to the one indicated on your ticket. A lot of them are named after the four cardinal directions: DONG - East, NAN - South, XI - West, BEI - North.
That's not the only similarity. You'll go through passport or ID checks, security screening, departure halls and boarding gates before reaching your train. Make sure you're in the departure hall before looking at the departure boards, otherwise your train may not be listed.
Arrive at least 30–45 minutes before departure. Stations can be enormous and you'll need time for passport control, security and boarding. Boarding gates usually close five minutes before departure, and during my trip the trains were incredibly punctual. Nearly every train I took departed exactly on time or even a minute early.
As your ticket is linked to your passport, keep it handy. Chinese passengers usually pass through the automatic gates using their national ID cards, while foreign travellers should look for the staffed lane. The attendant will enter your passport number manually, so you may have to point out where to find it.
Next comes the security check. My Swiss Army knife was inspected several times but never confiscated. After the second inspection I simply kept it easily accessible. Security staff may also ask to inspect your drinks, but I was always allowed to keep them.
Once through security, check the departure board for your platform.
If you are travelling business class, you have access to the business lounge where you will be treated to free coffee/ tea and snacks and nicer seats than in the general waiting hall. You might even have a direct access to the platforms and do not need to queue at ticket boarding gate. That was a very pleasant surprise.
At the boarding gate you'll either scan your passport or show it to the attendant before taking the escalator down to the platform.
If your train is already waiting, you'll immediately see where your carriage stops. Otherwise, markings on the platform indicate where each carriage will arrive depending on the train type and direction of travel. Simply wait at the correct position and board when the train arrives.
On the train
There are luggage racks at the end of each coach, and smaller suitcases fit comfortably in the overhead racks above the seats.
Every seat has a number matching your ticket. At the foot of each seat you'll find a pedal that unlocks the seat, allowing it to rotate 180 degrees. This ensures passengers always travel facing the direction of travel. I even saw a group of four friends turn their seats towards each other to create a table for a card game.
Electronic displays show the current speed, which often exceeds 300 km/h. Most trains have a snack trolley, while some longer-distance services also feature a café or dining car.
After departure, attendants or railway police may walk through the train with handheld inspection devices. Additional cameras are also installed inside each carriage.
Toilets are located near the doors at the end of each coach, together with a free hot water dispenser. The toilets are available in both Western and squat style.
If you're travelling in First Class, Business Class or VIP Class, complimentary water and snacks are often served. During my journeys, the snack box sometimes included nuts, crackers, cookies, spicy tofu and pressed fruit slices. Occasionally, orange juice or cola was served as well.
Later in the journey, staff usually offer additional snacks and drinks for purchase, including chocolate bars, yoghurt drops and instant noodles. If you buy instant noodles, simply add hot water from the dispenser.
Cleaning staff regularly walk through the train collecting rubbish. Sometimes they carry a trash bag, other times they simply look for empty bottles or food wrappers.
Some trains advertise onboard Wi-Fi, but access often requires a Chinese phone number and doesn't always work reliably for foreign visitors. Since I had a Chinese SIM card with plenty of data, I never needed to use it.
Arriving
After arriving, you'll usually head downstairs to the exit, where you'll scan your passport one last time before leaving the station.
Many stations are enormous, so allow another 10–15 minutes to reach the metro, taxi rank or ride-hailing pick-up area after leaving the train.
If you're continuing your journey by train, look out for signs for the transfer channel. At some stations you can move directly from the arrival area back to the departure hall without leaving the station or going through passport control and security again. It's a real time saver when changing trains.
Final thoughts
Travelling by high-speed train quickly became one of the highlights of my trip through China. The network is extensive, the trains are comfortable, the stations are modern, and the whole system is remarkably easy to use once you've done it for the first time.
As someone who regularly travels by Deutsche Bahn, I was especially impressed by the punctuality. Delays simply weren't part of the experience—almost. To challenge China's well-earned reputation, my very last train from Suzhou to Shanghai arrived four minutes late. Ironically, that was the biggest delay of my entire journey across the country.
Would I choose the train again over flying? Absolutely. You get to see much more of the country, arrive right in the city centre and, before you know it, the journey itself becomes part of the adventure.
If you're planning a trip to China, don't just use the high-speed railway to get from A to B—make it part of the experience.
